FHEM vs Home Assistant
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?
FHEM
Perl-based server for home automation tasks
VS
Home Assistant
Open-source home automation that puts privacy first
| Feature | FHEM | Home Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Perl | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 22 | ★ 89,795 |
| First released | 2005 | 2013 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings, Google Home |
Why pick each one
Choose Home Assistant if…
- Huge device support
- Local control and privacy
- Very active community
Frequently asked questions
Is FHEM or Home Assistant better?
Home Assistant 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 FHEM and Home Assistant free and open-source?
Yes. FHEM is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Home Assistant under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FHEM and Home Assistant with Docker?
FHEM: yes. Home Assistant: yes.