Pro Vs Free

Complete comparison of features available in the free (GPLv3) version versus Serial Studio Pro.

Quick Summary

Free (GPLv3) Version:

• Core protocols: Serial/UART, TCP/UDP, Bluetooth LE
• All standard widgets and visualization
• Full project editor and dashboard customization
• CSV export and playback
• Perfect for hobbyists, students, and open-source projects

Pro Version:

• Everything in Free, plus:
• Advanced protocols: MQTT, Modbus, CAN Bus, Audio Input, Raw USB, HID Devices, Process I/O
• Pro widgets: 3D Plot, XY Plot, Image View (live camera feed)
• Binary Direct mode (high-performance parsing)
• MDF4 file export and playback
• Commercial use rights
• Email support

Complete Feature Comparison

Pro-Only Feature Details

MQTT Integration

What it is: Lightweight publish/subscribe messaging protocol for IoT applications.

Why you need it:

• Monitor remote sensors over the internet
• Cloud-connected IoT deployments
• Multi-user dashboards (multiple subscribers to same topic)
• Integration with AWS IoT, Azure IoT Hub, Google Cloud IoT

Use cases:

• Remote weather station accessible from anywhere
• Distributed sensor network
• Smart home integration
• Cloud data logging

Learn more: MQTT Integration | Protocol Setup Guide

Modbus Protocol (RTU & TCP)

What it is: Industrial communication protocol for PLCs and SCADA systems.

Why you need it:

• Connect to industrial PLCs (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Schneider, etc.)
• Monitor SCADA systems
• Read/write Modbus registers
• Building management systems

Use cases:

• Factory automation monitoring
• PLC data visualization
• HVAC system monitoring
• Industrial equipment diagnostics

Learn more: Protocol Setup Guide

CAN Bus Support

What it is: Automotive and industrial multi-master bus protocol with DBC file import.

Why you need it:

• Automotive diagnostics (OBD-II)
• Vehicle telemetry and data logging
• Race car telemetry
• Industrial machinery monitoring
• DBC file import for automatic signal decoding

Use cases:

• OBD-II vehicle diagnostics
• Electric vehicle battery monitoring
• Race car data logging
• ECU development and testing

Learn more: Protocol Setup Guide

Audio Input

What it is: Capture and visualize audio signals from microphone or line-in.

Why you need it:

• Audio spectrum analysis (FFT)
• Vibration monitoring via audio-coupled sensors
• Acoustic measurements
• Analog signal visualization (20 Hz - 20 kHz range)

Use cases:

• Sound level monitoring
• Machinery vibration analysis
• Musical instrument tuning
• Frequency analysis
• Analog signal debugging

Learn more: Protocol Setup Guide

Binary (Direct) Mode

What it is: High-performance decoder mode that passes raw binary data directly to JavaScript parser as byte array (values 0-255), without string conversion.

Why it matters:

• Performance: No encoding/decoding overhead
• Precision: Lossless binary protocol handling
• Efficiency: Direct byte-level access
• Speed: Lower latency for high-frequency data

When you need it:

• Custom binary protocols
• High-frequency data logging (>100 Hz)
• Low-latency requirements
• Byte-perfect parsing needed

Example:

// Pro: Binary (Direct) mode
// Input: Raw byte array [0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78]
function parse(frame) {
    // frame = [0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 0x78]
    let value1 = (frame[0] << 8) | frame[1];  // 0x1234 = 4660
    let value2 = (frame[2] << 8) | frame[3];  // 0x5678 = 22136
    return [value1, value2];
}

Free alternative: Use Hexadecimal or Base64 decoder (with string conversion overhead)

3D Plot Widget

What it is: Real-time 3D scatter or line plot for visualizing X, Y, Z coordinates in 3D space.

Why you need it:

• Visualize 3D trajectories
• Spatial data visualization
• Complex mathematical visualizations (Lorenz attractor, phase space)
• Particle simulations

Use cases:

• Chaos theory demonstrations
• 3D orbital mechanics
• Magnetic field visualization
• Motion tracking in 3D space

Requirements: Requires OpenGL-capable graphics

Learn more: Widget Reference - 3D Plot

XY Plot Widget

What it is: 2D scatter plot displaying Y values against X values (instead of time).

