FHEM vs HomeSeer HS4

FHEM is free, GPL version 2 software for automating household devices from a self-hosted Perl server. It can control lamps, shutters, heating, and other compatible equipment while recording temperature, humidity, and power events. Control is available through web or smartphone frontends, telnet, or TCP/IP. FHEM can create devices and logs when new device data arrives, write events to files or databases with regular-expression filters, notify external programs or scripts, and run timed commands. Its text, JSON, and XML interfaces work over plain TCP/IP, SSL, or HTTP. The modular system lists more than 430 modules and supports devices and services including HomeMatic, Z-Wave, EnOcean, Philips Hue, FRITZ!Dect, Alexa, HomeKit, HomeBridge, and MQTT. Media examples include major television brands, Bose, Sonos, Kodi, Plex, and Apple TV. It offers local control, energy monitoring, voice-assistant support, installation guidance, packages, containers, documentation, and a forum.

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.