Homey Pro or Home Assistant? Compare Features and Fit.
Choose Homey Pro if you want a guided, app-style hub with simpler day-to-day control. Choose Home Assistant if you want full local control and are willing to learn its configuration. The right pick depends on how much control you want and how much setup you are willing to do yourself.
Homey Pro fits if
- —You want a polished app experience from the start.
- —You prefer visual automation tools to writing configuration.
- —You want the simplest route to using your hub away from home.
Home Assistant fits if
- —You want full local control of your devices and automations.
- —You are comfortable with configuration and troubleshooting.
- —You want to combine many brands and protocols, including Zigbee and Matter.
Homey Pro and Home Assistant side by side
Use this table to match each row to your own home before you decide.
| Area | Homey Pro | Home Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Guided setup through the Homey experience | Installed on hardware you choose, then configured through a web interface |
| Interface | Polished app-style interface | Web dashboards you build yourself |
| Remote access | Positioned as a core part of the experience | You configure remote access yourself, and security depends on the method you choose |
| Automation | Flow-based automations built visually | Automations built in the interface or written as configuration files |
| Device compatibility | Devices supported through Homey's app ecosystem | Integrations covering many brands and protocols, including Zigbee and Matter |
| Customization | Within the options Homey provides | Extended through custom integrations, including those installed with HACS |
| Local operation | Check the current Homey Pro documentation for how features work without the internet | Designed to run locally on your own hardware |
| Cost | Hardware purchase; the price depends on the model | Free, open-source software; you provide the hardware |
Note: Hardware prices and models change. Confirm current specifications and prices on the official Homey website before you buy.
Interface and setup: convenience or control?
Homey Pro is commonly chosen for its app-style interface, which keeps everyday control simple. Home Assistant asks more of you at the start. You install it, choose how your dashboards look, and add integrations one at a time.
If you are happy to spend an evening on setup, Home Assistant rewards that time with more control over how your home behaves. If you want a working hub with less configuration, Homey Pro is the easier starting point.
Remote access and where your data lives
Both platforms can be reached from outside your home, but they handle it differently. Homey Pro is positioned around straightforward remote access. With Home Assistant, you choose and configure the method yourself, and the security of that setup depends on how you build it.
If keeping device control on your own network is a priority, Home Assistant is designed to run locally on hardware you own. Check the current Homey Pro documentation for how its features work without an internet connection before you buy.
Automation and device support
Homey Pro's Flow builder suits people who want to build rules visually. Home Assistant automations can be built in the interface or written as configuration, which leaves more room for complex logic.
Device support matters more than either platform's marketing. Check your current devices first. Our guides on What is Zigbee? and Home Assistant and Matter explain what each protocol means for buying decisions.
Which one fits your home?
Match your situation to the option that leaves you with the least friction.
New to smart homes
Start with Homey Pro if you want fewer decisions and a faster first week with your hub.
Comfortable with configuration
Home Assistant gives you the most control over automations, dashboards, and integrations.
Browse integrations →Large or mixed-protocol home
Home Assistant is usually the stronger fit when you combine Zigbee, Matter, and other protocols across many devices.
If your devices are already supported by Homey's app ecosystem and you want simple control, Homey Pro can be the better choice even if you know Home Assistant well.
Common questions before you choose
Do I need to be technical to use Home Assistant?
You do not need to be a programmer to start, but you should be comfortable reading settings and troubleshooting. Expect more hands-on time in the first weeks than with a guided hub.
Can I switch between them later?
Yes, but moving automations and re-pairing devices takes real work. Decide which direction you expect to go before you buy hardware.
Is Home Assistant free?
The software is free and open source. You still pay for the hardware you run it on, and for any paid services you add.
Does Homey Pro work well for a fully local setup?
If local control is your top priority, check the current Homey Pro documentation on how its features work without an internet connection before you buy.
Should I pick one before checking my devices?
No. Choose the platform that matches your main goal, then confirm your device list is supported before you commit.
Pick the path that matches your next week
If Home Assistant is the direction you are leaning toward, start with the local setup guide. It walks through running Home Assistant on your own hardware.
If Homey Pro is the direction you are leaning toward, check its current documentation and your device list before you buy.