Code samples

Node.js MQTT example

Connect Node.js to an MQTT broker with MQTT.js. Start on the free public broker, then point the same code at a secure private broker on ConnectMQ.

Library
MQTT.js 5
Install
npm install mqtt
Source code on GitHubmqtt-code-samples/nodejsClone the complete, runnable examples. Stars and pull requests welcome. View on GitHub

1. Try it on the free public broker

No account needed: connect to broker.connectmq.com on port 1883 and start publishing in seconds.

index.mjs
import mqtt from "mqtt";

const topic = "your-project/sensors/temperature"; // Use a unique topic prefix: everyone can read the public broker

// Connect to the free public broker (no account needed)
const client = mqtt.connect("mqtt://broker.connectmq.com:1883");

// Runs when the connection is established
client.on("connect", () => {
  // Subscribe to the temperature topic
  client.subscribe(topic, { qos: 1 });
  // Publish a JSON reading
  client.publish(topic, JSON.stringify({ temperature: 21.5 }), { qos: 1 });
});

// Runs for every message on a subscribed topic
client.on("message", (t, payload) => console.log(t, payload.toString()));

Free public MQTT broker

The public broker is shared: anyone can subscribe to your topics. Never send passwords, personal data or anything confidential through it.

About the free public MQTT broker

2. Go to production with ConnectMQ

For real devices, use a private serverless MQTT broker on ConnectMQ instead of the public one: TLS encryption, a username and password for every device and per-topic access control, fully managed. Start on the Free plan — no card required.

Replace YOUR_BROKER_HOST, YOUR_USERNAME and YOUR_PASSWORD with the values from your ConnectMQ dashboard.

index.mjs
import mqtt from "mqtt";

const topic = "your-project/sensors/temperature";

// Connect to your private ConnectMQ broker on port 8883
const client = mqtt.connect("mqtts://YOUR_BROKER_HOST:8883", {
  // Username and password from your ConnectMQ dashboard
  username: "YOUR_USERNAME",
  password: "YOUR_PASSWORD",
});

// Runs when the connection is established
client.on("connect", () => {
  // Subscribe to the temperature topic
  client.subscribe(topic, { qos: 1 });
  // Publish a JSON reading
  client.publish(topic, JSON.stringify({ temperature: 21.5 }), { qos: 1 });
});

// Runs for every message on a subscribed topic
client.on("message", (t, payload) => console.log(t, payload.toString()));

Node.js MQTT FAQ

How do I connect Node.js to an MQTT broker?

Install MQTT.js 5, connect to the broker host on port 1883 (or 8883 with TLS), then subscribe to a topic and publish messages to it. The examples on this page connect to the free public broker broker.connectmq.com and to a private ConnectMQ broker.

Is there a free MQTT broker for testing Node.js?

Yes. broker.connectmq.com is a free public MQTT broker that needs no account. Anyone can read its topics, so use it only for tests and use a unique topic prefix.

How do I secure a Node.js MQTT connection?

Connect over TLS on port 8883 with a username and password from your ConnectMQ dashboard, and give every device its own credentials and topic permissions instead of using the public broker.

Free public MQTT broker

Test any example on broker.connectmq.com — no sign-up, MQTT 3.1.1 and 5, TCP, TLS and WebSocket.

About the free public MQTT broker

Secure serverless MQTT for production

When it is time for real devices, run the same code on a private, fully managed ConnectMQ broker with TLS and per-device credentials.

Start for free

Your private MQTT broker is a few clicks away

Create an account, get your broker credentials and connect your first device — no servers to install, patch or scale.