SHSelfHostIndex

ESPHome 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.

Not the right match-up?
ES ESPHome Configure ESP devices with simple YAML VS OP OpenHAB Cloud Companion cloud service for remote openHAB access
FeatureESPHomeOpenHAB Cloud
CategoryHome AutomationHome Automation
LicenseGPL-3.0EPL-2.0
LanguageC++TypeScript
Setup difficultyMediumHard
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metaldocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 11,505★ 306
First released20182014
ReplacesSmartThingsSmartThings

Why pick each one

Choose ESPHome if…

  • No coding needed for devices
  • Great with Home Assistant
  • OTA updates
ESPHome details

Choose OpenHAB Cloud if…

  • Keeps data under your control
  • Enables remote control
OpenHAB Cloud details

Frequently asked questions

Is ESPHome or OpenHAB Cloud better?

ESPHome 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 ESPHome and OpenHAB Cloud free and open-source?

Yes. ESPHome 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 ESPHome and OpenHAB Cloud with Docker?

ESPHome: yes. OpenHAB Cloud: yes.

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