AppDaemon vs ioBroker
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?
AppDaemon
Python apps and automation framework for Home Assistant
VS
ioBroker
Integration platform for the Internet of Things
| Feature | AppDaemon | ioBroker |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 962 | ★ 1,373 |
| First released | 2016 | 2014 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings, Hubitat |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is AppDaemon or ioBroker better?
Neither is universally better. ioBroker has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are AppDaemon and ioBroker free and open-source?
Yes. AppDaemon is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ioBroker under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AppDaemon and ioBroker with Docker?
AppDaemon: yes. ioBroker: yes.