Home Assistant vs ThingsBoard
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?
Home Assistant
Open-source home automation that puts privacy first
VS
ThingsBoard
Open-source IoT platform for device management and data
| Feature | Home Assistant | ThingsBoard |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, one-click | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 89,795 | ★ 22,200 |
| First released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Google Home | AWS IoT, Azure IoT |
Why pick each one
Choose Home Assistant if…
- Huge device support
- Local control and privacy
- Very active community
Frequently asked questions
Is Home Assistant or ThingsBoard better?
Home Assistant is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider ThingsBoard if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Home Assistant and ThingsBoard free and open-source?
Yes. Home Assistant is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ThingsBoard under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Home Assistant and ThingsBoard with Docker?
Home Assistant: yes. ThingsBoard: yes.
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