Domoticz vs FHEM
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Domoticz | FHEM |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 62 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,811 | ★ 22 |
| First released | 2012 | 2005 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are Domoticz and FHEM?
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
FHEM
FHEM is a long-standing, GPL-licensed server for home automation used to control lights, heating, alarms, and many other devices. It supports a vast range of protocols through community modules.
- Vast protocol support
- Community module library
- Lightweight Perl server
- Long-term reliability
Domoticz vs FHEM: key differences
Domoticz is written in C++, while FHEM is built with Perl. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Domoticz versus GPL-2.0 for FHEM. FHEM is the more established project (first released 2005), while Domoticz arrived in 2012. Domoticz has the considerably larger community, at 3,811 GitHub stars versus 22.
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 FHEM if…
- Extremely mature
- Runs on modest hardware
Watch out for
- Dated, technical interface
- Configuration is arcane
Frequently asked questions
Is Domoticz or FHEM better?
Domoticz is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider FHEM if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Domoticz and FHEM free and open-source?
Yes. Domoticz is licensed under GPL-3.0 and FHEM under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Domoticz and FHEM with Docker?
Domoticz: yes. FHEM: yes.