IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Homey vs Thread
Homey
IoT & Smart Home
Connect all your smart home devices in one app
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Thread
IoT & Smart Home
IPv6-based mesh networking for smart home devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Thread 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; Thread thread Group publishes six membership levels with annual fees of $750, $7,500, $15,000 and $65,000, and a one-time initiation fee of $35,000 for the top tier
- They diverge on capability: Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Thread covers IPv6 Mesh.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Homey and Thread actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home), founded (2014).
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 Thread
- IPv6 Mesh
- Self-Healing
- Secure
- Low Power
- HomeKit
- Matter
- Smart devices
- Smart home hubs
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 Thread
- Building home automations visually with Flownot Thread
- Charting device and sensor history through Insightsnot Thread
Thread
- Low power IPv6 mesh networking for smart home and smart building devicesnot Homey
- Interoperable device networking underneath Matternot Homey
- Certifying wireless products for network interoperabilitynot 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
Thread
- Thread Group publishes six membership levels with annual fees of $750, $7,500, $15,000 and $65,000, and a one-time initiation fee of $35,000 for the top tier
- Certifying a product and using the Thread certification logo requires Thread Group membership
- Free access to the Thread Test Harness is restricted to higher membership levels; lower levels only get the option to purchase it
- Voting in work groups, chairing committees and a board seat are reserved for the paid upper membership levels
- The Implementer level is described as being for white-label or rebranded certified products only
- Academic membership is open only to organizations with fewer than 50 employees
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
Thread
Free- Open ProtocolFree
- IPv6 mesh
- Secure
- Self-healing
Which should you pick?
Choose Homey if
- You need multi-protocol support.
- You work on IOS, Android, Web.
- You also want advanced flows.
Choose Thread if
- You need ipv6 mesh.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Thread devices, Mesh networks, Apple Home, Smart hubs.
- You also want self-healing.
Questions people ask
- Is Homey or Thread better?
- Neither clearly leads. Homey starts at On request and Thread at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Homey or Thread?
- Thread has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Homey and Free for Thread.
- Does Homey or Thread run on more platforms?
- Homey runs on IOS, Android, Web. Thread runs on Thread devices, Mesh networks, Apple Home, Smart hubs.
- Can I use Thread for free?
- Yes. Thread 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 Thread is typically brought in for.
- What can Homey do that Thread cannot?
- Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Advanced flows, Voice control, Energy insights. Thread covers IPv6 Mesh, Self-Healing, Secure, Low Power.