Domoticz vs OpenHAB Cloud
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Domoticz | OpenHAB Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 75 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | EPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,811 | ★ 306 |
| First released | 2012 | 2014 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are Domoticz and OpenHAB Cloud?
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
OpenHAB Cloud
openHAB Cloud is the self-hostable companion service that provides remote access, notifications, and integrations for openHAB installations. It bridges local openHAB instances to external services securely.
- Remote openHAB access
- Push notifications
- IFTTT and voice integrations
- Self-hostable backend
Domoticz vs OpenHAB Cloud: key differences
Domoticz is written in C++, while OpenHAB Cloud is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Domoticz versus EPL-2.0 for OpenHAB Cloud. Domoticz is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenHAB Cloud. Domoticz is the more established project (first released 2012), while OpenHAB Cloud arrived in 2014. Domoticz has the considerably larger community, at 3,811 GitHub stars versus 306.
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 OpenHAB Cloud if…
- Keeps data under your control
- Enables remote control
Watch out for
- Requires MongoDB
- Setup is involved
Frequently asked questions
Is Domoticz or OpenHAB Cloud better?
Domoticz is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider OpenHAB Cloud if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Domoticz and OpenHAB Cloud free and open-source?
Yes. Domoticz is licensed under GPL-3.0 and OpenHAB Cloud under EPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Domoticz and OpenHAB Cloud with Docker?
Domoticz: yes. OpenHAB Cloud: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Domoticz or OpenHAB Cloud?
Domoticz has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for OpenHAB Cloud. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.