Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

openHAB VS FHEM

Compare openHAB VS FHEM and see what are their differences

openHAB logo openHAB

"empowering the smart home" - vendor and technology agnostic open source home automation

FHEM logo FHEM

FHEM (TM) is a GPL'd perl server for house automation.
  • openHAB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-26
  • FHEM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-28

openHAB features and specs

  • Flexibility
    openHAB supports a wide range of devices and technologies, making it highly flexible for various smart home configurations.
  • Customization
    The platform allows for extensive customization, enabling users to tailor their smart home automation rules and settings as per their specific needs.
  • Community Support
    Backed by a strong community, users can benefit from shared knowledge, tutorials, and community-contributed add-ons.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    openHAB runs on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi, offering versatility in deployment.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, it provides transparency and freedom, allowing users to inspect, modify, and enhance the code base.
  • Security
    Focus on privacy and security, where data can be stored locally without necessarily depending on cloud services, providing more control over personal data.

Possible disadvantages of openHAB

  • Steep Learning Curve
    openHAB can be complex to set up and configure, especially for users who are not technically inclined.
  • Documentation
    Although improving, the official documentation can sometimes be lacking or hard to navigate, requiring users to invest time to find the information they need.
  • Maintenance
    Since openHAB is highly customizable, it may require regular maintenance and troubleshooting, particularly after updates or when integrating new devices.
  • Hardware Dependency
    Effectiveness can depend on the hardware used; certain devices may require additional gateways or controllers to function properly with openHAB.
  • User Interface
    While functional, openHAB’s out-of-the-box user interface may not be as polished or intuitive as some commercial alternatives.

FHEM features and specs

  • Device Support
    FHEM supports a wide range of devices and protocols, making it versatile and useful for integrating various smart home products.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, FHEM allows users to modify and extend the software, fostering a community of developers who can contribute to its continuous improvement.
  • Customization
    Users can extensively customize FHEM based on their needs, allowing for personalized home automation setups that fit anyone's specific requirements.
  • Community Support
    There is a dedicated community around FHEM, offering forums and resources where users can seek help, share ideas, and find tutorials.
  • Platform Independence
    FHEM can be run on various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, providing flexibility in deployment.

Possible disadvantages of FHEM

  • Complexity
    FHEM has a steep learning curve and may require a significant amount of time to understand and configure, especially for beginners.
  • Interface
    The user interface of FHEM is considered outdated and not as intuitive or visually appealing as other modern smart home solutions.
  • Documentation
    While documentation exists, it is sometimes fragmented or lacks comprehensive guides, making it challenging for new users to get started.
  • Maintenance
    Being a community-driven project, there might be delays in updates or support for new devices compared to commercial solutions.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running FHEM can be resource-intensive, potentially requiring powerful hardware for optimal performance with large or complex setups.

Analysis of openHAB

Overall verdict

  • openHAB is generally considered a good choice for tech-savvy users who are comfortable with a bit of a learning curve to achieve a highly customized and integrated smart home system. However, it might not be the best fit for users seeking a more straightforward or plug-and-play solution.

Why this product is good

  • openHAB is an open-source home automation platform that integrates a wide range of smart home devices and technologies. It is highly flexible and customizable, thanks to its modular architecture and the active community that supports and develops various add-ons. openHAB works on multiple operating systems, providing a consistent experience across different environments. It also emphasizes privacy and security, allowing users to self-host their setups.

Recommended for

  • Tech enthusiasts who enjoy tinkering with and custom-building home automation systems
  • Users who prioritize a high degree of privacy and control over their smart home setup by self-hosting
  • Individuals looking to integrate a wide range of devices and services from different manufacturers into one platform

openHAB videos

Home Automation and Security with openHAB / Home Assistant / Smartthings

More videos:

  • Review - Live with BK-Hobby - Comparing Home Assistant and OpenHAB
  • Demo - openHAB 2 HABpanel UI Demo | Quick How to get started guide

FHEM videos

FHEM vs. ioBroker | haus-automatisierung.com [4K]

More videos:

  • Review - FHEM - Folge: 5.2 - CUL anschließen

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to openHAB and FHEM)
Home
77 77%
23% 23
Data Dashboard
77 77%
23% 23
Smarthome
79 79%
21% 21
Home Intelligence
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare openHAB and FHEM

openHAB Reviews

10 n8n.io Alternatives
openHAB is a technology and vendor agnostic open-source automation software for your home that brings various efficient features. This home automation software is written entirely in Java and deployed on-premises and connects to services and devices from more than one vendor. Actions including switching on lights, turning appliances on and off, and more are triggered by...
9 Best home assistant apps for Android & iOS
The openHAB application supports devices from different brands and manufacturers, such as Amazon or Sonos, Chromecast, and Philips. In total, there are more than 2 hundred settings that are designed to support communication between devices.
List of Open Source Home Automation Software
But it also supports cloud in case the user wishes to avail of their services, giving the user more choice and freedom. OpenHAB supports Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. OpenHAB is your getaway ticket from manufacturer-specific apps that cause a lot of frustration. It comes with plugin-ready architecture, which helps the developers add new services...
Source: linuxhint.com
16 Open Source Home Automation Platforms To Use In 2020
We can't start this list without mentioning openHAB, one of the strongest players in the open source community. With almost half a million posts on their forums and 33,000 members, openHAB is constantly improving upon its initial offering. The platform can integrate with over 1500 devices from the likes of Sony, Pioneer, LG, Samsung, and much more. openHAB is free-to-use...
Source: ubidots.com
OpenHab vs Home Assistant vs Domoticz – Let’s get down to Business
OpenHab2 was released in 2017 with the idea of reaching a less technical audience. The new release includes Paper UI, a new web UI that allows you to do a lot of the configurations without having to edit files. In principle this is great, but there is a caveat. Paper UI still doesn´t support all the features in OpenHab so you still have to go and do some of the...

FHEM Reviews

List of Open Source Home Automation Software
FHEM is a popular home automation system. It is an open-source Perl based server for home automation that provides all the necessary features for home automation. This home automation system works on all 3 major operating systems i.e.: Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Source: linuxhint.com
16 Open Source Home Automation Platforms To Use In 2020
FHEM is well-known in the world of home automation. It's an open source (GPL) perl server used to automate common tasks in the house such as switching the lights on or off, regulating the heating, and more. Most of the protocols used in home automation are supported with FHEM, and the documentation is great… if you can manage to find what you're looking for. With a bit of a...
Source: ubidots.com
9 Home Automation Open-Source Platforms for Your projects
FHEM is a GPL’d perl server for home automation. It automates tasks like switching lamps, shutters, heating and so on. It also logs events like temperature, humidity and power consumption.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, openHAB seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

openHAB mentions (1)

  • Welcome to the 21st century, us. Don’t know how we did it before this 😂
    You can start on a general home automation like openhab.org. Source: almost 3 years ago

FHEM mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of FHEM yet. Tracking of FHEM recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing openHAB and FHEM, you can also consider the following products

Home-Assistant.io - Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform running on Python 3.

ioBroker - flexible and modular application for the IoT and Smarthome

Google Home - Set up, manage, and control your Chromecast, Chromecast Audio and Google Home devices.

Homebridge.io - Homebridge is a lightweight NodeJS server you can run on your network that emulates the iOS HomeKit...

Domoticz - Domoticz is a lightweight Home Automation System

Control4 - Control4 manufactures a complete line of affordable wired and wireless smart home systems and home...