FHEM vs ioBroker

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.

ioBroker brings devices and services from different makers into one local system for monitoring, control, and home automation. It runs on a home network and stores values, history, and rules on the user's computer, without requiring cloud storage for its own operation. Users install adapters for the devices, protocols, and online services they need; more than 800 are available. Integration examples include Zigbee, Z-Wave, KNX, Modbus, MQTT, manufacturer clouds, and voice assistants. Automations can use graphical rules, Blockly, JavaScript, TypeScript, or Node-RED. The platform supports local control, cameras, energy monitoring, and Matter, and is available for Linux, macOS, Windows, web, API, and self-hosted use. Its open-source platform and basic functions are free. Free ioBroker.net remote access is limited to browser visualization without editing and has data-volume and functionality limits. The free vis-2 license requires an internet connection each time ioBroker restarts. Without a license, the Matter bridge can expose up to five devices to Apple Home, Google Home, or Alexa.