Open-source Arduino Cloud alternatives

Home Assistant is open-source home automation software built around local control and privacy. It runs on hardware you own, such as a Raspberry Pi or a small home server, and brings smart lights, sensors, switches, thermostats and other devices together in one place. The core is written in Python and released under the Apache-2.0 license.

The documentation is organized around automations and dashboards, voice control, grouping devices by area, tracking energy use and templating, with configuration through the interface or YAML files. The project lists more than 1,500 integrations, and it can be controlled through assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. Companion hardware, including Home Assistant Green and the Voice Preview Edition, makes first-time setup simpler.

Home Assistant is a project of the Open Home Foundation, a non-profit that states the project cannot be sold or acquired. It suits tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts who want a home automation hub that does not depend on a single vendor's cloud, as well as people who want to unify devices from many brands under one dashboard.

ESPHome is a system for creating custom smart home devices from inexpensive microcontrollers such as the ESP32, ESP8266, BK72xx and RP2040 chips. Instead of writing firmware by hand, you describe the device in a simple configuration file, and ESPHome generates and builds the firmware for sensors, switches, displays and similar hardware.

A visual Device Builder lets beginners set up devices without a command line, while experienced users can edit YAML directly. Devices can be updated wirelessly over WiFi, choose from hundreds of modular components, and run under local control on your own network without the cloud. They integrate with Home Assistant out of the box and can also report over MQTT. PlatformIO is used under the hood.

The project is written in C++ and Python, and its code is covered by licenses listed in the repository. The site offers documentation, a component list, a device list, a blog and an ESPHome Starter Kit for people who want to start building without soldering. Releases follow a year and month version scheme.