Why you need it:

• Correlation analysis between two variables
• Phase portraits (control systems)
• Lissajous curves
• I-V characteristic curves

Use cases:

• I-V curves (current vs voltage)
• Control system phase portraits
• Signal correlation analysis
• Pressure-volume diagrams

Learn more: Widget Reference - XY Plot

Raw USB

What it is: Direct bulk, control, and isochronous USB access via libusb, bypassing OS serial/HID abstraction layers.

Why you need it:

• Custom USB firmware with bulk endpoints (STM32, TinyUSB, etc.)
• High-bandwidth sensors that exceed Serial/UART throughput
• Devices requiring vendor-specific control transfers
• Isochronous data streams (fixed-rate audio/video endpoints)

Use cases:

• Custom USB data acquisition hardware
• High-speed logic analyzers or oscilloscopes with raw USB access
• Industrial sensors with USB bulk transfer interfaces

Learn more: Data Sources - Raw USB

HID Devices

What it is: Cross-platform Human Interface Device access via hidapi (gamepads, custom USB HIDs, sensors).

Why you need it:

• Connect gamepads, joysticks, or custom HID firmware without writing drivers
• Access USB sensors that register as HID devices
• Monitor force gauges, measurement devices, or custom controllers

Use cases:

• Gamepad/joystick data for robotics or simulation dashboards
• Custom USB HID firmware (Arduino HID library, STM32 USB HID)
• Sensors and measurement devices with HID USB class

Learn more: Data Sources - HID Devices

Process I/O

What it is: Spawn a child process and read its stdout as a data source, or connect to a named pipe/FIFO from an external process.

Why you need it:

• Feed data from Python, Node.js, or any script directly into Serial Studio dashboards
• Bridge proprietary protocols to CSV format via a translator program
• Test dashboards with synthetic data generators without physical hardware

Use cases:

• Python sensor aggregation scripts
• Physics simulations outputting telemetry to stdout
• Named pipe bridges from long-running data acquisition software

Learn more: Data Sources - Process I/O

Image View Widget

What it is: Live JPEG/PNG/BMP/WebP camera or image feed displayed directly on the dashboard alongside other telemetry widgets.

Why you need it:

• Display live camera video from ESP32-CAM, Raspberry Pi Camera, or UAV downlinks
• Correlate visual data with sensor telemetry on the same dashboard
• Industrial machine vision or inspection cameras

Features:

• Autodetect mode: Finds JPEG/PNG frames by magic bytes with no configuration
• Manual delimiter mode: User-defined byte sequences for custom framing
• Export/zoom/filters: Toolbar controls for frame capture and visual processing
• Mixed stream support: JPEG frames and CSV telemetry coexist on the same connection

Use cases:

• ESP32-CAM MJPEG stream + sensor telemetry over Serial or UDP
• UAV video downlink with flight data on the same dashboard
• Camera Telemetry example (Python JPEG stream over UDP)

Learn more: Widget Reference - Image View | Camera Telemetry Example

MDF4 File Support

What it is: Industry-standard binary format for measurement data (MDF4/MF4), commonly used in automotive testing.

Why it matters:

• Compact: Binary format is smaller than CSV
• Fast: Optimized for high-frequency data
• Standard: Compatible with Vector CANape, NI DIAdem, MATLAB Vehicle Network Toolbox
• Automotive: Standard format for CAN bus data logging

Features:

• Export: Save sessions in MDF4 format
• Playback: Replay MDF4 files in Serial Studio
• Streaming: Handle large files (>1 GB) efficiently

When you need it:

• Automotive development (CAN bus logging)
• High-frequency data (>1 kHz)
• Integration with professional analysis tools
• Long-duration logging (file size matters)

Learn more: Protocol Setup Guide

Commercial Use Rights

Free (GPLv3):

• ❌ Not permitted for commercial use
• ❌ Cannot use in business/enterprise
• ❌ Cannot sell products using Serial Studio
• ❌ Cannot use for internal business tools

Pro License:

• ✅ Full commercial use rights
• ✅ Enterprise deployments
• ✅ Internal business tools
• ✅ Product integration
• ✅ Revenue-generating applications

Important: Even if you compile from source (GPL modules only), commercial use requires a Pro license per the license agreement.

Which Version Do I Need?

