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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Home Assistant vs SmartThings

Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

IoT & Smart Home

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SmartThings logo

SmartThings

IoT & Smart Home

Samsung's intelligent IoT platform for smart homes

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; SmartThings cloud-dependent with no offline operation; requires internet and Samsung servers for all device control
  • They diverge on capability: Home Assistant covers Local Control, SmartThings covers Multi-Brand Support.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Home Assistant and SmartThings differ
AttributeHome AssistantSmartThings
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, WindowsiOS, Android, Web, SmartThings Hub
Founded20131938

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home).

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
  • Mobile App
  • REST API
  • Linux support

Only in SmartThings

  • Multi-Brand Support
  • Device Control
  • Automations
  • Cloud Backup
  • 500+ device types
  • Routines
  • IFTTT integration
  • IOS support

Both cover

  • Voice Control

What people use each for

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

Home Assistant

  • Home automationnot SmartThings
  • Energy monitoringnot SmartThings
  • Security systemsnot SmartThings
  • Device integration

SmartThings

  • Smart home controlnot Home Assistant
  • Automation routinesnot Home Assistant
  • Device integration
  • Remote monitoringnot Home Assistant

Both are used for device integration, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

SmartThings

  • Cloud-dependent with no offline operation; requires internet and Samsung servers for all device control
  • Cloud communication adds latency compared to local hubs; device response delays up to one second
  • Confusing app transition between SmartThings Classic and SmartThings Connect with certain automations only working in one app
  • API changes requiring paid subscriptions starting October 2026 break third-party integrations like Home Assistant

Pricing, plan by plan

Home Assistant

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

SmartThings

Free
  • Basic (SmartThings app)Free
    • Device control and automation
    • Support for Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Matter

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 SmartThings if

  • You need multi-brand support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, SmartThings Hub.
  • You also want device control.
SmartThings review

Questions people ask

Is Home Assistant or SmartThings better?
Neither clearly leads. Home Assistant starts at Free and SmartThings at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Home Assistant or SmartThings?
Home Assistant starts at Free and SmartThings at Free.
Does Home Assistant or SmartThings run on more platforms?
Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows. SmartThings runs on iOS, Android, Web, SmartThings Hub.
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 SmartThings is typically brought in for.
What can Home Assistant do that SmartThings cannot?
Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. SmartThings covers Multi-Brand Support, Device Control, Automations, Cloud Backup. Both handle Voice Control.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SmartThings: Does SmartThings work offline?

No, SmartThings requires internet and Samsung servers to function. It cannot operate offline; all device control depends on cloud connectivity.

Source
SmartThings: Which communication protocols does SmartThings support?

SmartThings natively handles Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, and Matter protocols simultaneously through mesh networking.

Source
SmartThings: What is the cost of SmartThings API access for developers?

Starting October 2026, non-commercial developers using SmartThings API for third-party integrations like Home Assistant must pay $4.99/month. Free access continues through Q3 2026.

Source
SmartThings: Does SmartThings support voice assistants?

Yes, SmartThings is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.

Source
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