# Homey vs. Home Assistant – What Does Each System Do Better? **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-Topic\ **Created:** [September 9, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392 "2026-09-09T15:51:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Pascal\_Nohl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/pascal_nohl/32/164446_2.png) [@Pascal\_Nohl](https://community.homey.app/u/Pascal_Nohl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/103 "2026-09-30T13:53:21Z")
This is what I currently see in Homey — and this is only one block; several other devices are unavailable as well: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/0/d/0ddcee55b53f29a06ab179977f84fb974ff7d525.png) t the same time, **all devices are available in Home Assistant**. I even have a dashboard check for unavailable devices, and it currently reports none: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/d/4/d465af8810704ceb7b5a8cf88c7ce49a89903b38.png) Just to make sure I wasn’t overlooking something, I also asked Claude to check the live HA state of my devices. It confirmed that all of them are currently available. And the important point is: **all Thread Border Routers are using the same Thread network.** So this is not a case where HA happens to use a different or healthier Thread mesh. The same Thread devices and the same Thread network are involved, but Homey currently loses access to devices that remain available through HA. That leads to one very clear wish for Homey: **Please make Matter device connectivity genuinely stable — especially in a multi-TBR environment.** ---
**Author:** ![JMDPC](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/jmdpc/32/121098_2.png) [@JMDPC](https://community.homey.app/u/JMDPC)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/104 "2026-09-30T13:56:25Z")
It really helped me to move to just one thread network (Apple-based). I also found that the channel my Hue bulbs were using was the same as my Thread network. Once I changed the Hue channel, my Thread and Matter devices have more or less either stayed connected or reconnected after there was a disconnection. ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/105 "2026-09-30T15:21:41Z")
> [@Pascal\_Nohl](#): > > several other devices are unavailable as well And what’s the error message when you click them? Sometimes it’s an issue that you can do something about, like f.e. when your session expires, you might need to re-login with the repair function. Usually the unavailable message will mention when it needs that, I do that in my own apps at least. ---
**Author:** ![Pascal\_Nohl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/pascal_nohl/32/164446_2.png) [@Pascal\_Nohl](https://community.homey.app/u/Pascal_Nohl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/106 "2026-09-30T17:23:27Z")
> [@smarthomesven](#): > > Sometimes it’s an issue that you can do something about, like f.e. when your session expires, you might need to re-login with the repair function. Sven, do you wear sunglasses at night? If Homeys started burning down in masses, I sometimes think your answer would be: _“But you know, you can put them in a fireproof box.”_ Of course I know that I can repair devices. I’ve done it many times. And it is great fun unmounting wall switches to reach the relay behind them, moving shelves to access plugs, or getting to devices that were never meant to be physically touched every few days. But that completely misses the point of my post. Homey and Home Assistant are using the **same Thread network**. The Matter devices are commissioned to both systems through Multi-Admin. If a device remains fully operational in Home Assistant while Homey loses it, then a general Thread failure is extremely unlikely. The device is still reachable over Thread and its Matter implementation is obviously still functioning. The failure is therefore on the Homey side of that communication — whether that means its Matter fabric, controller implementation or something around it is another question. And independently of any Homey-versus-HA philosophy, my definition of a good smart-home system is simple: **Set it up and forget it.** Having to “repair” devices regularly is not normal operation. Neither is accepting that shutters occasionally stay closed in the morning or lights don’t turn on when it gets dark. If that level of maintenance is acceptable to you, that’s fine. But please stop presenting every Homey problem as something the user should simply work around. That is exactly the kind of fixed-position defence this thread was explicitly not created for. > [@JMDPC](#): > > It really helped me to move to just one thread network (Apple-based) I think that should be the goal for a Thread-based smart home. I currently have **six Thread Border Routers** , all participating in one Thread network. They include Apple, Homey and Home Assistant Border Routers. That is exactly what Thread is designed for: multiple Border Routers cooperating on the same network, not separate Thread islands for every platform. ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/107 "2026-09-30T17:38:42Z")
