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SWUpdate vs Mender

How SWUpdate and Mender differ on target hardware, rollback, deployment and cost.

SWUpdateMender
TypeOSS Linux updaterLinux OTA
TargetsEmbedded LinuxEmbedded Linux
DeploymentOn-device (no server)SaaS + self-hosted
RollbackConfigurable: A/B, single-copy, or rescue, with bootloader integrationA/B partitions with automatic rollback on failed boot
How it worksA configurable updater invoked on the device. You describe the update in a sw-description file, and it handles verification, signature checking and writing to the right place — U-Boot, GRUB or EFI integration decides what happens on a failed boot. There is no management backend; pair it with hawkBit or your own.Writes the new root filesystem to the inactive partition, reboots into it, and rolls back automatically if the device fails to check in. Delta updates and phased rollouts sit in the paid tiers; the update mechanism itself is open source and self-hostable.
Pricing*FreeOSS free; hosted from $34/mo
Free tierYesYes
Open sourceGPL-2.0Apache-2.0 (client + server)
Best forCustom update logic on Yocto buildsLinux fleets that must never brick

SWUpdate

  • Extremely flexible update strategies
  • Tiny footprint, no runtime service
  • Signature verification and encryption built in
  • No fleet management whatsoever
  • Configuration is expert territory

Mender

  • A/B rollback is the safest widely deployed model
  • Genuinely usable open-source edition, not a crippled demo
  • Self-host or hosted without changing the client
  • Dual partitions cost you flash — roughly double the rootfs
  • Not designed for constrained MCUs

Bottom line

Choose SWUpdate for custom update logic on yocto builds. Choose Mender for linux fleets that must never brick.

* Published list pricing (vendor pricing pages, August 2026).