What is Home Assistant? A plain-English guide for homeowners
Home Assistant is the software brain of a smart home. It runs inside your house, connects devices from over 1,000 brands and keeps working without the internet.
Home Assistant is the software brain of a smart home. It runs inside your house, connects devices from over 1,000 brands and keeps working without the internet.
In one paragraph
Home Assistant is open-source home automation software. It runs on a small computer inside your home and connects your lighting, heating, security, blinds, audio and appliances into one app with shared scenes and automations. It works with over 1,000 brands and is used in more than two million households (Home Assistant). Because it runs locally, your home keeps working if the internet goes down.
What it does for you
- One app instead of a different app for every brand.
- Scenes such as Morning, Away or Film night that set lights, blinds, heating and music together.
- Automations, for example heating that turns down when the last person leaves, or lights that dim at bedtime.
- Dashboards on wall tablets and phones, designed around how your family lives.
- Voice control through Alexa, Google, Siri or local voice options.
You can try it on our live demo.
Why we build on it
- No lock-in. You can choose hardware for each job rather than one manufacturer's catalogue.
- Local and private. Control and automations run in your home. See our local control guide.
- No compulsory licence fees. The software itself is free.
- Longevity. An open platform with a large community is not dependent on one company's product roadmap.
Is it only for hobbyists?
It started that way, which is why it has a reputation for tinkering. The difference with a professional installation is design, hardware choice, a reliable network, tested automations, documentation and support. That is the gap between a weekend project and a system a whole family relies on. We have rebuilt more than one DIY setup that grew beyond what its owner could maintain, such as our Edinburgh project.
What it costs to run
There is no compulsory subscription. Optional remote access and voice assistant linking through Nabu Casa costs £6.50 a month or £65 a year including VAT if bought directly (Nabu Casa). Professional support is optional too; our aftercare plans start at £14.99 a month.
How it compares
We have written detailed comparisons with Control4 and Loxone, including where those systems are the better fit.
Living with it
Day to day, most people use switches, keypads, voice and a simple app. The complexity stays behind the scenes. Updates are tested before we apply them on supported systems, so nothing changes unexpectedly.
Common questions
Do I need to be technical to use Home Assistant?
No. With a professional installation, you use switches, voice and a simple app. The configuration is our job.
What hardware does Home Assistant run on?
A small, low-power computer that lives in your equipment cupboard, with radio adapters for protocols such as Zigbee, Z-Wave and Thread.
Can Home Assistant work with Apple Home, Alexa and Google?
Yes. It can expose devices to all three, so family members can use whichever they prefer.
Related services
Sources
Last reviewed 1 November 2026. Prices ex. VAT unless stated.
More guides
Home Assistant vs Control4
Both can run a premium smart home. The differences are in who controls the system, what you pay each year, and how free you are to choose devices.
Home Assistant vs Loxone
Loxone is a strong all-in-one system, especially for new builds. Home Assistant gives you more freedom of device and installer. Here is how they compare.
Local control vs cloud: a smart home that works without the internet
Many smart devices stop working properly when the internet drops or a manufacturer changes its service. A locally controlled home keeps working.
Ready to start your journey?
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