I still don’t see the error/unavailable message, how are we even supposed to help you when you don’t want to provide the error message? I think that’s the first thing Athom support will ask anyway > [@Pascal\_Nohl](#): > > If Homeys started burning down in masses, I sometimes think your answer would be: _“But you know, you can put them in a fireproof box.”_ The repair I mentioned is simply clicking a few buttons in the app, the “repair” option in the Homey app. Not physical device repair, I think you don’t understand what I mean ---
**Author:** ![JMDPC](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/jmdpc/32/121098_2.png) [@JMDPC](https://community.homey.app/u/JMDPC)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/108 "2026-09-30T17:54:31Z")
Since completing the steps I mentioned, I haven’t had any issues with Homey devices being unavailable while they are working in Apple Home and Home Assistant. I will say that the number of Thread repeaters I now have has helped create a stable network, as I have an older house with plaster-and-lath and/or solid brick walls. That being said. I use Homey, Home Assistant, and Apple Home for the following reasons: **Apple Home** I use this for voice control and because my wife can use it with little training. **Home Assistant** I use this primarily for integrations that there are no comparable apps for in Homey. **Homey** I use it for 99% of my automations. It also connects many devices that can’t connect directly to Apple Home. Adding true loops and a backup solution for SHS would make Homey much easier for me to use. Both Homey and HA connect to Apple Home, and devices not available in Apple Home are shared there by the apps. I feel that for most individuals, Homey is by far the easiest way to go. The advanced flows are readable and usable, and the regular flows can be used by someone who does want to learn advanced flow programming. ---
**Author:** ![4x4\_Pete](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/4x4_pete/32/113286_2.png) [@4x4\_Pete](https://community.homey.app/u/4x4_Pete)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/109 "2026-09-30T19:26:00Z")
Wrong thread for that discussion? ---
**Author:** ![Bubiai\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@Bubiai\_2](https://community.homey.app/u/Bubiai_2)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/110 "2026-09-30T19:35:48Z")
I read and read, it was interesting, but I didn’t understand a single thing. I’ve had HA (Home Assistant) for maybe three years now. Whenever I have some free time, I try to add a Zigbee router—it’s absolute rocket science. I constantly get that same feeling like I must have done something bad to someone in a past life. The dashboard. I set one up once just to show off in front of guests. But honestly, what is there to even click? Ventilation, heating, lighting… everything runs on Homey. If something goes wrong, it will send me a notification. I think that’s exactly how a smart home should be. It shouldn’t demand your attention! In my opinion, HA is meant for people as a form of punishment for their past sins ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/111 "2026-09-30T19:41:33Z")
> [@Bubiai\_2](#): > > HA is meant for people as a form of punishment for their past sins 100% agree ---
**Author:** ![Pascal\_Nohl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/pascal_nohl/32/164446_2.png) [@Pascal\_Nohl](https://community.homey.app/u/Pascal_Nohl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/112 "2026-09-30T19:58:35Z")
> [@smarthomesven](#): > > how are we even supposed to help you when you don’t want to provide the error message? Nobody is asking for help here. Are you still missing what this thread is about? In simple terms: **Homey has problems with devices becoming unavailable, while Home Assistant has no problem with the same devices on the same Thread network.** That is an observation and a conclusion from running both systems side by side — not a request for troubleshooting. If I want help diagnosing the specific Homey issue, that’s a different topic. ---
**Author:** ![Pascal\_Nohl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/pascal_nohl/32/164446_2.png) [@Pascal\_Nohl](https://community.homey.app/u/Pascal_Nohl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/113 "2026-09-30T20:06:47Z")
> [@Bubiai\_2](#): > > In my opinion, HA is meant for people as a form of punishment for their past sins In your entire post, I don’t see anything that actually compares the advantages or disadvantages of both systems. What you describe is mainly personal feeling and opinion, not a comparison based on current experience. I also tried Home Assistant years ago and eventually gave up on it. I started again recently, and this time my experience is completely different. The same applies to Homey. I had a Homey 2019 and, for me, it was a nightmare. Today I use a Homey 2026, and that is the system I am talking about here. I have also written five apps for Homey, so when I compare both platforms, I try to base my comments on things I actually use, know and have tested in their current versions. That was also one of the rules in the opening post: if someone has little recent hands-on experience with one of the systems and mainly wants to share general opinions about it, this is probably not the right thread for that. The goal here is to compare concrete strengths, weaknesses and design choices of both platforms — not old impressions or platform stereotypes. ---
