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Software · head to head

Homey vs Matter

Homey logo

Homey

Software

Connect all your smart home devices in one app

From
On request
Rated
-
Matter logo

Matter

Software

Unified smart home connectivity standard

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Matter 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; Matter the Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Matter page on 1 January 2023 confirmed Matter itself is a free, open IP-based connectivity standard with no license fee to implement; manufacturers instead pay a separate certification fee to certify individual devices.
  • They diverge on capability: Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Matter covers Unified Standard.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Homey and Matter actually diverge.

Attributes where Homey and Matter differ
AttributeHomeyMatter
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, Android, WebMatter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control
Founded20142021

Identical on both: 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 Homey

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

Only in Matter

  • Unified Standard
  • Multi-Admin
  • Secure Communication
  • Interoperable
  • All major ecosystems
  • HomeKit
  • Google Home
  • Alexa

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 Matter
  • Building home automations visually with Flownot Matter
  • Charting device and sensor history through Insightsnot Matter

Matter

  • Cross-ecosystem compatibilitynot Homey
  • Future-proof devicesnot Homey
  • Simplified setupnot Homey
  • Local controlnot 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

Matter

  • The Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Matter page on 1 January 2023 confirmed Matter itself is a free, open IP-based connectivity standard with no license fee to implement; manufacturers instead pay a separate certification fee to certify individual devices.

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

Matter

Free
  • Open StandardFree
    • Unified connectivity
    • Cross-platform
    • Local control

Which should you pick?

Choose Homey if

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

Choose Matter if

  • You need unified standard.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Matter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control.
  • You also want multi-admin.

Questions people ask

Is Homey or Matter better?
Neither clearly leads. Homey starts at On request and Matter at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Homey or Matter?
Matter has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Homey and Free for Matter.
Does Homey or Matter run on more platforms?
Homey runs on IOS, Android, Web. Matter runs on Matter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control.
Can I use Matter for free?
Yes. Matter 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 Matter is typically brought in for.
What can Homey do that Matter cannot?
Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Advanced flows, Voice control, Energy insights. Matter covers Unified Standard, Multi-Admin, Secure Communication, Interoperable.

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