Comparison

MQTee vs HookTrace

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MQTee

A native MQTT 5 client for iOS devices that offers a visual topic tree browser, full MQTT 5.0 support, and iCloud sync for seamless connection management. It allows for multi-tab publishing with syntax highlighting and provides a real-time event log for debugging.

Highlights
  • Native MQTT 5 client
  • Visual topic tree browser
  • Full MQTT 5.0 support
  • iCloud sync for connections
  • Multi-tab publishing with syntax highlighting
  • Real-time event log
  • Apple Shortcuts & Siri integration
Features
Read full description

MQTee is the only native MQTT 5 client for iPhone and iPad. Built in SwiftUI + Rust. No Electron, no lag, no web views. Topic Tree Browser Explore your MQTT topic hierarchy in a visual tree. Search, filter, view payloads inline, and unsubscribe directly from the tree. Color-coded subscriptions make it easy to track multiple data streams at a glance. Full MQTT 5.0 Support Connect with MQTT 3.1.1 or MQTT 5.0. Full support for shared subscriptions, user properties, no-local, retain handling, session expiry, content type, response topics, correlation data, and message expiry intervals. iCloud Sync Your connections sync seamlessly across your iPhone and iPad via iCloud. Credentials are stored securely in iCloud Keychain. Multi-Tab Publishing Open multiple publish tabs per connection. JSON syntax highlighting and payload auto-detection (JSON, XML, hex, plaintext). Real-Time Event Log Structured event log with filtering by level, category, and direction. Debug MQTT workflows in real time. Apple Shortcuts & Siri Automate your MQTT workflows with Apple Shortcuts. Publish messages and read retained values from any app, Siri, or automation. Session Persistence Save subscriptions and message history per connection. Auto-resubscribe when reconnecting. Configurable message limits for memory and disk. Every feature is free. No limits. No paywalls. No feature gating. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

HookTrace

Features
Read full description

HookTrace is the ultimate bridge between your iPhone’s high-precision GPS and your private automation infrastructure. Tired of cloud services owning your location history? HookTrace puts you back in the driver's seat. It turns your device into a universal GPS sensor that transmits live location data directly to any Webhook URL you specify. Perfect for: • Smart Home Automation (Home Assistant, OpenClaw, Jeedom) • Workflow Engines (n8n, Node-RED, Zapier) • Custom Developer Projects & Dashboards Key Features: • FULL PRIVACY: No third-party servers. Data goes from your phone straight to your endpoint. • BACKGROUND TRACKING: Runs reliably in the background, optimized for iOS 18+. • FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE: Set custom Authorization headers and Device IDs. • BATTERY OPTIMIZED: Choose between "Significant Change" mode for extreme battery saving or "Real-time" for high-precision tracking. • LIVE MAP: See your current location and breadcrumb trail at a glance. Technical Specs: • Standard JSON Payload (Latitude, Longitude, Accuracy, Speed, Battery, Timestamp). • Supports HTTPS and custom Auth-Headers. • Distance-based filters to prevent unnecessary data spam. Stop sharing your life with big tech. Start hooking your traces to your own home.

Screenshots

MQTee3 screens
HookTrace3 screens

Verdict

The call

MQTee and HookTrace are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
MQTee versus HookTrace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMQTeeHookTrace
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequency—Every 2 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFelipe LimaJakob Kramer

In-app purchases

None

MQTee

No in-app purchases

None

HookTrace

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MQTee free?
MQTee is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HookTrace free?
HookTrace is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MQTee or HookTrace have ads?
Neither MQTee nor HookTrace shows ads.

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