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Home Assistant vs Workato

Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

Smart Home

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Workato logo

Workato

Automation Integration

The enterprise integration platform

From
$99/month
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; Workato the pricing page names four product lines, Enterprise iPaaS, Agentic solutions, API Management and Data Orchestration, and publishes no figure for any of them, gating all of it behind Schedule a demo
  • They diverge on capability: Home Assistant covers Local Control, Workato covers Process orchestration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Home Assistant and Workato differ
AttributeHome AssistantWorkato
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, WindowsWeb, On-premise
CategorySmart HomeAutomation Integration
Founded20132014

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 Workato

  • Process orchestration
  • Master data management
  • Integration templates
  • Real-time sync
  • Error handling
  • Monitoring
  • API management
  • Workflow analytics

What people use each for

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

Home Assistant

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

Workato

  • Workflow Automationnot Home Assistant
  • Data Integrationnot Home Assistant
  • Process Automationnot Home Assistant
  • App Integrationnot Home Assistant
  • API Connectivitynot 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

Workato

  • The pricing page names four product lines, Enterprise iPaaS, Agentic solutions, API Management and Data Orchestration, and publishes no figure for any of them, gating all of it behind Schedule a demo

Pricing, plan by plan

Home Assistant

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

Workato

$99/month
  • Starter$99/month
    • Up to 50 recipes
    • Basic integrations
    • Email support
  • Professional$299/month
    • Unlimited recipes
    • Premium integrations
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$999/month
    • Custom SLA
    • Dedicated support
    • Advanced security

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 Workato if

  • You need process orchestration.
  • You work on Web, On-premise.
  • You also want master data management.
Workato review

Questions people ask

Is Home Assistant or Workato better?
Neither clearly leads. Home Assistant starts at Free and Workato at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Home Assistant or Workato?
Home Assistant has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Home Assistant and $99/month for Workato.
Does Home Assistant or Workato run on more platforms?
Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows. Workato runs on Web, On-premise.
Can I use Home Assistant for free?
Yes. Home Assistant has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Workato starts at $99/month.
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 Workato is typically brought in for.
What can Home Assistant do that Workato cannot?
Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations. Workato covers Process orchestration, Master data management, Integration templates, Real-time sync.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Home Assistant: Does Home Assistant software cost anything?

Home Assistant core software is completely free and open source. It is operated by the Open Home Foundation as a non-profit, which means it cannot be sold or acquired. Commercial products like Home Assistant hardware are sold separately.

Source
Workato: How is Workato pricing structured?

Workato states their pricing is built for flexibility and designed to support organizations of all sizes and needs. However, specific tier costs, feature inclusions, and contract terms are not published on their website.

Source
Home Assistant: Are there paid products from Home Assistant?

Home Assistant offers official hardware products including Home Assistant Green, Connect ZBT-2, Connect ZWA-2, and Voice Preview Edition, which have separate pricing. Nabu Casa provides commercial services as an official partner.

Source
Workato: Can I see Workato's pricing without talking to sales?

No. Workato requires interested buyers to either request a demo, request a trial, or contact their sales team directly to discuss pricing.

Source
Workato: Does Workato have a Predictable Pricing Commitment?

Yes, Workato mentions a Predictable Pricing Commitment, but the details are not visible on the main pricing page. You would need to contact them or visit the linked resource for details.

Source
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