Homey

Homey is a smart-home platform for controlling devices and setting up automations. It supports local control, Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave, cameras and energy monitoring, along with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Siri Shortcuts. Automations can use Flow or Advanced Flow, and its app store includes apps for smart-home brands and services such as Spotify, Slack, Twitter and Discord. Homey says it works with over 70,000 devices from more than 2,000 brands. Homey Cloud is free for up to five devices; Homey Cloud Premium costs $2.99 per month after that allowance. Homey Pro is a one-time purchase at $449, with no subscription stated. Homey Pro mini is listed at $249 once, and Homey Bridge at $69 once. The service is available through Android, iOS and web, as well as smartphones, tablets, desktop web, Apple Watch and platform widgets. Household members and friends can receive manager, user or guest roles, while flows can grant temporary guest access. Homey says it does not sell user data or serve ads.

Homey combines device control, automation and shared access, with cloud and one-time-purchase options. The free cloud allowance is limited to five devices, and additional hardware has separate listed prices.

Homey suits people managing compatible smart-home devices and creating automations. Its role settings and temporary guest access may also suit households that share control with family, friends or visitors.

Homey is a smart-home platform for controlling connected devices and building automations. It is best for households that mix brands or want more than basic routines. The key choice is between a low-cost cloud plan with a strict device cap and a much larger one-time purchase for a Pro hub.

Overview

Homey brings hardware and service integrations together: it works with more than 70,000 devices from over 2,000 brands, and its App Store includes services such as Spotify, Slack, Twitter, and Discord. That range makes it a plausible hub for a mixed-brand home, though the breadth is no substitute for confirming compatibility with the specific devices you own.

Control is available on smartphones, tablets, desktop web, Apple Watch, and through iOS and Android widgets. Household members and friends can be given manager, user, or guest roles, while Flows can grant temporary guest access, for example to a cleaner or holiday visitor. Those options matter in a shared home; a solo user may have little reason to value them.

Key features

Control and automation

Homey supports Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave, local control, cameras, energy monitoring, and voice assistants. This combination is useful for households combining different standards and wanting monitoring as well as control. Flow covers simpler automations, while Advanced Flow caters to more complex routines, making Homey more attractive to people who want to shape how devices work together than to those who only need basic switching.

Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri Shortcuts are supported. Homey says it does not sell user data or serve ads, and that users own their data. Its security measures include sandboxed apps, penetration tests, and bug bounties. Support includes a knowledge base, support requests, community help, and system status.

Pricing

Homey Cloud Free costs $0.00 per free and supports up to five devices. It is a sensible way to start or to serve a small setup, but the cap is a real constraint for a home with more connected hardware.

Homey Cloud Premium costs $2.99 per month, billed monthly, after the free five-device allowance. It provides cloud smart-home control, automation, and monitoring. The monthly term keeps the initial commitment low, but households that outgrow five devices must accept an ongoing charge. Homey Cloud can start for free; no trial duration or refund policy is stated.

Homey Pro costs $449.00 per once as a local smart-home hub, with no subscription stated. It suits buyers who prefer a one-time purchase over a continuing cloud fee, but the upfront price is substantially higher than the cloud option. Homey Pro mini costs $249.00 per once as a smart-home hub, also with no subscription stated. Homey Bridge costs $69.00 per once as an extension for Homey Cloud, so it is an additional hardware purchase rather than a replacement for the cloud plan.

Platforms

Homey is available on Android, iOS, and the web, with control also through tablets, Apple Watch, and mobile widgets. That mix gives household members several ways to reach the system without restricting use to a phone.

Who it's for

Homey is a strong fit for a multi-brand household that values broad device support, layered automation, local control, or shared access. The free cloud tier is most useful for small setups or initial use; larger cloud setups should budget for the monthly plan. Buyers who dislike recurring fees may prefer a Pro hub, while people with only a handful of devices and simple needs may not benefit enough from Homey's breadth to justify expanding beyond the free tier.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Support for more than 70,000 devices across over 2,000 brands gives mixed-brand homes a broad compatibility starting point.
• Flow and Advanced Flow cover both simple and complex automation needs.
• Local control and one-time-purchase Pro hubs offer an alternative to ongoing cloud billing.
• Role-based household access and temporary guest access help manage a shared home.

Cons

• The free cloud plan stops at five devices, limiting its usefulness as a home grows.
• Cloud Premium adds a recurring $2.99 per month charge after that allowance.
• The $449.00 Pro purchase is a significant upfront alternative for those avoiding subscriptions.
• Bridge costs $69.00 separately and is an extension for Homey Cloud, adding a hardware expense to that route.

Alternatives

Google Home is a free alternative on Android, iOS, and web, and is the simpler price-first choice for compatible-device households; its app is free, while some products and features may not be available in every region. Apple Home is also free and suits people already using Apple devices, with compatible smart-home accessories required; it supports iOS and macOS.

HomeSeer HS4 is worth considering for buyers who want software spanning desktop, mobile, Linux, and self-hosted platforms; its HS4 Smart Home Software plan is $149.95 per month and MyHS Lite is free. Aqara Home is a free Android and iOS option from Aqara's maker, Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd.

openHAB is a free, broad-platform option for users seeking Linux, desktop, or self-hosted availability alongside mobile apps; its myopenHAB cloud service is free. Tuya Smart offers a free Android and iOS app, while Xiaomi Home is another free mobile option, with device support varying by region.

eWeLink is a freemium alternative with mobile, web, desktop, API, and self-hosted platform support; its Advanced plan costs $9.90 per year.

Home automation platforms collects more options for comparing this category.

Verdict

Choose Homey if your household needs broad cross-brand support, flexible automation, and useful shared access, especially when local control or a one-time Pro purchase is appealing. Look elsewhere if a five-device cloud cap is too restrictive and the monthly fee or Pro hardware price is not justified by your setup.