Comparison · Home automation platforms
Hubitat Elevation vs openHAB: which is better in 2026?
Hubitat Elevation90.5#3 in best home automation platforms
openHAB89.0#4 in best home automation platformsHubitat Elevation ranks higher in our list of home automation platforms (#3 against #4, score 90.5 against 89.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.
- 90.5Editorial score89.0
- 3Platforms7
- NoFree to useYes
- NoOpen sourceYes
Which should you choose?
Choose Hubitat Elevation if you want
Reliable local hub for Zigbee and Z-Wave.
Automations run on the hub without cloud delays, with Zigbee, Z-Wave and Matter support. The hub is a hardware purchase, and its software is not open source.
Choose openHAB if you want
Vendor-neutral open-source server for tinkerers.
Vendor-neutral and fully open source, running on Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker or a Pi with no cloud required. Its rules and setup take longer to learn than consumer apps, and its site does not state Matter support.
The main differences
- Only openHAB runs on Linux.
- Only openHAB runs on Windows.
- Only openHAB runs on macOS.
- openHAB is open source; Hubitat Elevation is not.
- openHAB can be used for free; Hubitat Elevation requires payment.
Side by side
| Hubitat Elevation | openHAB | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 90.5 | 89.0 |
| Rank in list | #3 of 11 | #4 of 11 |
| Price | PaidHub hardware sold by Hubitat; check its store for current prices | Free and open sourceFree; the myopenHAB cloud connector is a free service |
| Free to use | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Platforms | WebiOSAndroidWeb, iOS, Android | Self-hostedLinuxmacOSWindowsWebiOSAndroidSelf-hosted, Linux, macOS, Windows, Web, iOS, Android |
| Made by | Not stated | openHAB Foundation |
| Where automations run | On the hub, not in the cloud | Your own server, Pi or Docker |
| Hub hardware | Hubitat hub required, sold by Hubitat | None, any supported computer or Pi |
| Matter support | Yes, listed among supported technologies | Not stated on vendor site |
| Best for | Reliable local hub for Zigbee and Z-Wave | Vendor-neutral open-source server for tinkerers |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Hubitat Elevation vs openHAB
- Is Hubitat Elevation better than openHAB?
- Hubitat Elevation ranks higher in our list of home automation platforms (#3 against #4, score 90.5 against 89.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Hubitat Elevation is best for: reliable local hub for Zigbee and Z-Wave. openHAB is best for: vendor-neutral open-source server for tinkerers.
- Which is cheaper, Hubitat Elevation or openHAB?
- Hubitat Elevation: Hub hardware sold by Hubitat; check its store for current prices. openHAB: Free; the myopenHAB cloud connector is a free service.
- Do Hubitat Elevation and openHAB run on the same platforms?
- Hubitat Elevation supports Web, iOS, Android. openHAB supports Self-hosted, Linux, macOS, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
Choosing between the two
Learning Center
1:17How 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.
1:20How 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.