**Author:** ![Bubiai\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@Bubiai\_2](https://community.homey.app/u/Bubiai_2)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/114 "2026-09-30T20:17:06Z")
> [@Pascal\_Nohl](#): > > In simple terms: **Homey has problems with devices becoming unavailable, while Home Assistant has no problem with the same devices on the same Thread network.** I’ve been reading this topic for an hour… and it comes as a complete surprise No, no, smart homes are not about feelings. I’m off… ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/115 "2026-09-30T20:43:31Z")
You’re just a fanboy and you don’t want to hear anything bad about Home Assistant. Well, all I can say is that the price of the Home Assistant Cloud subscription is absolutely ridiculous. They use DigitalOcean droplets for the relay service and those start at $6 per month, let’s assume that one of those can host 100 users (though it’s probably way more, since relay services are about the cheapest thing you can host, since each connection uses almost zero resources and all the server has to do is forward packets from one place to another). That would be 6/100=$0,06 per user. But that’s not the only service they offer, they also have Cloud Backups up to 5GB. Probably hosted on S3 since that is the standard solution for these type of services. According to the AWS calculator, storing 5GB of data in S3 with 30 POST requests per month (upload) and 30 GET requests per month (download), it would cost Nabu Casa $0,12 to host. That’s the worst case scenario, where someone would restore their backup every single day and use up the full 5GB of storage, which nobody will do of course. Google Home and Alexa don’t require any costs other than the relay server as far as I can find. So: $0,12 + $0,06 = $0,18 per month. That’s roughly what it costs Nabu Casa to run their service in the worst conditions, but it will probably be much cheaper. Or even if it’s more expensive, it will still be under $1 at least. And then they’re selling it for €7,50 per month (or $6,50 in USD), so those are some insane margins. But at least they don’t state in their ToS that creating multiple trial accounts is prohibited, so I guess you can just create another temp mail and get another free trial (without getting banned) 😉 Well, they probably have enough profit from their subscribers anyway so I guess it doesn’t matter for them. Also, I would expect that such a basic thing as remote access is free for any smart home device, so it’s strange that the Home Assistant “Green” also requires this overpriced subscription. ---
**Author:** ![Pascal\_Nohl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/pascal_nohl/32/164446_2.png) [@Pascal\_Nohl](https://community.homey.app/u/Pascal_Nohl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/116 "2026-09-30T21:09:04Z")
> [@smarthomesven](#): > > You’re just a fanboy Calling me a Home Assistant fanboy is simply ridiculous if you have actually read this thread. I have repeatedly pointed out things that **Homey does better** : - Advanced Flow is much easier to read than complex HA automations. - Homey’s Repair function is better than HA’s generic device-replacement handling. - Homey is much simpler and more approachable. - I explicitly said that limitations can sometimes even be an advantage because they prevent automation logic from becoming excessively complex. - I also criticised HA’s entity handling, its automation UI, hidden options, YAML/Jinja dependency, device references and several other areas. At the same time, where I think Home Assistant does something better, I say so and explain why. That is exactly the purpose of this thread. What you are doing instead is repeatedly bringing back the same arguments — subscription, cloud, HomeyScript, third-party dashboards, repair — even after they have already been discussed or corrected by several people. And now, instead of providing a concrete comparison, you resort to calling me a fanboy. If you disagree with one of my technical conclusions, bring a concrete counterargument. That’s perfectly welcome. But please stop turning every comparison where Homey comes out worse into a defence of Homey, and then accusing others of bias when they don’t agree with you. The rules of this thread were clear from the beginning: **compare concrete strengths and weaknesses of both systems, based on actual experience.** If you want to participate on that basis, fine. If not, please simply leave this thread alone. ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/117 "2026-09-30T21:12:36Z")
Let’s just keep it at the facts in that case: > [@smarthomesven](#): > > Well, all I can say is that the price of the Home Assistant Cloud subscription is absolutely ridiculous. They use DigitalOcean droplets for the relay service and those start at $6 per month, let’s assume that one of those can host 100 users (though it’s probably way more, since relay services are about the cheapest thing you can host, since each connection uses almost zero resources and all the server has to do is forward packets from one place to another). That would be 6/100=$0,06 per user. > > But that’s not the only service they offer, they also have Cloud Backups up to 5GB. Probably hosted on S3 since that is the standard solution for these type of services. According to the AWS calculator, storing 5GB of data in S3 with 30 POST requests per month (upload) and 30 GET requests per month (download), it would cost Nabu Casa $0,12 to host. That’s the worst case scenario, where someone would restore their backup every single day and use up the full 5GB of storage, which nobody will do of course. Google Home and Alexa don’t require any costs other than the relay server as far as I can find. > > So: $0,12 + $0,06 = $0,18 per month. That’s roughly what it costs Nabu Casa to run their service in the worst conditions, but it will probably be much cheaper. Or even if it’s more expensive, it will still be under $1 at least. > > And then they’re selling it for €7,50 per month (or $6,50 in USD), so those are some insane margins Sources: 1: [https://calculator.aws/](https://calculator.aws/) 2: [Droplet Pricing | DigitalOcean](https://www.digitalocean.com/pricing/droplets) ---
