Is ESPHome or Shelly better?

Neither clearly leads. ESPHome starts at Free and Shelly at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, ESPHome or Shelly?

ESPHome starts at Free and Shelly at Free.

Does ESPHome or Shelly run on more platforms?

ESPHome runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi. Shelly runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.

Can I use ESPHome for free?

Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.

What is ESPHome best used for?

ESPHome is most often used for building custom smart home sensors and switches on esp32 hardware, replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based devices with locally controlled firmware, integrating diy devices into home assistant over a native api or mqtt. Of those, building custom smart home sensors and switches on esp32 hardware and replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based devices with locally controlled firmware are not what Shelly is typically brought in for.

What can ESPHome do that Shelly cannot?

ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, OTA Updates, Home Assistant Native, Custom Components. Shelly covers Local Control, Open API, MQTT Support, Energy Monitoring. Both handle Home Assistant.

Smart Home · head to head

ESPHome vs Shelly

ESPHome

Smart Home

Custom firmware for ESP8266/ESP32 smart home devices

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

Shelly

Smart Home

Powerful WiFi smart home devices with local control

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Each has a real cost: ESPHome eSPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects; Shelly premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
They diverge on capability: ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, Shelly covers Local Control.
Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ESPHome and Shelly actually diverge.

Attributes where ESPHome and Shelly differ
Attribute	ESPHome	Shelly
Pricing model	open-source	Unknown
Platforms	ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi	Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network
Founded	2018	2016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 ESPHome

YAML Configuration
OTA Updates
Home Assistant Native
Custom Components
MQTT
API
Native integration
ESP8266 support

Only in Shelly

Local Control
Open API
MQTT Support
Energy Monitoring
Alexa
Google Home
SmartThings
IOS support

Both cover

Home Assistant

What people use each for

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

ESPHome

Building custom smart home sensors and switches on ESP32 hardwarenot Shelly
Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based devices with locally controlled firmwarenot Shelly
Integrating DIY devices into Home Assistant over a native API or MQTTnot Shelly

Shelly

Smart home automation and controlnot ESPHome
Energy monitoring and managementnot ESPHome
WiFi/Bluetooth/Matter device integrationnot ESPHome

Where each one falls short

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

ESPHome

ESPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects
Support for ESP32-H2, RP2040 and other newer chips is documented as less mature
Large displays and some sensors do not work well on ESP8266 because of its limited RAM, which is roughly a fifth of an ESP32

Shelly

Premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
Device-specific capabilities vary; not all features available across entire product range

Pricing, plan by plan

ESPHome

Free

CommunityFree
- Full firmware
- Home Assistant integration
- Custom sensors

Shelly

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Shelly review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ESPHome if

You need yaml configuration.
You want to start without paying.
You work on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
You also want ota updates.

ESPHome review

Choose Shelly if

You need local control.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
You also want open api.

Shelly review

Questions people ask

Is ESPHome or Shelly better?: Neither clearly leads. ESPHome starts at Free and Shelly at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESPHome or Shelly?: ESPHome starts at Free and Shelly at Free.
Does ESPHome or Shelly run on more platforms?: ESPHome runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi. Shelly runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
Can I use ESPHome for free?: Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ESPHome best used for?: ESPHome is most often used for building custom smart home sensors and switches on esp32 hardware, replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based devices with locally controlled firmware, integrating diy devices into home assistant over a native api or mqtt. Of those, building custom smart home sensors and switches on esp32 hardware and replacing vendor cloud firmware on esp based devices with locally controlled firmware are not what Shelly is typically brought in for.
What can ESPHome do that Shelly cannot?: ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, OTA Updates, Home Assistant Native, Custom Components. Shelly covers Local Control, Open API, MQTT Support, Energy Monitoring. Both handle Home Assistant.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ESPHome: Is ESPHome free to use?

Yes. ESPHome is free and open-source software. The Desktop App, Device Builder, components, and recipe tools are all available at no cost.

Source

Shelly: Does Shelly offer a free tier or paid premium service?

Shelly offers a free service with an option to upgrade. The site mentions Go Premium in the Shelly app, which provides more automation and control capabilities. A Shelly Cloud Premium Voucher is available for purchase.

Source

ESPHome: What is the cost to run ESPHome?

ESPHome software itself is completely free. Hardware devices and components used with ESPHome vary in cost depending on which microcontrollers and IoT devices you choose.

Source

Shelly: What is the difference between free Shelly and Shelly Cloud Premium?

The free version provides basic functionality, while Premium unlocks more automation options and additional control features. Specific pricing for Premium is not disclosed on the homepage.

Source

ESPHome: Does ESPHome require a subscription or license fee?

No. ESPHome is open-source software with no subscription fees, license costs, or commercial restrictions associated with its use.

Source

Shelly: Can I purchase Shelly Cloud Premium directly?

Yes. Shelly Cloud Premium Vouchers are available for purchase through the Shelly shop. Pricing details are available on the product shop page.

Source

ESPHome vs Shelly

ESPHome

Shelly

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in ESPHome

Only in Shelly

Both cover

What people use each for

ESPHome

Shelly

Where each one falls short

ESPHome

Shelly

Pricing, plan by plan

ESPHome

Shelly

Which should you pick?

Choose ESPHome if

Choose Shelly if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on ESPHome

More on Shelly

Keep looking

Other head to heads