Skip to content
appsgit

7 self-hosted options

Open-source alternatives to Nest / SmartThings

The best open-source alternative to Nest / SmartThings is Home Assistant (Apache-2.0, 91,730 GitHub stars, Docker image). Tasmota stands out for its C codebase, and Node RED stands out for a permissive Apache-2.0 license.

About Nest / SmartThings: Cloud-based smart home platforms from Google Nest and Samsung SmartThings.

Updated · data from GitHub, refreshed daily

Top picks

  1. Rank 1:

    Home Assistant

    home-assistant/core

    Home automation platform.

    Active · last commit Oct 26, 2026

    FeaturedHome Automation & IoTPythonDocker

    Stands out for the most GitHub stars.

  2. Rank 2:

    Tasmota

    arendst/Tasmota

    Open source firmware for ESP devices. Total local control with quick setup and updates. Control using MQTT, Web UI, HTTP or serial. Automate using timers, rules or scripts. Integration with home…

    Active · last commit Oct 25, 2026

    Home Automation & IoTC

    Stands out for its C codebase.

  3. Rank 3:

    Node RED

    node-red/node-red

    Browser-based flow editor that helps you wiring hardware devices, APIs and online services to create IoT solutions.

    Active · last commit Oct 24, 2026

    Home Automation & IoTJavaScriptDocker

    Stands out for a permissive Apache-2.0 license.

At a glance

Nest / SmartThings alternatives compared

Open-source apps come first, then source-available ones and apps whose license appsgit could not verify; within each group, projects with at least 12 commits in the last 12 months come before less active or archived ones, then by GitHub stars.

Nest / SmartThings alternatives compared, data as of 2026-10-26
AppStands out forLicenseGitHub starsCommits (12 mo)Last commitDocker image
Home Assistantthe most GitHub starsApache-2.091,73021,252Oct 26, 2026Yes
Tasmotaits C codebaseGPL-3.024,920859Oct 25, 2026No
Node REDa permissive Apache-2.0 licenseApache-2.023,783985Oct 24, 2026Yes
Domoticzits C++ codebaseGPL-3.03,8231,644Oct 19, 2026Yes
OpenRemoteits Java codebaseAGPL-3.01,936689Oct 26, 2026No
ioBroker–MIT1,38285Oct 24, 2026No
openHAB–EPL-2.01,159561Oct 25, 2026No

Full list

All 7 Nest / SmartThings alternatives

Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.

  1. 1

    Home Assistant

    Home automation platform.

    Stands out for the most GitHub stars. Home Assistant has 91,730 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 21,252 commits in the last year.

  2. 2

    Tasmota

    Open source firmware for ESP devices. Total local control with quick setup and updates. Control using MQTT, Web UI, HTTP or serial. Automate using timers, rules or scripts. Integration with home…

    Stands out for its C codebase. Tasmota has 24,920 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 859 commits in the last year.

  3. 3

    Node RED

    Browser-based flow editor that helps you wiring hardware devices, APIs and online services to create IoT solutions.

    Stands out for a permissive Apache-2.0 license. Node RED has 23,783 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 985 commits in the last year.

  4. 4

    Domoticz

    Home Automation System that lets you monitor and configure various devices like: Lights, Switches, various sensors/meters like Temperature, Rain, Wind, UV, Electra, Gas, Water and much more.

    Stands out for its C++ codebase. Domoticz has 3,823 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,644 commits in the last year.

  5. 5

    OpenRemote

    IoT Asset management, Flow Rules and WHEN-THEN rules, Data visualization, Edge Gateway.

    Stands out for its Java codebase. OpenRemote has 1,936 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 689 commits in the last year.

  6. 6

    ioBroker

    Integration platform for the Internet of Things, focused on building automation, smart metering, ambient assisted living, process automation, visualization and data logging.

    ioBroker has 1,382 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license and had 85 commits in the last year.

  7. 7

    openHAB

    Vendor and technology agnostic open source software for home automation.

    openHAB has 1,159 GitHub stars, uses the EPL-2.0 license and had 561 commits in the last year.

FAQ

Nest / SmartThings alternatives: FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

Is there a free alternative to Nest / SmartThings?

Yes. All 7 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can replace Nest / SmartThings without per-user fees. You pay only for the server.

Can I self-host an alternative to Nest / SmartThings with Docker?

Yes. 3 of the 7 apps here publish a Docker image, including Home Assistant, Node RED and Domoticz, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose.

Which Nest / SmartThings alternative is the most actively developed?

Home Assistant (Apache-2.0), with 21,252 commits in the last 12 months. Activity is a good sign that bugs and security issues get fixed.

How is this list ranked?

Open-source apps come first, then source-available ones and apps whose license appsgit could not verify; within each group, projects with at least 12 commits in the last 12 months come before less active or archived ones, then by GitHub stars.