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Smart Home · head to head

OpenHAB vs Wyze

OpenHAB logo

OpenHAB

Smart Home

Open source automation software for your home

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wyze logo

Wyze

Smart Home

Affordable smart home products for everyone

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenHAB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OpenHAB requires a 64-bit Java 21 JVM to be installed and maintained separately; Wyze without a paid Cam Plus plan, cloud clips are capped at 12 seconds
  • They diverge on capability: OpenHAB covers Vendor Agnostic, Wyze covers Affordable Prices.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenHAB and Wyze actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenHAB and Wyze differ
AttributeOpenHABWyze
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry PiIOS, Android, Web
Founded20102017

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Smart Home).

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 OpenHAB

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

Only in Wyze

  • Affordable Prices
  • Wide Product Range
  • Cloud Storage Options
  • Local Storage
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • IFTTT
  • SmartThings

What people use each for

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

OpenHAB

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

Wyze

  • Low cost home security cameras with cloud event recordingnot OpenHAB
  • Motion and person detection alerts on a phonenot OpenHAB
  • Viewing and reviewing camera footage without a local recordernot OpenHAB

Where each one falls short

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

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

Wyze

  • Without a paid Cam Plus plan, cloud clips are capped at 12 seconds
  • Cam Plus Lite records a clip only once every 5 minutes, so events inside the cooldown are never captured
  • Cam Plus Lite cloud storage is a rolling 14 days for motion events only
  • Cam Plus Lite is a Name Your Price tier whose suggested contribution scales with the number of cameras on the account

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenHAB

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

Wyze

On request
  • Cam Plus$1.99/month
    • Person detection
    • 14-day cloud storage
    • No cooldown
  • Cam Unlimited$9.99/month
    • Unlimited cameras
    • All Cam Plus features

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Wyze if

  • You need affordable prices.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want wide product range.
Wyze review

Questions people ask

Is OpenHAB or Wyze better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenHAB starts at Free and Wyze at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenHAB or Wyze?
OpenHAB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenHAB and On request for Wyze.
Does OpenHAB or Wyze run on more platforms?
OpenHAB runs on Linux, Windows, MacOS, Docker, Raspberry Pi. Wyze runs on IOS, Android, Web.
Can I use OpenHAB for free?
Yes. OpenHAB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wyze starts at On request.
What is OpenHAB best used for?
OpenHAB is most often used for self-hosted vendor neutral home automation hub, bridging smart home devices from different manufacturers under one set of rules. Of those, self-hosted vendor neutral home automation hub and bridging smart home devices from different manufacturers under one set of rules are not what Wyze is typically brought in for.
What can OpenHAB do that Wyze cannot?
OpenHAB covers Vendor Agnostic, Rule Engine, 200+ Bindings, Local Processing. Wyze covers Affordable Prices, Wide Product Range, Cloud Storage Options, Local Storage.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenHAB: How much does openHAB cost?

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

Source
Wyze: Is there a shipping cost?

Free shipping is available on orders of $59 or more.

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
Wyze: What is the return policy?

Wyze offers a 30-day return policy on purchases.

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
Wyze: Do I need a paid subscription to use Wyze cameras?

No, there are free features with zero limits on livestreams and a free user-friendly app, with no hidden fees. Cam Plus security plans are available as optional add-ons.

Source
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