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Automation Integration · head to head

Automate.io vs Home Assistant

Automate.io logo

Automate.io

Automation Integration

Connect and automate your cloud applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

Smart Home

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Automate.io no longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down; Home Assistant add-ons run only on Home Assistant Operating System installations, and Container installations have no access to them
  • They diverge on capability: Automate.io covers Multi-step automations, Home Assistant covers Local Control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Automate.io and Home Assistant actually diverge.

Attributes where Automate.io and Home Assistant differ
AttributeAutomate.ioHome Assistant
Pricing modelusage-basedopen-source
PlatformsWeb, MobileLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows
CategoryAutomation IntegrationSmart Home
Founded20142013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Automate.io

  • Multi-step automations
  • Conditional logic
  • Data mapping
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Webhooks
  • API integrations
  • 500+ apps

Only in Home Assistant

  • Local Control
  • Privacy First
  • Automation Engine
  • Custom Integrations
  • 150+ integrations
  • Voice Control
  • Mobile App
  • REST API

What people use each for

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

Automate.io

  • Workflow Automationnot Home Assistant
  • Data Integrationnot Home Assistant
  • Process Automationnot Home Assistant
  • App Integrationnot Home Assistant
  • API Connectivitynot Home Assistant

Home Assistant

  • Home automationnot Automate.io
  • Energy monitoringnot Automate.io
  • Security systemsnot Automate.io
  • Device integrationnot Automate.io

Where each one falls short

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

Automate.io

  • No longer exists as a product. automate.io redirects to notion.com, which acquired the company and wound the integration service down
  • Existing automations were not portable to Notion, so users had to rebuild elsewhere

Home Assistant

  • Add-ons run only on Home Assistant Operating System installations, and Container installations have no access to them
  • Thread and Z-Wave are controlled by add-ons, so a Container install has no out-of-the-box support for either
  • A Container installation means bringing your own Linux host with Docker and handling updates by hand
  • The recommended install path expects dedicated hardware such as a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 with at least 2 GB of RAM, an Odroid, or an x86-64 machine
  • Every documented hardware option requires a wired Ethernet connection

Pricing, plan by plan

Automate.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 250 tasks/month
    • 2 automations
  • Starter$15/month
    • 5000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited automations
    • Email support
  • Professional$50/month
    • Unlimited tasks
    • Priority support
    • Advanced features

Home Assistant

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited devices
    • Full automation
    • Local control

Which should you pick?

Choose Automate.io if

  • You need multi-step automations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want conditional logic.
Automate.io review

Choose Home Assistant if

  • You need local control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want privacy first.
Home Assistant review

Questions people ask

Is Automate.io or Home Assistant better?
Neither clearly leads. Automate.io starts at Free and Home Assistant at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Automate.io or Home Assistant?
Automate.io starts at Free and Home Assistant at Free.
Does Automate.io or Home Assistant run on more platforms?
Automate.io runs on Web, Mobile. Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows.
Can I use Automate.io for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Automate.io best used for?
Automate.io is most often used for workflow automation, data integration, process automation, app integration. Of those, workflow automation and data integration are not what Home Assistant is typically brought in for.
What can Automate.io do that Home Assistant cannot?
Automate.io covers Multi-step automations, Conditional logic, Data mapping, Error handling. Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Home Assistant: Does Home Assistant software cost anything?

Home Assistant core software is completely free and open source. It is operated by the Open Home Foundation as a non-profit, which means it cannot be sold or acquired. Commercial products like Home Assistant hardware are sold separately.

Source
Home Assistant: Are there paid products from Home Assistant?

Home Assistant offers official hardware products including Home Assistant Green, Connect ZBT-2, Connect ZWA-2, and Voice Preview Edition, which have separate pricing. Nabu Casa provides commercial services as an official partner.

Source
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