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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Homey vs ESPHome

Homey logo

Homey

IoT & Smart Home

Connect all your smart home devices in one app

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ESPHome logo

ESPHome

IoT & Smart Home

Custom firmware for ESP8266/ESP32 smart home devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ESPHome has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Homey homey Cloud without a subscription connects at most 5 devices; ESPHome eSPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects
  • They diverge on capability: Homey covers Multi-protocol support, ESPHome covers YAML Configuration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Homey and ESPHome actually diverge.

Attributes where Homey and ESPHome differ
AttributeHomeyESPHome
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, Android, WebESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi
Founded20142018

Identical on both: 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 Homey

  • Multi-protocol support
  • Advanced flows
  • Voice control
  • Energy insights
  • Timeline
  • Zones
  • Google Assistant
  • Amazon Alexa

Only in ESPHome

  • YAML Configuration
  • OTA Updates
  • Home Assistant Native
  • Custom Components
  • Home Assistant
  • MQTT
  • API
  • Native integration

What people use each for

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

Homey

  • Bringing Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices from different brands into one appnot ESPHome
  • Building home automations visually with Flownot ESPHome
  • Charting device and sensor history through Insightsnot ESPHome

ESPHome

  • Building custom smart home sensors and switches on ESP32 hardwarenot Homey
  • Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based devices with locally controlled firmwarenot Homey
  • Integrating DIY devices into Home Assistant over a native API or MQTTnot Homey

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Homey

  • Homey Cloud without a subscription connects at most 5 devices
  • Unlimited devices require the Homey Premium subscription at $2.99 per month
  • Advanced Flow, Insights, and Logic and Variables are locked behind Homey Premium
  • The free month of Premium is only offered to new subscribers signing up through iOS or Android

ESPHome

  • ESPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects
  • Support for ESP32-H2, RP2040 and other newer chips is documented as less mature
  • Large displays and some sensors do not work well on ESP8266 because of its limited RAM, which is roughly a fifth of an ESP32

Pricing, plan by plan

Homey

On request
  • Homey Pro$399/month
    • Local processing
    • 1000+ apps
    • Advanced flows
  • Homey Bridge$69/month
    • Cloud processing
    • 500+ apps
    • Basic flows

ESPHome

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Full firmware
    • Home Assistant integration
    • Custom sensors

Which should you pick?

Choose Homey if

  • You need multi-protocol support.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want advanced flows.
Homey review

Choose ESPHome if

  • You need yaml configuration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want ota updates.
ESPHome review

Questions people ask

Is Homey or ESPHome better?
Neither clearly leads. Homey starts at On request and ESPHome at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Homey or ESPHome?
ESPHome has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Homey and Free for ESPHome.
Does Homey or ESPHome run on more platforms?
Homey runs on IOS, Android, Web. ESPHome runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
Can I use ESPHome for free?
Yes. ESPHome has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Homey starts at On request.
What is Homey best used for?
Homey is most often used for bringing zigbee, z-wave, wi-fi and bluetooth devices from different brands into one app, building home automations visually with flow, charting device and sensor history through insights. Of those, bringing zigbee, z-wave, wi-fi and bluetooth devices from different brands into one app and building home automations visually with flow are not what ESPHome is typically brought in for.
What can Homey do that ESPHome cannot?
Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Advanced flows, Voice control, Energy insights. ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, OTA Updates, Home Assistant Native, Custom Components.
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