Aqara Home vs HomeSeer HS4
Aqara Home
aqara.comHomeSeer HS4
homeseer.comSide by side
| Figure | Aqara Home | HomeSeer HS4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $3.33/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Spec score · Smart Home Apps | 8.7 (#5) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Spec score · Home Automation | 8.7 (#5) | 8.8 (#4) |
| Spec score · Home automation platforms | 8.5 (#7) | 8.9 (#5) |
| Automation | Aqara Home supports automation and scenes; Aqara’s HomeKit Mode documentation says that mode does not support automation or scene settings. | HS4 processes automations locally and continues controlling the home during internet outages or a MyHS web service outage. |
| Camera integration | Yes | Yes |
| Company history | Aqara’s brand story lists 2009 as the year Shenzhen Lumi was founded. | HomeSeer says it has provided smart home products for more than 25 years, and its product history lists HS1 software in 1999. |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Integrations | Aqara lists Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, Home Assistant, and Homey among supported ecosystems; compatibility varies by product and some functions may require a hub. | The product page lists free integrations including Z-Wave, Zigbee, Philips Hue, Harmony Hub, Ecobee, Tuya, Wemo, Rachio, LIFX and Chromecast. |
| Local control | Aqara says users who control devices only within their home network do not need an internet connection, and personal data is not transferred to Aqara to enable those smart home functions. | Yes |
| Matter support | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Aqara Home manages and controls Aqara smart devices and supports home automation. | HS4 is smart home automation software for building a Windows or Linux controller to remotely and automatically control home devices. |
| Support | Aqara's US store lists FAQ, contact, user manuals, installation videos, and lifetime customer support. | HomeSeer offers product documentation, contact support, user forums and developer help for creating plugins. |
| Voice assistant support | Yes | Yes |
| Zigbee support | Yes | Yes |
Plans
HomeSeer HS4
- HS4 Smart Home Software$149.95 a month
- MyHS LiteFree
- MyHS Plus$39.95 a year
- MyHS PRO$59.95 a year
- MyHS Business$99.95 a year
- HS4 Smart Home Software$149.95, paid once
In their own words
Aqara Home
Aqara Home is an Android and iOS app for adding Aqara devices and viewing or controlling them. It supports remote control, device grouping, schedules, real-time notifications, automations, and scenes. Automations can use device triggers and conditions to determine actions; scenes can gather multiple automations or serve as an automation result. The app also offers device upgrades, sub-device setup, and additional settings for documented HomeKit devices. Aqara lists compatibility with Matter, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Clova, Alice, IFTTT, and Home Connect Plus, although compatibility varies by product. A hub may be required for some ecosystems or functions; Advanced Matter Bridging requires a compatible Aqara hub. After devices are added in Aqara Home, OAuth 2.0 or interface authorization can provide device viewing and control permissions. The app is free. Aqara says communications between Apple devices and Aqara devices are end-to-end encrypted when using Apple Home. Users should check Aqara’s product activation region policy for regional details.
HomeSeer HS4
HomeSeer HS4 is smart home automation software for building a Windows or Linux controller that manages devices remotely and runs automations locally. HomeSeer says local processing lets home control continue through internet or MyHS web service outages, and that sensitive information is stored at home rather than in the cloud. HS4 supports Matter, Zigbee, and Z-Wave. Its product page lists free integrations such as Philips Hue, Harmony Hub, Ecobee, Tuya, Wemo, Rachio, LIFX, and Chromecast. The responsive web interface includes live camera viewing, camera recording, automatic local backup, and device categories; alerts can be spoken or sent by customizable email and text. The software is downloadable for Windows, Linux, and Raspberry Pi, though HomeSeer says only Ubuntu Linux and Raspberry Pi have been tested. The software license is listed at $149.95 a month. MyHS Lite is free for one system and one user with remote access; Alexa, Google smart speaker, and IFTTT support require a MyHS subscription. HomeSeer offers a 30-day trial and a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee.