Domoticz vs evcc
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
evcc
Solar-aware electric vehicle charging controller
| Feature | Domoticz | evcc |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | C++ | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,811 | ★ 7,283 |
| First released | 2012 | 2019 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are Domoticz and evcc?
Domoticz
Domoticz is a lightweight home automation system for monitoring and configuring various devices like sensors, switches, and meters. It targets users wanting an efficient automation hub on modest hardware. It is deployed via Docker or packages.
- Runs well on low-power hardware
- Supports many sensor protocols
- Scripting and events
- Mobile-friendly UI
evcc
evcc is an open-source EV charging controller that optimizes charging around solar production and electricity prices. It targets EV owners with solar or dynamic tariffs. It is deployed via Docker or a binary.
- Solar-optimized EV charging
- Dynamic tariff support
- Many wallbox integrations
- Home Assistant integration
Domoticz vs evcc: key differences
Domoticz is written in C++, while evcc is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Domoticz versus MIT for evcc. Domoticz is the more established project (first released 2012), while evcc arrived in 2019.
Why pick each one
Choose Domoticz if…
- Very lightweight
- Good on Raspberry Pi
- Stable
Watch out for
- Dated interface
- Smaller community than Home Assistant
Choose evcc if…
- Maximizes solar self-use
- Wide hardware support
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Niche use case
- Requires compatible hardware
Frequently asked questions
Is Domoticz or evcc better?
Neither is universally better. evcc has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Domoticz and evcc free and open-source?
Yes. Domoticz is licensed under GPL-3.0 and evcc under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Domoticz and evcc with Docker?
Domoticz: yes. evcc: yes.