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Best API Home Automation for self-hosting

The 35 best API home automation you can self-host, ranked by community traction.

Home Assistant

Home Automation

Open-source home automation that puts privacy first

Replaces SmartThings, Google Home

★ 91.5k Medium setup Apache-2.0

Frigate

Home Automation

Local NVR with real-time AI object detection

Replaces Google Home

★ 36.6k Hard setup MIT

ntfy

Home Automation

Send push notifications to your phone via simple HTTP

Replaces Pushover, Pushbullet

★ 34.8k Easy setup Apache-2.0

Tasmota

Home Automation

Open-source firmware for ESP-based smart devices

Replaces Tuya Cloud

★ 24.8k Medium setup GPL-3.0

ThingsBoard

Home Automation

Open-source IoT platform for device management and data

Replaces AWS IoT, Azure IoT

★ 22.5k Hard setup Apache-2.0

WLED

Home Automation

Firmware for controlling addressable LED strips

Replaces Philips Hue

★ 18.8k Easy setup MIT

Gotify

Home Automation

Simple self-hosted push notification server

Replaces Pushover, Firebase Cloud Messaging

★ 16.1k Easy setup MIT

Zigbee2MQTT

Home Automation

Bridge Zigbee devices to MQTT without vendor hubs

Replaces SmartThings

★ 15.7k Medium setup GPL-3.0

ESPHome

Home Automation

Configure ESP devices with simple YAML

Replaces SmartThings

★ 11.9k Medium setup GPL-3.0

HACS

Home Automation

Community store for custom Home Assistant integrations and themes

Replaces SmartThings community add-ons

★ 7.8k Easy setup MIT

evcc

Home Automation

Solar-aware electric vehicle charging controller

Replaces SmartThings

★ 7.4k Medium setup MIT

Scrypted

Home Automation

High-performance smart home and camera platform

Replaces Google Home

★ 6k Medium setup Apache-2.0

Hyperion

Home Automation

Ambient lighting software for screens and media

Replaces Philips Hue Sync, Govee Immersion

★ 3.9k Medium setup MIT

Domoticz

Home Automation

Lightweight home automation system

Replaces SmartThings

★ 3.8k Medium setup GPL-3.0

ESPEasy

Home Automation

Multifunctional firmware for ESP8266 and ESP32 sensors

Replaces Tuya

★ 3.6k Medium setup GPL-3.0

Sonoff DIY Tools

Home Automation

Local control toolkit for Sonoff smart switches

Replaces eWeLink Cloud

★ 3.3k Medium setup MIT

Mozilla WebThings Gateway

Home Automation

Open gateway for the decentralized web of things

Replaces SmartThings, Google Home

★ 2.6k Medium setup MPL-2.0

SmartApp Bridge

Home Automation

Self-hosted automation engine for IoT devices

Replaces SmartThings

★ 2.1k Medium setup Apache-2.0

deCONZ

Home Automation

Zigbee gateway software for ConBee and RaspBee

Replaces Philips Hue Bridge

★ 1.9k Medium setup BSD-3-Clause

diyHue

Home Automation

Open-source emulator of the Philips Hue Bridge

Replaces Philips Hue Bridge

★ 1.8k Medium setup MIT

TinyTuya Server

Home Automation

Local control library and server for Tuya devices

Replaces Tuya Smart app

★ 1.8k Medium setup MIT

HA-Bridge

Home Automation

Emulate Philips Hue to control devices by voice

Replaces Philips Hue Bridge

★ 1.5k Easy setup Apache-2.0

HASS.Agent

Home Automation

Windows companion for Home Assistant control

Replaces IFTTT

★ 1.3k Easy setup MIT

OpenEnergyMonitor Emoncms

Home Automation

Web app for processing, logging, and visualizing energy data

Replaces Sense

★ 1.3k Medium setup AGPL-3.0

Z-Wave JS UI

Home Automation

Full-featured Z-Wave control panel and MQTT gateway

Replaces SmartThings

★ 1.2k Medium setup MIT

openHAB

Home Automation

Vendor-neutral open-source home automation

Replaces SmartThings, Google Home

★ 1.2k Hard setup EPL-2.0

AppDaemon

Home Automation

Python apps and automation framework for Home Assistant

Replaces SmartThings

★ 971 Medium setup Apache-2.0

EMHASS

Home Automation

Energy management optimization for Home Assistant

Replaces Tesla Energy app

★ 702 Hard setup MIT

Zigbee Herdsman

Home Automation

Zigbee adapter library that powers Zigbee2MQTT

Replaces Philips Hue Bridge

★ 568 Hard setup MIT

OpenSprinkler

Home Automation

Open-source internet-connected irrigation controller

Replaces Rachio

★ 562 Medium setup GPL-3.0

OpenHAB Cloud

Home Automation

Companion cloud service for remote openHAB access

Replaces SmartThings

★ 306 Hard setup EPL-2.0

SmartIR

Home Automation

Climate, TV, and fan control via IR controllers

Replaces Sensibo

★ 242 Easy setup MIT

Zwave-JS Server

Home Automation

Small server wrapping the Z-Wave JS driver over WebSocket

Replaces SmartThings

★ 165 Medium setup Apache-2.0

SmartHomeNG

Home Automation

Modular home automation framework with KNX focus

Replaces Loxone

★ 128 Hard setup GPL-3.0

Habapp

Home Automation

Python rules engine for openHAB and MQTT

Replaces IFTTT

★ 57 Medium setup Apache-2.0

At a glance

App	Deploy effort	Difficulty	Min. RAM	License	★ Stars
Home Assistant	≈5-minute setup	Medium	1,024 MB	Apache-2.0	91,548
Frigate	Under-an-hour setup	Hard	2,048 MB	MIT	36,559
ntfy	≈5-minute setup	Easy	64 MB	Apache-2.0	34,802
Tasmota	Read-the-docs project	Medium	16 MB	GPL-3.0	24,847
ThingsBoard	Under-an-hour setup	Hard	2,048 MB	Apache-2.0	22,546
WLED	Read-the-docs project	Easy	16 MB	MIT	18,834
Gotify	Under-an-hour setup	Easy	64 MB	MIT	16,055
Zigbee2MQTT	Under-an-hour setup	Medium	256 MB	GPL-3.0	15,721
ESPHome	Under-an-hour setup	Medium	512 MB	GPL-3.0	11,877
HACS	Read-the-docs project	Easy	64 MB	MIT	7,797

Quick picks

Most adopted: Home Assistant (91,548 GitHub stars).
Lightest footprint: Tasmota (from 16 MB RAM, against 2,048 MB for the heaviest here).
Fastest to deploy: Home Assistant (verified single-container compose).
Licensing: 14 of 35 use MIT; check the rest individually if you plan to modify and redistribute.

Every option here is open-source and self-hostable, tagged API within the home automation category. Deploy effort is graded from published container recipes, not vendor claims — see the methodology.

Keep exploring

All Home Automation Easiest Home Automation to self-host How to choose home automation platform: the Home Automation buyer's guide

Head-to-head: API home automation