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Blynk vs Home Assistant

Blynk logo

Blynk

Software

IoT cloud platform with mobile app builder for connected devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

Software

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blynk the free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention; Home Assistant add-ons run only on Home Assistant Operating System installations, and Container installations have no access to them
  • They diverge on capability: Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, Home Assistant covers Local Control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blynk and Home Assistant actually diverge.

Attributes where Blynk and Home Assistant differ
AttributeBlynkHome Assistant
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsIOS, Android, Web, Any IoT deviceLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows
Founded20122013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Blynk

  • Mobile App Builder
  • No-Code Interface
  • Real-Time Control
  • Cloud Storage
  • WebHooks
  • Mobile app
  • Cloud platform
  • IOS support

Only in Home Assistant

  • Local Control
  • Privacy First
  • Automation Engine
  • Custom Integrations
  • 150+ integrations
  • Voice Control
  • Mobile App
  • Linux support

Both cover

  • REST API

What people use each for

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

Blynk

  • Connecting IoT hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile appnot Home Assistant
  • Over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devicesnot Home Assistant
  • Automations triggered by device datanot Home Assistant
  • White-label device apps for a hardware productnot Home Assistant
  • Prototyping connected devices before committing to infrastructurenot Home Assistant

Home Assistant

  • Home automationnot Blynk
  • Energy monitoringnot Blynk
  • Security systemsnot Blynk
  • Device integrationnot Blynk

Where each one falls short

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

Blynk

  • The free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention
  • Data retention is tiered all the way up, reaching 12 months only on Enterprise
  • Automations and webhooks are rationed, from 5 scenarios and 1 webhook on free to 100 or more on Production
  • Over-the-air update campaigns are capped by tier, at 2 shipments on free and Starter
  • Production plans run from $199 to $1,099 a month depending on device count

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

Blynk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 devices
    • Basic widgets
    • Cloud sync
  • Premium$5/month
    • Unlimited devices
    • Advanced widgets
    • Priority support

Home Assistant

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Blynk if

  • You need mobile app builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device.
  • You also want no-code interface.
Blynk 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 Blynk or Home Assistant better?
Neither clearly leads. Blynk 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, Blynk or Home Assistant?
Blynk starts at Free and Home Assistant at Free.
Does Blynk or Home Assistant run on more platforms?
Blynk runs on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device. Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows.
Can I use Blynk for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Blynk best used for?
Blynk is most often used for connecting iot hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile app, over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devices, automations triggered by device data, white-label device apps for a hardware product. Of those, connecting iot hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile app and over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devices are not what Home Assistant is typically brought in for.
What can Blynk do that Home Assistant cannot?
Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, No-Code Interface, Real-Time Control, Cloud Storage. Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. Both handle REST API.
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