Homebridge
Open-source bridge that adds HomeKit support to non-HomeKit devices
- #11 of 11 in best home automation platforms
- Free and open source
- Free to use
- Open source
- Self-hostedLinuxmacOSWindowsWeb
Ranked 11 of 11 in best home automation platforms
Free and open source, it adds HomeKit support to devices that lack it through more than 2,000 community plugins. It is a bridge rather than a hub, so it needs Apple Home or another HomeKit app for control.
Best for Adding HomeKit support to unsupported devices
About Homebridge
Homebridge makes devices from brands without HomeKit support, such as TP-Link Kasa, Nest and SwitchBot, appear in Apple's Home app and respond to Siri. Its web interface installs and configures plugins, shows accessory dashboards and backs up the setup, and each plugin can run as its own child bridge.
Homebridge does not control devices by itself, so it needs Apple Home or another HomeKit app as the front end. Remote control and automations away from home need an Apple TV, HomePod or iPad as a home hub. Plugins are built by separate community developers, so quality and maintenance vary between them. The core is licensed under Apache 2.0.
Key features
- HomeKit bridge
- Over 2,000 plugins
- Raspberry Pi image
- Child bridge per plugin
- Backup and restore
Strengths
- Over 2,000 community plugins for non-HomeKit devices
- Web interface for plugins and accessories
- Apache-2.0 licensed core
Limits
- Needs Apple Home or another HomeKit app to control devices
- Plugin quality varies between community developers
Where Homebridge ranks
How Homebridge compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Where automations run | Hub hardware | Matter support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#7 Domoticz | 84.5 | Free and open source | Self-hostedLinuxWindowsWeb | Your own Linux, Windows or Pi server | None, you add a radio such as Z-Wave | Not stated on vendor site |
#8 Samsung SmartThings | 83.0 | Free | iOSAndroid | SmartThings app with a hub | Built into select Samsung TVs, or a dedicated hub | Yes, Matter and Thread supported |
#9 Google Home | 81.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | iOSAndroidWeb | Google Home app on phone or web | Some Nest speakers and displays with Thread | Yes, Matter locks and devices supported |
#10 Amazon Alexa | 80.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | iOSAndroidWeb | Alexa app and Amazon cloud services | Echo Hub control panel | Yes, through Echo Hub |
| #11Homebridge | 77.0 | Free and open source | Self-hostedLinuxmacOSWindowsWeb | Raspberry Pi, Linux, macOS, Windows or Docker | None, a Pi or spare computer | Not stated on vendor site |
The full comparison table for best home automation platforms has all 11 products.
Alternatives to Homebridge
All 10 alternatives
Related rankings
Questions about Homebridge
- Is Homebridge free?
- Homebridge can be used without paying: Free; plugins are built and maintained by community developers. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Homebridge open source?
- Yes. Homebridge publishes its source code under the Apache-2.0 license.
- Which platforms does Homebridge support?
- Homebridge is available on: Self-hosted, Linux, macOS, Windows, Web.
- What is Homebridge best for?
- Adding HomeKit support to unsupported devices. In our ranking of home automation platforms it is number 11 of 11 with a score of 77.0.
- What are the best alternatives to Homebridge?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Home Assistant, Homey, Hubitat Elevation, openHAB.
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