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ESPHome vs SolarWinds

ESPHome logo

ESPHome

Software

Custom firmware for ESP8266/ESP32 smart home devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SolarWinds

Software

Solar asset performance monitoring and management

From
$2/kW/month
Rated
-
Full review

The short version

  • Only ESPHome has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ESPHome and SolarWinds actually diverge.

Attributes where ESPHome and SolarWinds differ
AttributeESPHomeSolarWinds
Starting priceFree$2/kW/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry PiWeb, Mobile, Api
Founded20182015

Identical on both: 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 SolarWinds

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Performance analytics
  • Alarm management
  • O&M workflows
  • Reporting
  • Benchmarking
  • Weather integration
  • Financial tracking

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 SolarWinds
  • Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based devices with locally controlled firmwarenot SolarWinds
  • Integrating DIY devices into Home Assistant over a native API or MQTTnot SolarWinds

SolarWinds

  • Solar monitoringnot ESPHome
  • Performance optimizationnot ESPHome
  • O&M managementnot ESPHome
  • Portfolio reportingnot ESPHome
  • Investor reportingnot 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

SolarWinds

Nothing recorded yet. See the SolarWinds review.

Pricing, plan by plan

ESPHome

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

SolarWinds

$2/kW/month
  • Monitor$2/kW/month
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Performance tracking
    • Alerts
  • Optimize$4/kW/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Degradation analysis
    • Benchmarking
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Portfolio management
    • Custom integrations
    • Financial modeling

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 SolarWinds if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want performance analytics.
SolarWinds review

Questions people ask

Is ESPHome or SolarWinds better?
Neither clearly leads. ESPHome starts at Free and SolarWinds at $2/kW/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESPHome or SolarWinds?
ESPHome has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ESPHome and $2/kW/month for SolarWinds.
Does ESPHome or SolarWinds run on more platforms?
ESPHome runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi. SolarWinds runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
Can I use ESPHome for free?
Yes. ESPHome has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SolarWinds starts at $2/kW/month.
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 SolarWinds is typically brought in for.
What can ESPHome do that SolarWinds cannot?
ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, OTA Updates, Home Assistant Native, Custom Components. SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring, Performance analytics, Alarm management, O&M workflows.
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