OpenHAB Cloud vs Pimatic
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | OpenHAB Cloud | Pimatic |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 75 · Good | 11 · At risk |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | EPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | CoffeeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 306 | ★ 598 |
| First released | 2014 | 2013 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are OpenHAB Cloud and Pimatic?
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
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
OpenHAB Cloud vs Pimatic: key differences
OpenHAB Cloud is written in TypeScript, while Pimatic is built with CoffeeScript. Licensing differs — EPL-2.0 for OpenHAB Cloud versus GPL-2.0 for Pimatic. Pimatic is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenHAB Cloud. OpenHAB Cloud lists first-class Docker deployment; Pimatic does not.
Why pick each one
Choose OpenHAB Cloud if…
- Keeps data under your control
- Enables remote control
Watch out for
- Requires MongoDB
- Setup is involved
Choose Pimatic if…
- Lightweight
- Simple rule system
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenHAB Cloud or Pimatic better?
Pimatic 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 OpenHAB Cloud and Pimatic free and open-source?
Yes. OpenHAB Cloud is licensed under EPL-2.0 and Pimatic under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenHAB Cloud and Pimatic with Docker?
OpenHAB Cloud: yes. Pimatic: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, OpenHAB Cloud or Pimatic?
Pimatic has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for OpenHAB Cloud. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.