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Comparison · Home automation platforms

Homey vs ioBroker: which is better in 2026?

Homey92.5#2 in best home automation platformsioBroker87.5#5 in best home automation platforms

Homey ranks higher in our list of home automation platforms (#2 against #5, score 92.5 against 87.5).

How we rank Share

  • 92.5
    Editorial score
    87.5
  • 4
    Platforms
    4
  • Yes
    Free to use
    Yes
  • No
    Open source
    Yes

Which should you choose?

Choose Homey if you want

Local hub with a free cloud option.

Homey Pro runs locally with no subscription, and Homey Cloud starts free without a hub. Its support for more than 70,000 devices and its Matter, Thread and Zigbee support are broad, but community apps vary in quality.

Choose ioBroker if you want

Open-source automation with many adapters.

More than 800 adapters, rules built by clicking, in Blockly or in TypeScript, and local automations that keep running offline. Matter comes through an adapter, and the community is strongly German-speaking.

The main differences

  • Only ioBroker runs on Linux.
  • Only ioBroker runs on Windows.
  • Only Homey runs on iOS.
  • Only Homey runs on Android.
  • ioBroker is open source; Homey is not.

Side by side

HomeyioBroker
Score92.587.5
Rank in list#2 of 11#5 of 11
PriceFree plan, paid upgradesCloud free up to 5 devices; Homey Pro is a one-time purchaseFree and open sourceFree; donations welcome to support development
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceNoYes
PlatformsiOSAndroidWebSelf-hostediOS, Android, Web, Self-hostedSelf-hostedLinuxWindowsWebSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows, Web
Made byAthom B.V.ioBroker GmbH
Where automations runHomey Pro, a self-hosted server or Homey CloudLocally in your network
Hub hardwareHomey Pro or Pro mini, none for CloudNone, you supply the server
Matter supportYes, listed under connectivityYes, through the Matter adapter
Best forLocal hub with a free cloud optionOpen-source automation with many adapters
Strengths
  • Homey Cloud needs no hub and starts free
  • Homey Pro runs locally with no subscription
  • Matter, Thread and Zigbee support
  • MIT-licensed core with more than 800 adapters
  • Rules by click, Blockly, JavaScript or TypeScript
  • Automations keep running during an internet outage
Limits
  • Community apps vary in quality
  • Homey Cloud costs more beyond five devices
  • Setup and adapter configuration take time to learn
  • Community support is mostly German-speaking
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Homey vs ioBroker

Is Homey better than ioBroker?
Homey ranks higher in our list of home automation platforms (#2 against #5, score 92.5 against 87.5). Homey is best for: local hub with a free cloud option. ioBroker is best for: open-source automation with many adapters.
Which is cheaper, Homey or ioBroker?
Homey: Cloud free up to 5 devices; Homey Pro is a one-time purchase. ioBroker: Free; donations welcome to support development.
Do Homey and ioBroker run on the same platforms?
Homey supports iOS, Android, Web, Self-hosted. ioBroker supports Self-hosted, Linux, Windows, Web.

Choosing between the two

Learning Center
1:17Beginner · 4 min readHow to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.1:20Beginner · 6 min readHow to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.

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