OpenHAB Cloud vs Zigbee2MQTT
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Zigbee2MQTT
Bridge Zigbee devices to MQTT without vendor hubs
| Feature | OpenHAB Cloud | Zigbee2MQTT |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 75 · Good | 95 · Excellent |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | EPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 306 | ★ 15,661 |
| First released | 2014 | 2018 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are OpenHAB Cloud and Zigbee2MQTT?
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
Zigbee2MQTT
Zigbee2MQTT bridges Zigbee devices to MQTT, allowing them to be used without proprietary vendor hubs or bridges. It targets smart home users wanting vendor-neutral Zigbee control. It is deployed via Docker.
- Supports thousands of Zigbee devices
- No vendor hub required
- MQTT integration
- Web-based control panel
OpenHAB Cloud vs Zigbee2MQTT: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — EPL-2.0 for OpenHAB Cloud versus GPL-3.0 for Zigbee2MQTT. Zigbee2MQTT is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenHAB Cloud. OpenHAB Cloud is the more established project (first released 2014), while Zigbee2MQTT arrived in 2018. Zigbee2MQTT has the considerably larger community, at 15,661 GitHub stars versus 306.
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 Zigbee2MQTT if…
- Frees devices from vendor hubs
- Wide device support
- Local control
Watch out for
- Needs a Zigbee coordinator
- Pairing can be finicky
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenHAB Cloud or Zigbee2MQTT better?
Zigbee2MQTT 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 Zigbee2MQTT free and open-source?
Yes. OpenHAB Cloud is licensed under EPL-2.0 and Zigbee2MQTT under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenHAB Cloud and Zigbee2MQTT with Docker?
OpenHAB Cloud: yes. Zigbee2MQTT: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, OpenHAB Cloud or Zigbee2MQTT?
Zigbee2MQTT 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.