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.
ESPHome
Configure ESP devices with simple YAML
VS
OpenHAB Cloud
Companion cloud service for remote openHAB access
| Feature | ESPHome | OpenHAB Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 93 · Excellent | 75 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | EPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,722 | ★ 306 |
| First released | 2018 | 2014 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are ESPHome and OpenHAB Cloud?
ESPHome
ESPHome is a system to create custom firmware for ESP32 and ESP8266 microcontrollers using simple YAML configuration. It targets makers building DIY smart home sensors and devices. It is deployed via Docker or as a Home Assistant add-on.
- YAML-defined device firmware
- Tight Home Assistant integration
- Over-the-air updates
- Huge component library
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
ESPHome vs OpenHAB Cloud: key differences
ESPHome is written in C++, while OpenHAB Cloud is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for ESPHome versus EPL-2.0 for OpenHAB Cloud. OpenHAB Cloud is the more established project (first released 2014), while ESPHome arrived in 2018. ESPHome has the considerably larger community, at 11,722 GitHub stars versus 306.
Why pick each one
Choose ESPHome if…
- No coding needed for devices
- Great with Home Assistant
- OTA updates
Watch out for
- Hardware-focused
- Requires ESP microcontrollers
Choose OpenHAB Cloud if…
- Keeps data under your control
- Enables remote control
Watch out for
- Requires MongoDB
- Setup is involved
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.