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Software · head to head

Home Assistant vs Pop

Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

Software

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pop logo

Pop

Software

Lightweight screen sharing and recording

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: Home Assistant covers Local Control, Pop covers Screen sharing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Home Assistant and Pop differ
AttributeHome AssistantPop
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, WindowsWeb, Chrome extension, Desktop
Founded20132020

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 Pop

  • Screen sharing
  • Recording
  • Instant links
  • Minimal interface
  • Chat
  • Slack
  • Web support
  • Chrome extension support

What people use each for

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

Home Assistant

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

Pop

  • Video Conferencingnot Home Assistant
  • Team Collaborationnot Home Assistant
  • Project Managementnot 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

Pop

Nothing recorded yet. See the Pop review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Home Assistant

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

Pop

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Instant sharing
    • Recording
    • Basic features
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • Advanced features
    • Priority 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 Pop if

  • You need screen sharing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome extension, Desktop.
  • You also want recording.
Pop review

Questions people ask

Is Home Assistant or Pop better?
Neither clearly leads. Home Assistant starts at Free and Pop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Home Assistant or Pop?
Home Assistant starts at Free and Pop at Free.
Does Home Assistant or Pop run on more platforms?
Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows. Pop runs on Web, Chrome extension, Desktop.
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 Pop is typically brought in for.
What can Home Assistant do that Pop cannot?
Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. Pop covers Screen sharing, Recording, Instant links, Minimal interface.
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Related pages

More on Home Assistant

More on Pop

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