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Software · head to head

Homey vs Shelly

Homey logo

Homey

Software

Connect all your smart home devices in one app

From
On request
Rated
-
Shelly logo

Shelly

Software

Powerful WiFi smart home devices with local control

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Shelly 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; Shelly premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • They diverge on capability: Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Shelly covers Local Control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Homey and Shelly actually diverge.

Attributes where Homey and Shelly differ
AttributeHomeyShelly
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, Android, WebWeb, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network
Founded20142016

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 Shelly

  • Local Control
  • Open API
  • MQTT Support
  • Energy Monitoring
  • Home Assistant
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings

Both cover

  • IOS support
  • Android support
  • Web support

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

Shelly

  • Smart home automation and controlnot Homey
  • Energy monitoring and managementnot Homey
  • WiFi/Bluetooth/Matter device integrationnot 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

Shelly

  • Premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • Device-specific capabilities vary; not all features available across entire product range

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

Shelly

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Shelly review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Homey if

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

Choose Shelly if

  • You need local control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
  • You also want open api.

Questions people ask

Is Homey or Shelly better?
Neither clearly leads. Homey starts at On request and Shelly at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Homey or Shelly?
Shelly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Homey and Free for Shelly.
Does Homey or Shelly run on more platforms?
Homey runs on IOS, Android, Web. Shelly runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
Can I use Shelly for free?
Yes. Shelly 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 Shelly is typically brought in for.
What can Homey do that Shelly cannot?
Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Advanced flows, Voice control, Energy insights. Shelly covers Local Control, Open API, MQTT Support, Energy Monitoring. Both handle IOS support, Android support, Web support.

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