openHAB vs Scrypted
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
Scrypted
High-performance smart home and camera platform
| Feature | openHAB | Scrypted |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | EPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Java | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,142 | ★ 5,975 |
| First released | 2010 | 2021 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Google Home | Google Home |
What are openHAB and Scrypted?
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
Scrypted
Scrypted is a high-performance home video integration and automation platform that unifies cameras across ecosystems. It targets users bridging cameras to HomeKit, Google, and Alexa. It is deployed via Docker.
- Unifies cameras across ecosystems
- HomeKit Secure Video support
- Hardware-accelerated processing
- Plugin architecture
openHAB vs Scrypted: key differences
OpenHAB is written in Java, while Scrypted is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — EPL-2.0 for openHAB versus Apache-2.0 for Scrypted. OpenHAB is the more established project (first released 2010), while Scrypted arrived in 2021. Scrypted has the considerably larger community, at 5,975 GitHub stars versus 1,142.
Why pick each one
Choose openHAB if…
- Very flexible
- Vendor neutral
- Mature project
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Heavier Java runtime
Choose Scrypted if…
- Excellent camera integration
- Cross-ecosystem
- Fast
Watch out for
- Camera-focused
- Setup takes effort
Frequently asked questions
Is openHAB or Scrypted better?
Scrypted 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 openHAB and Scrypted free and open-source?
Yes. openHAB is licensed under EPL-2.0 and Scrypted under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run openHAB and Scrypted with Docker?
openHAB: yes. Scrypted: yes.