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Home Assistant vs Particle

Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

Software

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Particle logo

Particle

Software

Edge-to-cloud IoT platform for connected devices

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; Particle paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200
  • They diverge on capability: Home Assistant covers Local Control, Particle covers Device OS.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Home Assistant and Particle differ
AttributeHome AssistantParticle
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, WindowsParticle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2013).

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 Particle

  • Device OS
  • Cloud Platform
  • Device Management
  • OTA Updates
  • WebHooks
  • Integration marketplace
  • 3rd party services
  • Particle 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 Particle
  • Energy monitoringnot Particle
  • Security systemsnot Particle
  • Device integrationnot Particle

Particle

  • Connecting cellular and wifi IoT devices to a managed cloud platformnot Home Assistant
  • Deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scalenot 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

Particle

  • Paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200
  • The Basic block is $299 a month and the Plus block $599 a month
  • The free tier allows 100 devices and 100,000 data operations a month
  • Data operations are the billing unit, so chatty firmware costs more than the device count suggests
  • No overage rates are published at any tier, so exceeding an allowance has no stated cost

Pricing, plan by plan

Home Assistant

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

Particle

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 5 free devices
    • Cloud access
    • Basic features
  • Production$100/month
    • Unlimited devices
    • Advanced analytics
    • Enterprise support

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 Particle if

  • You need device os.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps.
  • You also want cloud platform.
Particle review

Questions people ask

Is Home Assistant or Particle better?
Neither clearly leads. Home Assistant starts at Free and Particle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Home Assistant or Particle?
Home Assistant starts at Free and Particle at Free.
Does Home Assistant or Particle run on more platforms?
Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows. Particle runs on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps.
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 Particle is typically brought in for.
What can Home Assistant do that Particle cannot?
Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. Particle covers Device OS, Cloud Platform, Device Management, OTA Updates. Both handle REST API.
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