Software · head to head
Meross vs Home Assistant
Meross
Software
Affordable smart home devices with HomeKit support
- From
- On request
- 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.
- They diverge on capability: Meross covers Apple HomeKit, Home Assistant covers Local Control.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Meross and Home Assistant actually diverge.
| Attribute | Meross | Home Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | IOS, 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 Meross
- Apple HomeKit
- No hub required
- Energy monitoring
- Schedules
- Voice control
- Scene automation
- Apple HomeKit
- Amazon Alexa
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.
Meross
- Smart plugsnot Home Assistant
- Lighting controlnot Home Assistant
- Garage automationnot Home Assistant
- Energy monitoring
Home Assistant
- Home automationnot Meross
- Energy monitoring
- Security systemsnot Meross
- Device integrationnot Meross
Both are used for energy monitoring, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Meross
Nothing recorded yet. See the Meross review.
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
Meross
On request- Smart Plug$15/month
- WiFi
- Energy monitoring
- Voice control
- Smart Switch$25/month
- In-wall
- No neutral required option
- HomeKit
- Garage Opener$40/month
- Remote control
- Status alerts
- HomeKit
Home Assistant
Free- Community EditionFree
- Unlimited devices
- Full automation
- Local control
Which should you pick?
Choose Meross if
- You need apple homekit.
- You work on IOS, Android.
- You also want no hub required.
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 Meross or Home Assistant better?
- Neither clearly leads. Meross starts at On request and Home Assistant at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Meross or Home Assistant?
- Home Assistant has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Meross and Free for Home Assistant.
- Does Meross or Home Assistant run on more platforms?
- Meross runs on IOS, 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. Meross starts at On request.
- What is Meross best used for?
- Meross is most often used for smart plugs, lighting control, garage automation, energy monitoring. Of those, smart plugs and lighting control are not what Home Assistant is typically brought in for.
- What can Meross do that Home Assistant cannot?
- Meross covers Apple HomeKit, No hub required, Energy monitoring, Schedules. Home Assistant covers Local Control, Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations.