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ESPHome vs Lose It!

ESPHome logo

ESPHome

Software

Custom firmware for ESP8266/ESP32 smart home devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lose It! logo

Lose It!

Software

Lose weight with your friends

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ESPHome eSPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects; Lose It! photo-based logging (Snap It) is Premium-only and has inconsistent accuracy
  • They diverge on capability: ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, Lose It! covers Calorie counting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ESPHome and Lose It! actually diverge.

Attributes where ESPHome and Lose It! differ
AttributeESPHomeLose It!
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry PiiPhone, Android, Web
Founded20182008

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 ESPHome

  • YAML Configuration
  • OTA Updates
  • Home Assistant Native
  • Custom Components
  • Home Assistant
  • MQTT
  • API
  • Native integration

Only in Lose It!

  • Calorie counting
  • Barcode scanner
  • Meal planning
  • Challenges
  • Progress photos
  • Fitbit
  • Apple Health
  • Google Fit

What people use each for

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

ESPHome

  • Building custom smart home sensors and switches on ESP32 hardwarenot Lose It!
  • Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based devices with locally controlled firmwarenot Lose It!
  • Integrating DIY devices into Home Assistant over a native API or MQTTnot Lose It!

Lose It!

  • Workout trackingnot ESPHome
  • Nutrition managementnot ESPHome
  • Health monitoringnot ESPHome
  • Fitness coachingnot ESPHome
  • Wellness improvementnot ESPHome

Where each one falls short

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

ESPHome

  • ESPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects
  • Support for ESP32-H2, RP2040 and other newer chips is documented as less mature
  • Large displays and some sensors do not work well on ESP8266 because of its limited RAM, which is roughly a fifth of an ESP32

Lose It!

  • Photo-based logging (Snap It) is Premium-only and has inconsistent accuracy
  • No natural language input for food logging, requires manual database search for every food
  • Limited micronutrient tracking beyond basic macros
  • Lacks built-in meal planning in free tier
  • No artificial intelligence for personalized recommendations

Pricing, plan by plan

ESPHome

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Full firmware
    • Home Assistant integration
    • Custom sensors

Lose It!

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Lose It! review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ESPHome if

  • You need yaml configuration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want ota updates.
ESPHome review

Choose Lose It! if

  • You need calorie counting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iPhone, Android, Web.
  • You also want barcode scanner.
Lose It! review

Questions people ask

Is ESPHome or Lose It! better?
Neither clearly leads. ESPHome starts at Free and Lose It! at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESPHome or Lose It!?
ESPHome starts at Free and Lose It! at Free.
Does ESPHome or Lose It! run on more platforms?
ESPHome runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi. Lose It! runs on iPhone, Android, Web.
Can I use ESPHome for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ESPHome best used for?
ESPHome is most often used for building custom smart home sensors and switches on esp32 hardware, replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based devices with locally controlled firmware, integrating diy devices into home assistant over a native api or mqtt. Of those, building custom smart home sensors and switches on esp32 hardware and replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based devices with locally controlled firmware are not what Lose It! is typically brought in for.
What can ESPHome do that Lose It! cannot?
ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, OTA Updates, Home Assistant Native, Custom Components. Lose It! covers Calorie counting, Barcode scanner, Meal planning, Challenges.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lose It!: Can Lose It track macronutrients?

Yes, basic macro tracking is included in the free tier. Advanced macro tracking and meal planning features are available in the Premium tier.

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Related pages

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