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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Google Home vs OpenHAB

Google Home logo

Google Home

IoT & Smart Home

Google's smart home platform with Google Assistant

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenHAB logo

OpenHAB

IoT & Smart Home

Open source automation software for your home

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; OpenHAB requires a 64-bit Java 21 JVM to be installed and maintained separately
  • They diverge on capability: Google Home covers Google Assistant, OpenHAB covers Vendor Agnostic.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Home and OpenHAB differ
AttributeGoogle HomeOpenHAB
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, ChromeOSLinux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi
Founded20162010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & 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
  • Voice Control
  • Routines
  • Multi-Room Audio
  • 10,000+ devices
  • Nest products
  • Chromecast
  • Third-party apps

Only in OpenHAB

  • Vendor Agnostic
  • Rule Engine
  • 200+ Bindings
  • Local Processing
  • Z-Wave
  • Zigbee
  • MQTT
  • REST API

What people use each for

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

Google Home

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

OpenHAB

  • Self-hosted vendor neutral home automation hubnot Google Home
  • Bridging smart home devices from different manufacturers under one set of rulesnot 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

OpenHAB

  • Requires a 64-bit Java 21 JVM to be installed and maintained separately
  • Oracle Java is explicitly not recommended by the project because of potential licensing restrictions
  • The recommended hardware is a dedicated Raspberry Pi 4 or newer rather than shared hardware
  • Some version upgrades require additional manual steps run through a separate upgrade tool

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Home

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Home review.

OpenHAB

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited devices
    • 200+ bindings
    • 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 voice control.
Google Home review

Choose OpenHAB if

  • You need vendor agnostic.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want rule engine.
OpenHAB review

Questions people ask

Is Google Home or OpenHAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Home starts at Free and OpenHAB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Home or OpenHAB?
Google Home starts at Free and OpenHAB at Free.
Does Google Home or OpenHAB run on more platforms?
Google Home runs on iOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS. OpenHAB runs on Linux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
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 OpenHAB is typically brought in for.
What can Google Home do that OpenHAB cannot?
Google Home covers Google Assistant, Voice Control, Routines, Multi-Room Audio. OpenHAB covers Vendor Agnostic, Rule Engine, 200+ Bindings, Local Processing.
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Related pages

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