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Home Assistant vs IFTTT

Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

Software

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IFTTT logo

IFTTT

Software

Automate almost anything with IFTTT

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; IFTTT free plan limited to only 2 applets total
  • They diverge on capability: Home Assistant covers Local Control, IFTTT covers If-then applets.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Home Assistant and IFTTT differ
AttributeHome AssistantIFTTT
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20132011

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
  • REST API

Only in IFTTT

  • If-then applets
  • Webhooks
  • Smart home integration
  • Social media
  • Email notifications
  • Data logging
  • 650+ services
  • Smart home devices

What people use each for

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

Home Assistant

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

IFTTT

  • Casual automation with up to 2 simple applets via free plannot Home Assistant
  • Power users requiring 20 applets and multi-action capabilities via Pro plannot Home Assistant
  • Advanced automation with unlimited applets and AI services via Pro+ 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

IFTTT

  • Free plan limited to only 2 applets total
  • Free plan applets run at standard speed; fastest speeds require Pro tier
  • Free plan excludes webhooks, multi-action applets, and Twitter integrations
  • Free plan limited to 30-day onboarding support; paid plans offer ongoing customer support

Pricing, plan by plan

Home Assistant

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

IFTTT

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the IFTTT review.

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.
Home Assistant review

Choose IFTTT if

  • You need if-then applets.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want webhooks.
IFTTT review

Questions people ask

Is Home Assistant or IFTTT better?
Neither clearly leads. Home Assistant starts at Free and IFTTT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Home Assistant or IFTTT?
Home Assistant starts at Free and IFTTT at Free.
Does Home Assistant or IFTTT run on more platforms?
Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows. IFTTT runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 IFTTT is typically brought in for.
What can Home Assistant do that IFTTT cannot?
Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. IFTTT covers If-then applets, Webhooks, Smart home integration, Social media.
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