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Home Assistant vs Shelly

Home Assistant logo

Home Assistant

Smart Home

Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shelly logo

Shelly

Smart Home

Powerful WiFi smart home devices with local control

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Home Assistant add-ons run only on Home Assistant Operating System installations, and Container installations have no access to them; Shelly premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • They diverge on capability: Home Assistant covers Privacy First, Shelly covers Open API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Home Assistant and Shelly actually diverge.

Attributes where Home Assistant and Shelly differ
AttributeHome AssistantShelly
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, WindowsWeb, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network
Founded20132016

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 Home Assistant

  • Privacy First
  • Automation Engine
  • Custom Integrations
  • 150+ integrations
  • Voice Control
  • Mobile App
  • REST API
  • Linux support

Only in Shelly

  • Open API
  • MQTT Support
  • Energy Monitoring
  • Home Assistant
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings
  • IOS support

Both cover

  • Local Control

What people use each for

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

Home Assistant

  • Home automationnot Shelly
  • Energy monitoringnot Shelly
  • Security systemsnot Shelly
  • Device integrationnot Shelly

Shelly

  • Smart home automation and controlnot Home Assistant
  • Energy monitoring and managementnot Home Assistant
  • WiFi/Bluetooth/Matter device integrationnot Home Assistant

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Home Assistant

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited devices
    • Full automation
    • Local control

Shelly

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Shelly review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Home Assistant if

  • You need privacy first.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want automation engine.
Home Assistant review

Choose Shelly if

  • You need open api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
  • You also want mqtt support.
Shelly review

Questions people ask

Is Home Assistant or Shelly better?
Neither clearly leads. Home Assistant 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, Home Assistant or Shelly?
Home Assistant starts at Free and Shelly at Free.
Does Home Assistant or Shelly run on more platforms?
Home Assistant runs on Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi, MacOS, Windows. Shelly runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
Can I use Home Assistant for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Home Assistant best used for?
Home Assistant is most often used for home automation, energy monitoring, security systems, device integration. Of those, home automation and energy monitoring are not what Shelly is typically brought in for.
What can Home Assistant do that Shelly cannot?
Home Assistant covers Privacy First, Automation Engine, Custom Integrations, 150+ integrations. Shelly covers Open API, MQTT Support, Energy Monitoring, Home Assistant. Both handle Local Control.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Home Assistant: Does Home Assistant software cost anything?

Home Assistant core software is completely free and open source. It is operated by the Open Home Foundation as a non-profit, which means it cannot be sold or acquired. Commercial products like Home Assistant hardware are sold separately.

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
Home Assistant: Are there paid products from Home Assistant?

Home Assistant offers official hardware products including Home Assistant Green, Connect ZBT-2, Connect ZWA-2, and Voice Preview Edition, which have separate pricing. Nabu Casa provides commercial services as an official partner.

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
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
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