Software · head to head
Hubitat Elevation vs Home Assistant
Hubitat Elevation
Software
Local home automation hub for advanced users
- From
- $189.95/one-time
- Rated
- -
Home Assistant
Software
Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Home Assistant has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Hubitat Elevation limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms; Home Assistant add-ons run only on Home Assistant Operating System installations, and Container installations have no access to them
- They diverge on capability: Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, Home Assistant covers Local Control.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hubitat Elevation and Home Assistant actually diverge.
| Attribute | Hubitat Elevation | Home Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $189.95/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android) | Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows |
| Founded | 2016 | 2013 |
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 Hubitat Elevation
- Local Processing
- Rule Machine
- Z-Wave Plus
- Zigbee 3.0
- Dashboard
- Voice assistants
- Custom apps
- MQTT
Only in Home Assistant
- Local Control
- Privacy First
- Automation Engine
- Custom Integrations
- 150+ integrations
- Voice Control
- Mobile App
- REST API
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hubitat Elevation
- Advanced automationnot Home Assistant
- Local controlnot Home Assistant
- Complex rulesnot Home Assistant
- Multi-protocol integrationnot Home Assistant
Home Assistant
- Home automationnot Hubitat Elevation
- Energy monitoringnot Hubitat Elevation
- Security systemsnot Hubitat Elevation
- Device integrationnot Hubitat Elevation
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hubitat Elevation
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms
- Requires purchase of hub hardware; no free tier
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Hubitat Elevation
$189.95/one-time- Hub Hardware$189.95/one-time
- Z-Wave Plus 800 and Zigbee 3.0
- Matter 1.5 support
- Local automation engine
- Cloud Backup (optional)$30/year
- Cloud backup of automations
- Automatic backups
- Remote Admin (optional)$36/year
- Remote access via cloud
- Mobile app remote control
Home Assistant
Free- Community EditionFree
- Unlimited devices
- Full automation
- Local control
Which should you pick?
Choose Hubitat Elevation if
- You need local processing.
- You work on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android).
- You also want rule machine.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Hubitat Elevation or Home Assistant better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time and Home Assistant at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hubitat Elevation or Home Assistant?
- Home Assistant has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $189.95/one-time for Hubitat Elevation and Free for Home Assistant.
- Does Hubitat Elevation or Home Assistant run on more platforms?
- Hubitat Elevation runs on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android). Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows.
- Can I use Home Assistant for free?
- Yes. Home Assistant has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time.
- What is Hubitat Elevation best used for?
- Hubitat Elevation is most often used for advanced automation, local control, complex rules, multi-protocol integration. Of those, advanced automation and local control are not what Home Assistant is typically brought in for.
- What can Hubitat Elevation do that Home Assistant cannot?
- Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, Rule Machine, Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee 3.0. Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Hubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat require a cloud connection or subscription?
No. All automations and device control run locally without cloud dependency. Hubitat does not require subscriptions for core features; optional cloud backup ($30/year) and remote admin ($36/year) are available.
SourceHubitat Elevation: How many devices can Hubitat control?
The Hubitat Elevation Model C-8 supports 1,000+ devices across 100+ brands through Zigbee, Z-Wave 800 Long Range, Matter 1.5, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi protocols.
SourceHubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit?
Yes. Hubitat integrates with Alexa and Google Home for voice control, and also supports Apple HomeKit via direct integration for HomeKit devices.
SourceHubitat Elevation: What is the difference between the C-7 and C-8 models?
The C-8 ($189.95) features Z-Wave Plus 800, Zigbee 3.0, and expanded memory for handling complex automation. The C-7 is an older model with fewer protocol options and lower performance.
SourceHubitat Elevation: Can I access my hub remotely?
Yes. Local area network (LAN) access is always available. Remote access via the Hubitat mobile app and cloud services requires an optional subscription ($36/year for remote admin).
Source