Softwr

Remote Work · head to head

Make vs OpenHAB

Make logo

Make

Remote Work

The platform for the new way of working

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenHAB logo

OpenHAB

Smart Home

Open source automation software for your home

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Make free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month; OpenHAB requires a 64-bit Java 21 JVM to be installed and maintained separately
  • They diverge on capability: Make covers Visual workflow builder, OpenHAB covers Vendor Agnostic.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Make and OpenHAB actually diverge.

Attributes where Make and OpenHAB differ
AttributeMakeOpenHAB
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWebLinux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi
CategoryRemote WorkSmart Home
Founded20132010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Make

  • Visual workflow builder
  • Webhooks
  • API connectors
  • Conditional logic
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Team collaboration

Only in OpenHAB

  • Vendor Agnostic
  • Rule Engine
  • 200+ Bindings
  • Local Processing
  • Z-Wave
  • Zigbee
  • MQTT
  • REST API

What people use each for

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

Make

  • Automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applicationsnot OpenHAB
  • Building AI agents and workflow automation without extensive codingnot OpenHAB
  • Enterprise automation with GDPR, SOC 2 Type II compliancenot OpenHAB
  • Rapid deployment of automations from concept to livenot OpenHAB

OpenHAB

  • Self-hosted vendor neutral home automation hubnot Make
  • Bridging smart home devices from different manufacturers under one set of rulesnot Make

Where each one falls short

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

Make

  • Free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • Free tier restricted to 2 active scenarios maximum
  • Free tier enforces 15-minute minimum scheduling interval
  • Credit-based model means costs scale with usage volume, not just features

OpenHAB

  • Requires a 64-bit Java 21 JVM to be installed and maintained separately
  • Oracle Java is explicitly not recommended by the project because of potential licensing restrictions
  • The recommended hardware is a dedicated Raspberry Pi 4 or newer rather than shared hardware
  • Some version upgrades require additional manual steps run through a separate upgrade tool

Pricing, plan by plan

Make

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Make review.

OpenHAB

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited devices
    • 200+ bindings
    • Local control

Which should you pick?

Choose Make if

  • You need visual workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want webhooks.
Make review

Choose OpenHAB if

  • You need vendor agnostic.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want rule engine.
OpenHAB review

Questions people ask

Is Make or OpenHAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Make starts at Free and OpenHAB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Make or OpenHAB?
Make starts at Free and OpenHAB at Free.
Does Make or OpenHAB run on more platforms?
Make runs on Web. OpenHAB runs on Linux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
Can I use Make for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Make best used for?
Make is most often used for automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applications, building ai agents and workflow automation without extensive coding, enterprise automation with gdpr, soc 2 type ii compliance, rapid deployment of automations from concept to live. Of those, automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applications and building ai agents and workflow automation without extensive coding are not what OpenHAB is typically brought in for.
What can Make do that OpenHAB cannot?
Make covers Visual workflow builder, Webhooks, API connectors, Conditional logic. OpenHAB covers Vendor Agnostic, Rule Engine, 200+ Bindings, Local Processing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Make: How is Make priced and does the free plan expire?

Make offers a free plan with 1,000 credits per month at no cost and no time limit. The free plan includes the no-code workflow builder, access to 3,000+ apps, and customer support. Paid tiers (Core, Pro, Teams) are $9-$29/month with 10,000+ credits included.

Source
OpenHAB: How much does openHAB cost?

openHAB is 100% open source and completely free to download, install, and use across all supported platforms.

Source
Make: What happens if I exceed my monthly credits?

Extra credits beyond the monthly allowance can be purchased in bundles of 1,000 or 10,000. Auto-purchasing is available for Core, Pro, and Teams plans to automatically buy additional credits when needed.

Source
OpenHAB: Are there any subscription fees for openHAB?

No, openHAB has no subscription fees. The software is free and released under an open source license for unlimited use.

Source
Make: Can I save money by switching to annual billing?

Yes, annual plans offer 15% or more savings compared to monthly billing. Monthly subscriptions continue until the end of the billing month, while annual plans run for 12 months.

Source
OpenHAB: How can I support openHAB?

While openHAB is free to use, the project accepts voluntary donations through the openHAB Foundation to support development and maintenance.

Source
Make: What happens to unused credits if I cancel?

Unused monthly credits expire at the end of each billing cycle. With annual subscriptions on Pro and Teams plans, credits are maintained for the full 12-month term. Users can cancel at any time and the organization converts to the free plan after the current billing cycle ends.

Source
Make: How many active scenarios can I create on the free plan versus paid plans?

The free plan is limited to 2 active scenarios and has a 15-minute minimum interval between runs. Paid plans (Core and above) offer unlimited active scenarios with the ability to schedule runs down to the minute.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Make

More on OpenHAB

Keep looking

Other head to heads