SHSelfHostIndex

FHEM vs Pimatic

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 PI Pimatic Node.js home automation framework for the Raspberry Pi
FeatureFHEMPimatic
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupRead-the-docs project
Health score62 · Good11 · At risk
CategoryHome AutomationHome Automation
LicenseGPL-2.0GPL-2.0
LanguagePerlCoffeeScript
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM256 MB256 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metalbare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 22★ 598
First released20052013
ReplacesSmartThingsSmartThings

What are FHEM and Pimatic?

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

Pimatic

Pimatic is an open-source home automation framework built on Node.js that runs on low-power devices such as the Raspberry Pi. Plugins add device support, and a rule engine plus a mobile-friendly web UI handle control and automation.

  • Plugin-based device support
  • Rule engine
  • Mobile-friendly web UI
  • Runs on Raspberry Pi

FHEM vs Pimatic: key differences

FHEM is written in Perl, while Pimatic is built with CoffeeScript. FHEM is the more established project (first released 2005), while Pimatic arrived in 2013. Pimatic has the considerably larger community, at 598 GitHub stars versus 22. FHEM lists first-class Docker deployment; Pimatic does not.

Why pick each one

Choose FHEM if…

  • Extremely mature
  • Runs on modest hardware

Watch out for

  • Dated, technical interface
  • Configuration is arcane
FHEM details

Choose Pimatic if…

  • Lightweight
  • Simple rule system

Watch out for

  • Development has slowed
  • Smaller community
Pimatic details

Frequently asked questions

Is FHEM or Pimatic better?

Pimatic 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 Pimatic free and open-source?

Yes. FHEM is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Pimatic under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run FHEM and Pimatic with Docker?

FHEM: yes. Pimatic: check the project docs for container support.

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