ioBroker 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.
ioBroker
Integration platform for the Internet of Things
VS
OpenHAB Cloud
Companion cloud service for remote openHAB access
| Feature | ioBroker | OpenHAB Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 75 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | MIT | EPL-2.0 |
| Language | Shell | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,377 | ★ 306 |
| First released | 2014 | 2014 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Hubitat | SmartThings |
What are ioBroker and OpenHAB Cloud?
ioBroker
ioBroker is an open-source IoT integration platform that connects and automates devices across many protocols and vendors. It uses adapters to bring smart home systems together under one logic engine.
- Hundreds of adapters
- JavaScript automation engine
- Multi-protocol device support
- Flexible visualization
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
ioBroker vs OpenHAB Cloud: key differences
IoBroker is written in Shell, while OpenHAB Cloud is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for ioBroker versus EPL-2.0 for OpenHAB Cloud. OpenHAB Cloud is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for ioBroker. IoBroker has the considerably larger community, at 1,377 GitHub stars versus 306.
Why pick each one
Choose ioBroker if…
- Extremely flexible
- Huge adapter ecosystem
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Setup can be complex
Choose OpenHAB Cloud if…
- Keeps data under your control
- Enables remote control
Watch out for
- Requires MongoDB
- Setup is involved
Frequently asked questions
Is ioBroker or OpenHAB Cloud better?
ioBroker 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 ioBroker and OpenHAB Cloud free and open-source?
Yes. ioBroker is licensed under MIT and OpenHAB Cloud under EPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ioBroker and OpenHAB Cloud with Docker?
ioBroker: yes. OpenHAB Cloud: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ioBroker or OpenHAB Cloud?
OpenHAB Cloud has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for ioBroker. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.