Comparison · Home automation platforms
ioBroker vs openHAB: which is better in 2026?
openHAB ranks higher in our list of home automation platforms (#4 against #5, score 89.0 against 87.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.
- 87.5Editorial score89.0
- 4Platforms7
- YesFree to useYes
- YesOpen sourceYes
Which should you choose?
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.
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 macOS.
- Only openHAB runs on iOS.
- Only openHAB runs on Android.
Side by side
| Score | 87.5 | 89.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in list | #5 of 11 | #4 of 11 |
| Price | Free and open sourceFree; donations welcome to support development | Free and open sourceFree; the myopenHAB cloud connector is a free service |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Self-hostedLinuxWindowsWebSelf-hosted, Linux, Windows, Web | Self-hostedLinuxmacOSWindowsWebiOSAndroidSelf-hosted, Linux, macOS, Windows, Web, iOS, Android |
| Made by | ioBroker GmbH | openHAB Foundation |
| Where automations run | Locally in your network | Your own server, Pi or Docker |
| Hub hardware | None, you supply the server | None, any supported computer or Pi |
| Matter support | Yes, through the Matter adapter | Not stated on vendor site |
| Best for | Open-source automation with many adapters | Vendor-neutral open-source server for tinkerers |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about ioBroker vs openHAB
- Is openHAB better than ioBroker?
- openHAB ranks higher in our list of home automation platforms (#4 against #5, score 89.0 against 87.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. ioBroker is best for: open-source automation with many adapters. openHAB is best for: vendor-neutral open-source server for tinkerers.




