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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Arduino Cloud vs HOMER Energy

Arduino Cloud logo

Arduino Cloud

IoT & Smart Home

Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HOMER Energy logo

HOMER Energy

Energy & Utilities

Microgrid and distributed energy optimization software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention; HOMER Energy now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • They diverge on capability: Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arduino Cloud and HOMER Energy actually diverge.

Attributes where Arduino Cloud and HOMER Energy differ
AttributeArduino CloudHOMER Energy
PlatformsArduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboardWindows, Web
CategoryIoT & Smart HomeEnergy & Utilities
Founded20052009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arduino Cloud

  • Device Connectivity
  • Cloud Storage
  • Real-Time Sync
  • Security
  • Arduino IDE
  • Mobile app
  • REST API
  • Integration services

Only in HOMER Energy

  • Microgrid optimization
  • Techno-economic analysis
  • Component library
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Energy storage sizing
  • Renewable integration
  • Load profile analysis
  • Financial modeling

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arduino Cloud

  • Connecting Arduino boards to a cloud dashboardnot HOMER Energy
  • Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot HOMER Energy
  • Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot HOMER Energy
  • Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot HOMER Energy
  • Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot HOMER Energy

HOMER Energy

  • Sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systemsnot Arduino Cloud
  • Modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinationsnot Arduino Cloud
  • Electric bill optimisation for grid-connected sites and EV chargingnot Arduino Cloud
  • Utility-scale storage investment analysisnot Arduino Cloud
  • Comparing least-cost configurations against load and resource datanot Arduino Cloud

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arduino Cloud

  • The free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
  • Free accounts are limited to 25 compilations a day and 10 trigger notifications a day
  • The Maker plan at $72 a year lifts devices to 25 and retention to 3 months, still for a single user
  • Team pricing jumps to $1,000 a year
  • Two years of data retention and unlimited ingestion require Enterprise

HOMER Energy

  • Now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • Split into three separate products, HOMER Pro for off-grid and microgrids, HOMER Grid for bill optimisation and HOMER Front for utility-scale, so the right one depends on project type
  • Pricing is not shown on the product pages

Pricing, plan by plan

Arduino Cloud

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 2 devices
    • Basic features
    • Cloud access
  • Maker Plus$7/month
    • Up to 10 devices
    • Advanced features
    • Better storage

HOMER Energy

Free
  • HOMER GridFree
    • Grid-connected optimization
    • Basic components
    • Limited simulations
  • HOMER Pro$1500/year
    • Advanced optimization
    • All components
    • Unlimited simulations
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Multi-user licenses
    • API access
    • Custom modules

Which should you pick?

Choose Arduino Cloud if

  • You need device connectivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Arduino Cloud review

Choose HOMER Energy if

  • You need microgrid optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want techno-economic analysis.
HOMER Energy review

Questions people ask

Is Arduino Cloud or HOMER Energy better?
Neither clearly leads. Arduino Cloud starts at Free and HOMER Energy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arduino Cloud or HOMER Energy?
Arduino Cloud starts at Free and HOMER Energy at Free.
Does Arduino Cloud or HOMER Energy run on more platforms?
Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard. HOMER Energy runs on Windows, Web.
Can I use Arduino Cloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Arduino Cloud best used for?
Arduino Cloud is most often used for connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard, over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices, logging sensor data and charting it over time, triggering notifications from device thresholds. Of those, connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard and over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices are not what HOMER Energy is typically brought in for.
What can Arduino Cloud do that HOMER Energy cannot?
Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization, Techno-economic analysis, Component library, Sensitivity analysis.
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