privacyapps.ioPrivacy checkup

Private smart home tools

11 apps, each with a privacy passport

Cloud smart home platforms log when you are home, what you say and how you live. Local hubs run automations inside your house, keep working when the internet is down and only reach out when you choose remote access.

Leaving one of these?

If you only try two

Privacy passport
Home Assistant
Smart home
Our pick
No tracking
Minimal
Open source
Yes
Only you can read it
Your server
No account
Yes
Free
Free plan
4 of 5 checks
- Android
- iPhone
- Linux
- Web
Huge device support, runs inside your home
Privacy passport
Homey
Smart home
Our pick
No tracking
Not stated
Open source
No
Only you can read it
No
No account
Needed
Free
Free plan
1 of 5 checks
- Android
- iPhone
- Web
Easy setup, with local automations on Homey Pro

All 11 smart home tools

Passes

Works on

11 of 11 apps

Home AssistantPick

Self-hosted91.7k

Open-source home automation hub that runs locally and connects thousands of devices, with optional local voice control.

Minimal tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free plan

Android
iPhone
Linux
Web

HomeyPick

Service

Smart home hub from a Dutch company; Homey Pro runs automations locally and supports many brands and protocols.

Tracking not stated
Closed source
Provider can read it
Account needed
Free plan

Android
iPhone
Web

Hubitat Elevation

Service

Smart home hub that processes Z-Wave and Zigbee automations locally, so devices keep working without the internet.

Tracking not stated
Closed source
Stays on device
Account needed
Paid

Android
iPhone
Web

openHAB

Self-hosted1.2k

Vendor-neutral open-source home automation platform that runs on your own hardware and connects many brands.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

ioBroker

Self-hosted292

Open-source integration platform for smart home and IoT devices, run locally with hundreds of adapters.

Tracking not stated
Open source
On your server
No account
Free plan

Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

Domoticz

Self-hosted3.8k

Lightweight open-source home automation system that runs well on a Raspberry Pi and controls lights, sensors and more.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free

Windows
Linux
Web

Gladys Assistant

Self-hosted3.3k

French open-source smart home assistant that runs on a Raspberry Pi or NAS, with a simple setup and local control.

Tracking not stated
Open source
On your server
No account
Free plan

Linux
Web

Zigbee2MQTT

Self-hosted15.8k

Bridges Zigbee lights and sensors from many brands to your own hub, so you can drop each maker's cloud bridge.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free

Linux
Web

Homebridge

Self-hosted25.5k

Open-source bridge that adds non-HomeKit devices to Apple Home, running locally on your own computer or Pi.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free

Mac
Windows
Linux
Web

OpenVoiceOS

Self-hosted297

Open-source voice assistant, successor to Mycroft, that can run fully offline on your own hardware.

No tracking
Open source
On your server
No account
Free

Linux

Dicio

App1.5k

Open-source voice assistant for Android that understands commands on the device, for timers, calls, weather and more.

No tracking
Open source
Stays on device
No account
Free

Android

What to check in smart home tools

1 Do automations run locally when the internet is down?
2 Is a cloud account required to set it up or use it?
3 Does voice processing happen on your own hardware?

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