Use Home Assistant for maximum control and privacy

Home Assistant is a free, open-source platform that runs on a Raspberry Pi ($35-75) or a dedicated device like Home Assistant Yellow ($135). It works with virtually every smart home brand and keeps all your data local — nothing is sent to cloud servers.

Why It Works

Home Assistant is the most powerful and flexible smart home platform, supporting over 2,000 device integrations. It gives you complete control over automations and does not depend on any company's cloud service continuing to operate.

Tips

• Best for technically inclined users who want maximum customization and privacy
• The learning curve is steeper than consumer ecosystems but the community is excellent
• Can run alongside Alexa, Google, or HomeKit as an automation engine
• Protects you from vendor lock-in and devices being bricked when companies shut down cloud services