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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Home Assistant vs Johnson Controls Metasys

Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

IoT & Smart Home

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Johnson Controls Metasys logo

Johnson Controls Metasys

Energy & Utilities

Building management and control system platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Home Assistant has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Johnson Controls Metasys a Metasys server supports 1,300 devices and 65,000 objects, so larger estates require additional servers
  • They diverge on capability: Home Assistant covers Local Control, Johnson Controls Metasys covers HVAC control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Home Assistant and Johnson Controls Metasys actually diverge.

Attributes where Home Assistant and Johnson Controls Metasys differ
AttributeHome AssistantJohnson Controls Metasys
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, WindowsWeb, Mobile
CategoryIoT & Smart HomeEnergy & Utilities
Founded20131885

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Johnson Controls Metasys

  • HVAC control
  • Building automation
  • Energy management
  • Security integration
  • Analytics dashboard
  • SOC2
  • SSL encryption
  • On-premise deployment

What people use each for

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

Home Assistant

  • Home automationnot Johnson Controls Metasys
  • Energy monitoringnot Johnson Controls Metasys
  • Security systemsnot Johnson Controls Metasys
  • Device integrationnot Johnson Controls Metasys

Johnson Controls Metasys

  • Building automation for offices, data centres, hospitals and universitiesnot Home Assistant
  • Managing multi site campuses from one building management systemnot Home Assistant
  • Meeting compliance and reporting requirements for regulated facilitiesnot 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

Johnson Controls Metasys

  • A Metasys server supports 1,300 devices and 65,000 objects, so larger estates require additional servers
  • No hardware requirement, licensing model, subscription term or price is published on the product page; the routes offered are a demo booking and a contact form

Pricing, plan by plan

Home Assistant

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

Johnson Controls Metasys

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Johnson Controls Metasys 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 Johnson Controls Metasys if

  • You need hvac control.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want building automation.
Johnson Controls Metasys review

Questions people ask

Is Home Assistant or Johnson Controls Metasys better?
Neither clearly leads. Home Assistant starts at Free and Johnson Controls Metasys at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Home Assistant or Johnson Controls Metasys?
Home Assistant has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Home Assistant and On request for Johnson Controls Metasys.
Does Home Assistant or Johnson Controls Metasys run on more platforms?
Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows. Johnson Controls Metasys runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Home Assistant for free?
Yes. Home Assistant has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Johnson Controls Metasys starts at On request.
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 Johnson Controls Metasys is typically brought in for.
What can Home Assistant do that Johnson Controls Metasys cannot?
Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. Johnson Controls Metasys covers HVAC control, Building automation, Energy management, Security integration.
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