SHSelfHostIndex

ioBroker vs openHAB

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?
ioBroker Integration platform for the Internet of Things VS openHAB Vendor-neutral open-source home automation
FeatureioBrokeropenHAB
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score84 · Excellent79 · Good
CategoryHome AutomationHome Automation
LicenseMITEPL-2.0
LanguageShellJava
Setup difficultyMediumHard
Min. RAM1,024 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metaldocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 1,377★ 1,142
First released20142010
ReplacesSmartThings, HubitatSmartThings, Google Home

What are ioBroker and openHAB?

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

Read the full ioBroker guide →

openHAB

openHAB is a vendor-neutral, open-source home automation platform that integrates many devices and technologies behind one system. It targets smart home enthusiasts wanting deep configurability. It is deployed via Docker or native packages.

  • Hundreds of device bindings
  • Powerful rule engine
  • Runs fully offline
  • Cross-platform

Read the full openHAB guide →

ioBroker vs openHAB: key differences

IoBroker is written in Shell, while openHAB is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for ioBroker versus EPL-2.0 for openHAB. OpenHAB is the more established project (first released 2010), while ioBroker arrived in 2014.

Why pick each one

Choose ioBroker if…

  • Extremely flexible
  • Huge adapter ecosystem

Watch out for

  • Steep learning curve
  • Setup can be complex
ioBroker details

Choose openHAB if…

  • Very flexible
  • Vendor neutral
  • Mature project

Watch out for

  • Steep learning curve
  • Heavier Java runtime
openHAB details

Frequently asked questions

Is ioBroker or openHAB better?

ioBroker is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider openHAB if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are ioBroker and openHAB free and open-source?

Yes. ioBroker is licensed under MIT and openHAB under EPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run ioBroker and openHAB with Docker?

ioBroker: yes. openHAB: yes.

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