Choose Free (GPLv3) if:

• ✅ You're a student, educator, or hobbyist
• ✅ Personal or educational projects
• ✅ Open-source software development
• ✅ You only need basic protocols (Serial, TCP/UDP, BLE)
• ✅ Standard widgets meet your needs
• ✅ Non-commercial use

Perfect for:

• Arduino projects
• ESP32/ESP8266 development
• Learning embedded systems
• University research (non-commercial)
• Home automation

Choose Pro if:

• ✅ Commercial or business use
• ✅ You need MQTT, Modbus, CAN Bus, or Audio Input
• ✅ You need Raw USB (bulk/isochronous via libusb), HID Devices, or Process I/O
• ✅ Industrial automation projects
• ✅ Automotive diagnostics or telemetry
• ✅ You need 3D/XY plots or live Image View (camera feeds)
• ✅ You want MDF4 export/playback
• ✅ You need Binary Direct mode for performance
• ✅ You want email support

Perfect for:

• Professional engineers
• Industrial applications
• Automotive development
• Commercial products
• Enterprise deployments

Pricing

Serial Studio Pro

• Visit serial-studio.com for current pricing
• One-time purchase (perpetual license)
• Volume discounts available
• Educational discounts available (.edu email required)

Free Trial:

• 14-day trial included with official binary download
• Full Pro features unlocked during trial
• One-time per hardware (cannot reset by reinstalling)
• No credit card required

Upgrading from Free to Pro

Easy Activation Process

1. Purchase license from serial-studio.com
2. Download official binary (if using GPL build)
3. Open Serial Studio
4. Help → Activate License
5. Enter license key
6. Pro features unlock immediately

Your Projects Are Safe

• Project files are 100% compatible
• No migration needed
• Data remains accessible
• Continue where you left off

Offline Use

• Internet required for initial activation only
• After activation, works fully offline
• License tied to hardware ID

Educational Discounts

Students and educators can get discounted Pro licenses:

Requirements:

• Valid .edu email address
• Proof of enrollment/employment
• Academic use only

How to apply:

• Email: [email protected]
• Include: .edu email, institution name, use case
• Response within 2 business days

Can't Afford Pro? Earn a License!

Contribute to the Serial Studio project and earn a free Pro license:

Ways to contribute:

• Write tutorials or blog posts
• Create demo videos
• Translate documentation
• Contribute code (features, bug fixes)
• Donate hardware for testing
• Share protocol samples

Learn more: Earn a Pro License by Contributing

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the free version commercially if I compile from source?

No. The GPL code is for non-commercial use only. Commercial use requires a Pro license, even if you build from source with GPL modules only.

What happens if my trial expires?

Pro features become locked. You can:

• Purchase a Pro license to unlock them
• Continue using Free features (Serial, TCP/UDP, BLE, standard widgets)

Can I transfer my Pro license to another computer?

Yes. Deactivate on one machine (Help → Deactivate License), then activate on another. You can transfer as needed, but only one active installation per license.

Is there a subscription?

No. Pro is a one-time purchase (perpetual license). Buy once, use forever. All updates included.

Do I get updates with Pro?

Yes. All software updates are free for Pro license holders.

Can I try Pro before buying?

Yes. Download the official binary and use the 14-day trial. Full Pro features unlocked, no credit card required.

What if I need more licenses for my team?

Contact [email protected] for volume pricing. Discounts available for 5+ licenses.

Can I use Pro on multiple computers?

One license = one active installation. For multiple computers, purchase multiple licenses or contact us for team pricing.

Is the source code available for Pro features?

Pro features are proprietary and not open-source. However, the core platform (GPL modules) is open-source and visible.

Does Pro work offline?

Yes. After initial activation, Pro works fully offline. Internet only needed for license activation.

What payment methods do you accept?

Credit card, PayPal, and other methods via our secure payment processor (Lemon Squeezy).

Can I get a refund?

Yes, within 14 days of purchase if the software doesn't meet your needs. Contact [email protected].

Do you offer training or consulting?

Yes, for Pro customers. Contact [email protected] for rates and availability.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Arduino Sensor Project

Industrial PLC Monitoring

Automotive CAN Bus

IoT Cloud Monitoring

Summary

Still Have Questions?

• Compare features: See Feature Comparison Table above
• Try before buying: Download official binary for 14-day trial
• Earn free license: Contribute to the project
• Contact sales: [email protected]

See Also

• License Agreement - Full legal terms
• Communication Protocols - Protocol overview
• Widget Reference - All available widgets
• Getting Started - First-time setup
• Earn a Pro License - Contribute for free access

Ready to go Pro? Purchase Now | Try Free Trial