openHAB 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.
openHAB
Vendor-neutral open-source home automation
VS
OpenHAB Cloud
Companion cloud service for remote openHAB access
| Feature | openHAB | OpenHAB Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 75 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | EPL-2.0 | EPL-2.0 |
| Language | Java | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,142 | ★ 306 |
| First released | 2010 | 2014 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Google Home | SmartThings |
What are openHAB and OpenHAB Cloud?
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
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
openHAB vs OpenHAB Cloud: key differences
OpenHAB is written in Java, while OpenHAB Cloud is built with TypeScript. OpenHAB Cloud is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for openHAB. OpenHAB is the more established project (first released 2010), while OpenHAB Cloud arrived in 2014. OpenHAB has the considerably larger community, at 1,142 GitHub stars versus 306.
Why pick each one
Choose openHAB if…
- Very flexible
- Vendor neutral
- Mature project
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Heavier Java runtime
Choose OpenHAB Cloud if…
- Keeps data under your control
- Enables remote control
Watch out for
- Requires MongoDB
- Setup is involved
Frequently asked questions
Is openHAB or OpenHAB Cloud better?
Neither is universally better. openHAB has the larger community; both share a hard setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are openHAB and OpenHAB Cloud free and open-source?
Yes. openHAB is licensed under EPL-2.0 and OpenHAB Cloud under EPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run openHAB and OpenHAB Cloud with Docker?
openHAB: yes. OpenHAB Cloud: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, openHAB or OpenHAB Cloud?
OpenHAB Cloud has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for openHAB. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.