Software · head to head
Home Assistant vs Arduino Cloud
Home Assistant
Software
Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Arduino Cloud
Software
Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Home Assistant add-ons run only on Home Assistant Operating System installations, and Container installations have no access to them; Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
- They diverge on capability: Home Assistant covers Local Control, Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Home Assistant and Arduino Cloud actually diverge.
| Attribute | Home Assistant | Arduino Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Platforms | Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows | Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard |
| Founded | 2013 | 2005 |
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 Home Assistant
- Local Control
- Privacy First
- Automation Engine
- Custom Integrations
- 150+ integrations
- Voice Control
- Mobile App
- Linux support
Only in Arduino Cloud
- Device Connectivity
- Cloud Storage
- Real-Time Sync
- Security
- Arduino IDE
- Mobile app
- Integration services
- Arduino devices support
Both cover
- REST API
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Home Assistant
- Home automationnot Arduino Cloud
- Energy monitoringnot Arduino Cloud
- Security systemsnot Arduino Cloud
- Device integrationnot Arduino Cloud
Arduino Cloud
- Connecting Arduino boards to a cloud dashboardnot Home Assistant
- Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Home Assistant
- Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Home Assistant
- Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Home Assistant
- Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Home Assistant
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Arduino Cloud
- The free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
- Free accounts are limited to 25 compilations a day and 10 trigger notifications a day
- The Maker plan at $72 a year lifts devices to 25 and retention to 3 months, still for a single user
- Team pricing jumps to $1,000 a year
- Two years of data retention and unlimited ingestion require Enterprise
Pricing, plan by plan
Home Assistant
Free- Community EditionFree
- Unlimited devices
- Full automation
- Local control
Arduino Cloud
Free- MakerFree
- 2 devices
- Basic features
- Cloud access
- Maker Plus$7/month
- Up to 10 devices
- Advanced features
- Better storage
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Arduino Cloud if
- You need device connectivity.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
- You also want cloud storage.
Questions people ask
- Is Home Assistant or Arduino Cloud better?
- Neither clearly leads. Home Assistant starts at Free and Arduino Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Home Assistant or Arduino Cloud?
- Home Assistant starts at Free and Arduino Cloud at Free.
- Does Home Assistant or Arduino Cloud run on more platforms?
- Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows. Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
- Can I use Home Assistant for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Home Assistant best used for?
- Home Assistant is most often used for home automation, energy monitoring, security systems, device integration. Of those, home automation and energy monitoring are not what Arduino Cloud is typically brought in for.
- What can Home Assistant do that Arduino Cloud cannot?
- Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. Both handle REST API.