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What is MQTT Explorer?

MQTT Explorer is a comprehensive and easy-to-use MQTT client designed to make working with MQTT brokers intuitive and efficient. Whether you’re building IoT applications, monitoring home automation systems, or debugging MQTT infrastructure, MQTT Explorer provides the tools you need to visualize, inspect, and interact with your MQTT network.

Desktop Application

Native Electron app for Windows, macOS, and Linux with full filesystem access

Web Application

Browser-based deployment with Docker support for remote access

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Key Features

MQTT Explorer provides everything you need to work effectively with MQTT brokers:

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Topic Visualization

Navigate your MQTT topics in an intuitive hierarchical tree structure. Topics are automatically organized and grouped, making it easy to understand the structure of your MQTT network at a glance.
MQTT Explorer automatically subscribes to all topics using the # wildcard and $SYS/# for system topics, giving you complete visibility into your broker.

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Real-time Message Inspection

Watch messages flow through your MQTT network in real-time. Each message displays:
  • Message payload (with automatic JSON formatting)
  • Topic path
  • Quality of Service (QoS) level
  • Retain flag status
  • Timestamp
  • Message history for the topic

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Message Publishing

Publish messages to any topic with full control over:
  • QoS levels (0, 1, or 2)
  • Retain flag
  • Message payload format (text, JSON, binary)

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Advanced Filtering

Filter topics and messages using:
  • Include/exclude patterns
  • Regular expressions
  • Topic wildcards
  • Custom search queries

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Protocol Decoders

Decode binary message formats automatically:
  • Protobuf: Upload .proto files to decode Protocol Buffer messages
  • Sparkplug B: Full support for Sparkplug B specification
  • Binary data: Hex and Base64 views for raw binary data

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Data Visualization

Visualize numeric MQTT data with interactive time-series charts. Track sensor readings, metrics, and other numeric data over time.

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AI Assistant

Available in Docker/browser mode with OpenAI or Google Gemini API key
The optional AI Assistant helps you:
  • Understand message patterns and device behavior
  • Identify relationships between topics
  • Troubleshoot connectivity issues
  • Analyze data structures

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Use Cases

MQTT Explorer excels in a variety of scenarios:

IoT Development

Monitor and debug IoT devices during development and testing

Home Automation

Visualize and control your smart home MQTT network

Industrial Monitoring

Track industrial sensors and equipment using Sparkplug B

System Integration

Debug and test MQTT-based system integrations

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Deployment Options

Choose the deployment method that fits your workflow:

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Desktop Application (Electron)

The desktop application provides:
  • Native OS integration
  • Full filesystem access for certificates
  • Offline operation
  • System tray integration
  • Auto-updates
Best for: Individual developers and local testing

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Browser Mode (Node.js Server)

Browser mode offers:
  • Remote access from any device
  • No installation required
  • Built-in authentication
  • WebSocket-based MQTT proxy
  • Multi-user support
Best for: Team collaboration and remote access

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Docker Container

Docker deployment includes:
  • Multi-architecture support (amd64, arm64, arm/v7)
  • Persistent data storage
  • Environment-based configuration
  • Optional AI Assistant integration
  • Enterprise SSO integration
Best for: Production deployments and infrastructure integration

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Open Source

MQTT Explorer is open source under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license:

View on GitHub

Star the repository, report issues, or contribute to the project

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Next Steps

Ready to get started? Choose your path:

Installation

Download and install MQTT Explorer on your platform

Quick Start Guide

Connect to your first MQTT broker in minutes