**Author:** ![Pascal\_Nohl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/pascal_nohl/32/164446_2.png) [@Pascal\_Nohl](https://community.homey.app/u/Pascal_Nohl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/118 "2026-09-30T21:17:55Z")
> [@smarthomesven](#): > > Let’s just keep it at the facts in that case You say “let’s keep it at the facts”, but your calculation is based on “let’s assume”, “probably”, guessed infrastructure, guessed user counts and guessed operating costs. Those are not facts. Even if your estimate for relay and storage costs were correct, it still says nothing about Nabu Casa’s actual margin. The subscription also funds development, staff, support, security, operations and the wider Home Assistant ecosystem. And most importantly: Home Assistant does not require the subscription at all. It is an optional convenience service. You are free to think €7.50 is too expensive. But presenting assumptions as facts and then deriving “insane margins” from them is not a factual argument. I won’t keep responding to claims presented as facts when they are actually based on speculation. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 5:31am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/119 "2026-10-01T05:31:31Z")
> [@smarthomesven](#): > > And then they’re selling it for €7,50 per month (or $6,50 in USD), so those are some insane margins. Please stop posting opinions on things you don’t understand, or have no idea about. We stopped caring about them a long time ago. Many people are perfectly willing to accept this price _because it helps to fund the development of Home Assistant_, which is a free product. If you don’t want that, you don’t have to. You can run _everything_ that the cloud subscription provides by yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Bubiai\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@Bubiai\_2](https://community.homey.app/u/Bubiai_2)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 5:56am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/120 "2026-10-01T05:56:01Z")
Who is ‘we’? Speaking for a crowd is a logical fallacy (specifically, a bandwagon fallacy). Please use the singular and focus on the argument. As far as I know, only the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister wake up with a natural, burning desire to pay taxes. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 6:00am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/121 "2026-10-01T06:00:19Z")
> [@Bubiai\_2](#): > > Who is ‘we’? Sven is responding to someone. I’m referring to that person and myself. > [@Bubiai\_2](#): > > As far as I know, only the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister wake up with a natural, burning desire to pay taxes. Please don’t generalize. ---
**Author:** ![Pascal\_Nohl](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/pascal_nohl/32/164446_2.png) [@Pascal\_Nohl](https://community.homey.app/u/Pascal_Nohl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 6:18am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392/122 "2026-10-01T06:18:14Z")
> [@Bubiai\_2](#): > > only the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister wake up with a natural, burning desire to pay taxes Please stay on topic. This thread is about **feature comparison and what each system could learn from the other.** For my part, I am perfectly capable of configuring Home Assistant so that I can use it without the cloud subscription at all. I still choose to pay for Nabu Casa. In fact, I would probably continue paying the monthly fee even if I didn’t use any of the cloud services, simply because it helps finance continued development and makes the project less dependent on hardware sales. That business model has value for me. If nobody bought another Homey from tomorrow onwards, Athom would obviously have a serious problem as well. Development has to be financed somehow — even the Minister of Finance would probably agree with that. 😉 Homey also charges for cloud backups, while the initial hardware cost of a Homey Pro is already substantial, with the Ethernet adapter adding another cost. And that actually brings me back to a real feature comparison: **Ethernet should be built into Homey Pro.** We are in 2026. For a device that is supposed to be the central controller of a serious smart home installation, I don’t think wired Ethernet should require an additional dongle. That is one concrete thing I would definitely like Homey to change in a future model. [Previous page](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392.md?page=5) [Next page](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-vs-home-assistant-what-does-each-system-do-better/159392.md?page=7)