My rant against some cloud services

 For an index to all my stories click this text

I present you some short stories about web/iot services that changed their free tiers to a subscription model, or quit alltogether. The list will expand when I run into new services that leave their users in the cold.

If you do not want to read all these stories just scroll down to the bottom of this story to read what my point is.

Blynk

Blynk consisted of a cloud based server, an app for your phone and real good solid software for microcontrollers.
First step was to create an account, then write some software for your microcontroller. The last step was to create a nice graphical setup in the app. All was super simple to use and free. And the app really looked fabulous. The access to the cloud server was limited to a few microcontrollers or actions (like setting a button, gauge etc) per user. But you could download the cloud server and install it on a Raspberry. Then you would have unlimited capacitity for free. Then they developed a new version called Blynk 2.0 And then the misery started. First they pulled the plug from the cloud servers. And later on they removed the app from the Play store. So anybody using this service could not expand or re-install it when you switch phones.
Blynk 2 had a really limited free tier although it is better now. But hey you had to reinstall all software on your devices and microcontrollers.


Whatabot

Whatabot is a service that let's you send messages from your Microcontroller (ESP8266, ESP32 Raspberry Pi PicoW etc) to Whatsapp. This is a great way to get notifications on your phone when for example a door opens or lights go on.
To make use of this service you need to add the telephone number of Whatabot to your contacts. And after sending a message to that contact you'll get an API key.
I used Whatabot about 2 year ago and then forgot about it. And a few weeks ago I wanted to use the service again. But I could not get it working. Then I realized that they had changed their telephone number. And by changing the number Whatsapp was not able to receive messages from the service.
Not a big deal, but just a bit annoying as I had to adjust the programs for my microcontrollers


Dweet.io

I have used Dweet.io for several of my projects and wrote stories about it. Dweet.io was a great free service that allowed a microcontroller, a Raspberry, a PC, tablet or phone sending small messages to it and any of the mentioned apparatus to retrieve the message. It worked like an intermediary. One ESP sends the temperature to Dweet.io and another one retrieves the value and depending on it set's a fan on etc.
And suddenly without warning they stopped in January 2025. No reason, no explanation whatsoever. They just pulled the plug, leaving loads of people whose projects depended on them in the dark.
Oh yes, alternatives emerged: Dweet.cc, Dweet.me and Dweetr.io This shows how popular Dweet.io was. However these are maintained by enthousiastic volunteers and who knows when the load gets to big (or to low for their liking) and they cease operation or start charging for their service. And you will have, of course, to re-program all your devices that use this service.


IFTTT

Hey IFTTT still exists !!
Yes but they had a great service called webhooks. And it was free. Using the webhooks you could, for example, give a command to Google Home and that would trigger an ESP to set a lamp on or set the temperature higher, or start a fan etc. etc. etc. I wrote several stories on this.
The service is still available but it will set you back $2.99 a month while it was free for may years. So people using this to trigger devices with Google Home suddenly have to pay for it. And for $2.99 you can only use 20 apps.


IoTtweet

IoTtweet offered a web based dashboard for IOT purposes. There were buttons, gauges, sliders etc. A Microcontroller could send values to the dashboard which then could be shown in a nice graphical environment. Other microcontrollers could retrieve those values and act on them. I wrote a few stories on IoItweet. It was really easy to use.
And suddenly without a warning they pulled the plug.
Anybody who build projects around this was left in the dark.


Servces that stopped but did not effect me


Insteon

In 2022 Insteon went belly-up. It was a complete home automation infrastructure, There were buttons, dimmers, wall outlets, sensors etc. They all communicated with a cloud based server. When Insteon went bankrupt the plug was pulled and all services ceased to work. Your home was left in the dark when you pressed the buttons.....
A few months later Insteon was saved by investors but the shock is still there.....


Logitech Pop buttons

Users of the Logitech Pop buttons got an email from Logitech that they would pull the plug on this service on October 15 2025. That is 8 year after their introduction. And from that on your USD40 to USD90 investment could be used as landfill.


What's my point.

Well obvious I am disappointed by some of these services and at some I am just really mad. So I urge you to be carefull to base your complete project or home automation on a cloud service.

So is there a solution ?

Yes there is for some cases.
The solution is to write your own software and build your own server that replicates these services. Host the server in your own home and the only worry will be a power outage. Cause even when the internet melts down things would still keep working in your own network.

And This is exactly what I am doing.
I am building my own Dweet server (programmed in PHP with an SQLite database) and running it on a Raspberry Pi4 with 2GB memory.
Next to that I am building my own IOT Dashboard with buttons, gauges, switches, sliders all fully customizable. 
This is a long term project and I still have to make integrations of 433Mhz switches and Philips Hue lamps.
But the basic functions work and it is really a fun project.
So stay tuned I might, yes might, publish the complete setup in the future.

Till next time
Have fun

Luc Volders