Calaos vs Home Assistant
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Calaos
Free home automation platform with touchscreen UI
VS
Home Assistant
Open-source home automation that puts privacy first
| Feature | Calaos | Home Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Shell | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 73 | ★ 89,795 |
| First released | 2013 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Loxone | SmartThings, Google Home |
Why pick each one
Choose Home Assistant if…
- Huge device support
- Local control and privacy
- Very active community
Frequently asked questions
Is Calaos or Home Assistant better?
Home Assistant is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Calaos if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Calaos and Home Assistant free and open-source?
Yes. Calaos is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Home Assistant under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Calaos and Home Assistant with Docker?
Calaos: check the project docs for container support. Home Assistant: yes.