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Gather vs Home Assistant

Gather logo

Gather

Software

Virtual spaces for remote collaboration

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: Gather no native desktop or mobile app; browser-based only; Home Assistant add-ons run only on Home Assistant Operating System installations, and Container installations have no access to them
  • They diverge on capability: Gather covers Proximity video chat, Home Assistant covers Local Control.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Gather and Home Assistant differ
AttributeGatherHome Assistant
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsWebLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows
Founded20202013

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 Gather

  • Proximity video chat
  • Customizable spaces
  • Interactive objects
  • Screen sharing
  • Calendar
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • Web support

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.

Gather

  • VR Gamingnot Home Assistant
  • AR Marketingnot Home Assistant
  • Virtual Trainingnot Home Assistant
  • 3D Visualizationnot Home Assistant
  • Immersive Experiencesnot Home Assistant

Home Assistant

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

Where each one falls short

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

Gather

  • No native desktop or mobile app; browser-based only
  • Limited API documentation compared to enterprise competitors
  • Scaling large virtual offices can impact performance

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

Gather

Free
  • 30-Day TrialFree
    • Up to 50 team members
    • All features included
    • Meetings and chat
  • Essential$12/month
    • All features
    • Meeting recordings starting at 20 hours
    • Meeting transcriptions starting at 30 hours

Home Assistant

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Gather if

  • You need proximity video chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want customizable spaces.
Gather 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 Gather or Home Assistant better?
Neither clearly leads. Gather 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, Gather or Home Assistant?
Gather starts at Free and Home Assistant at Free.
Does Gather or Home Assistant run on more platforms?
Gather runs on Web. Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows.
Can I use Gather for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Gather best used for?
Gather is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Home Assistant is typically brought in for.
What can Gather do that Home Assistant cannot?
Gather covers Proximity video chat, Customizable spaces, Interactive objects, Screen sharing. Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Gather: What is a free trial of Gather like?

Gather offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required that includes up to 50 team members and access to all features including meetings, chat, AI meeting notes, and full office customization.

Source
Gather: How does Gather reduce meeting load?

Gather recreates natural office dynamics through spatial audio and proximity-based interactions, allowing colleagues to bump into each other and have quick conversations without scheduled calls. Teams report shorter, more organic conversations that wrap up in under 10 minutes.

Source
Gather: What platforms and devices does Gather support?

Gather works on web browsers and integrates with Slack and Google Chat. The platform supports audio/video calls, screen sharing, and custom workspace design.

Source
Gather: Does Gather work offline?

Gather is a web-based platform that requires an internet connection to function, though it emphasizes quick connection and low bandwidth requirements compared to traditional video conferencing.

Source
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