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Google Home vs Home Assistant

Google Home logo

Google Home

Smart Home

Google's smart home platform with Google Assistant

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: Google Home web version (home.google.com) has limited controls compared to the mobile app; Home Assistant add-ons run only on Home Assistant Operating System installations, and Container installations have no access to them
  • They diverge on capability: Google Home covers Google Assistant, Home Assistant covers Local Control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Home and Home Assistant differ
AttributeGoogle HomeHome Assistant
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, ChromeOSLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows
Founded20162013

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

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 Google Home

  • Google Assistant
  • Routines
  • Multi-Room Audio
  • 10,000+ devices
  • Nest products
  • Chromecast
  • Third-party apps
  • Android support

Only in Home Assistant

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

Both cover

  • Voice Control

What people use each for

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

Google Home

  • Controlling and automating smart home devicesnot Home Assistant
  • Viewing Nest camera feedsnot Home Assistant
  • Creating automation routinesnot Home Assistant
  • Managing household device settingsnot Home Assistant
  • Voice control via Google Assistantnot Home Assistant

Home Assistant

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

Where each one falls short

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

Google Home

  • Web version (home.google.com) has limited controls compared to the mobile app
  • Battery-camera live streams on the web app auto-stop after 5 minutes
  • Requires compatible Google/Nest or third-party smart-home hardware - it is a control app, not a standalone product

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

Google Home

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Home review.

Home Assistant

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Home if

  • You need google assistant.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS.
  • You also want routines.
Google Home 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 Google Home or Home Assistant better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Home 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, Google Home or Home Assistant?
Google Home starts at Free and Home Assistant at Free.
Does Google Home or Home Assistant run on more platforms?
Google Home runs on iOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS. Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows.
Can I use Google Home for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Home best used for?
Google Home is most often used for controlling and automating smart home devices, viewing nest camera feeds, creating automation routines, managing household device settings. Of those, controlling and automating smart home devices and viewing nest camera feeds are not what Home Assistant is typically brought in for.
What can Google Home do that Home Assistant cannot?
Google Home covers Google Assistant, Routines, Multi-Room Audio, 10,000+ devices. Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. Both handle Voice Control.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Home: Is Google Home free?

The basic Google Home service is free. A paid subscription called Google Home Premium is available for enhanced features.

Source
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
Google Home: What does the free tier of Google Home include?

The free tier includes basic device control, automation setup, access to Gemini voice assistant, suggested automations, and basic home dashboard tracking.

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
Google Home: What additional features does Google Home Premium unlock?

Premium adds enhanced Gemini-powered features, advanced video event descriptions, Home Brief summaries, video search by description, and advanced automation capabilities.

Source
Google Home: How much does Google Home Premium cost?

The exact price is not shown on this page. The site directs users to the Google Store for purchase details.

Source
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