ᐅ Best overall smart home system

Hello,

I am looking for a comprehensive smart home platform that can integrate devices from different manufacturers.

So far, I have come across the following options:

Home Assistant
OpenHAB
ioBroker

Which of these platforms is the best or most widely used?

It is important to me that it runs stably and allows for creating good automations.
Additionally, there should be a smartphone app available that can be used on the go to control the smart home or at least check the status of devices remotely.

Are all of these programs open source and available for free?

Which of these platforms would you recommend, or should we perhaps consider WiButler or Homee, which also support various wireless standards?

Of the systems mentioned, I would prefer Home Assistant. Next would be ioBroker, although I find the licensing policy of some adapters problematic. Using it together with KNX is also not very enjoyable. I find OpenHAB unnecessarily complicated in many areas.

TaiiTvv schrieb:

Furthermore, there should also be a smartphone app that can be used on the go to control the smart home remotely or just to check the status of something.

All of them have apps; mobile control requires a VPN.

TaiiTvv schrieb:

Are all these programs open source and available for free?

Yes.

TaiiTvv schrieb:

Which of these programs would you recommend, or should we perhaps consider WiButler or Homee, which also support various wireless standards?

These are different approaches. WiButler and Homee are standalone systems, naturally based on popular wireless standards, while Home Assistant is the overarching platform. However, you can integrate all of them into Home Assistant. I would choose a management system that is as open and compatible as possible.

Thank you for your quick reply.

Araknis schrieb:

All have apps; remote control requires a VPN.

Oh, so you have to set up your own VPN? I thought that could be done quite easily through the Home Assistant cloud.

Araknis schrieb:

Of the systems mentioned, I would prefer Home Assistant. Then comes ioBroker, although I’m put off by the licensing policies of some adapters. Using it with KNX is not very enjoyable either. I find OpenHAB unnecessarily complicated in many areas.

Okay, so you would recommend Home Assistant out of the three mentioned. I don’t like the design of ioBroker as much as the other two (but design isn’t everything).

Araknis schrieb:

These are different approaches. WiButler and Homee are standalone systems, of course based on popular wireless standards, and Home Assistant is the overarching platform. But you can integrate all of them into Home Assistant. I would choose the most open and compatible management system.

Yes, I know they are different approaches but basically with the same result.
WiButler or Homee would be the simpler solution, while Home Assistant is more of a DIY solution.

For example, WiButler combines all common wireless systems currently available (Zigbee, EnOcean, Z-Wave), and its basic concept unites various manufacturers and wireless systems into one smart home system.

That’s basically the same concept as Home Assistant, except Home Assistant is free, unlike WiButler, for example.

Or did I misunderstand that?

Loxone, thanks to its open API interface, allows you to connect almost anything. Additionally, there is a large community around Loxberry.

TaiiTvv schrieb:

Hello,

I am looking for a comprehensive smart home platform that can integrate devices from different manufacturers.

So far, I have come across the following:

Home Assistant
OpenHAB
ioBroker

Which of these platforms is the best or most commonly used?

It is important to me that it runs stably and allows for creating good automations.
Furthermore, there should be a smartphone app available that can be used remotely to control the smart home or at least check the status of devices.

Are all these platforms open source and available for free?

Which of these would you recommend, or should we perhaps consider WiButler or Homee, which also support multiple wireless protocols?

I have installed a system based on OpenHAB and ioBroker (further developed by our company from the above open source solutions), which will probably be available for purchase as a “system solution” at some point 😉. One unique selling point is that nearly all available third-party systems can be connected, including bus-based systems (Loxone / KNX), so the “expensive” star wiring of the signal cables could be avoided. Alternatively, existing KNX systems can be programmed differently (more flexibly), etc. Currently, we are enabling the connection of KNX components (KNX IP Router secure IPR.1.8.2 + power supply). This was a main request from several electricians we asked. So far, very inexpensive 1-wire components (used as sensors for temperature, humidity, etc.), almost all lighting systems on the market, robotic vacuum cleaners, and more are working smoothly.

Of course, you can do all this yourself! But: Many small stumbling blocks and challenges make it difficult for an average user. If an experienced programmer had not promised to take care of it, it certainly would not have been installed in my place. I didn’t have the time or patience for that 😀

P.S. @Araknis VPN is not necessary; a reverse proxy secured with a certificate also works and is perfectly safe! Although I do use VPN for all my networks 😉, it is not needed for remote control.

The system is still under heavy development. It is not market-ready yet. I will be happy to provide updates in the separate thread when I have time.

https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/offenes-smarthome-system-prototyp-fuer-jedermann.36275/

So currently, there is no better alternative than the three major open source programs?
Where Home Assistant is the best among these systems?

@i_b_n_a_n Your system also sounds interesting if it is available and better, then it can be switched later.

I want a comprehensive smart home system that can connect all the smart home products available. This way, everything can be combined in automations.