Homey debuts self-hosted server for local smart homes

Homey has launched Homey Self-Hosted Server, a software-only edition of its smart home platform that runs on a customer's own hardware.

The product brings the Homey Pro operating system to third-party machines. Homey said it targets advanced users and enthusiasts who prefer to run smart home control locally without buying a dedicated Homey hub.

"With Homey Self-Hosted Server, we're opening up the Homey platform to a new group of users who want full control over where and how their smart home runs," said Stefan Witkamp, CEO, Athom. "It delivers the same powerful, user-friendly, and local-first experience people expect from Homey Pro, but on hardware of their own choosing."

Deployment Options

Homey Self-Hosted Server supports a broad list of environments, including Raspberry Pi, Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, Synology, QNAP, Proxmox, and TrueNAS. The company also said the software can run on any system capable of running Linux.

Homey positions the software as an alternative deployment model alongside its existing Homey products. Those include Homey Cloud, which uses an app for smart home control, and the Homey Pro devices, which combine software and radio hardware in a single unit.

The move reflects demand among some smart home users for more control over how systems run and where data processing happens. Self-hosted deployments also let customers re-use existing hardware, including home servers and network-attached storage systems.

Local Connectivity

Homey said the software connects to LAN, Cloud, and Matter devices without additional hardware. It also supports Thread devices when a Thread Border Router is present on the local network.

For LAN connectivity, Homey listed Modbus-TCP and KNX-IP, alongside other local LAN APIs. Those protocols are often associated with building automation and residential installations that rely on local network communication rather than vendor clouds.

The company's focus on local operation also places the new product in the same discussion as other self-managed smart home platforms. Consumers have shown heightened interest in privacy and resilience against cloud outages in recent years, particularly as smart home devices increase in number and complexity.

Bridge Requirement

Homey Self-Hosted Server does not include built-in radios for Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth LE, 433 MHz, or Infrared. Homey said customers can add that device support by pairing the software with Homey Bridge.

Homey Bridge sells separately for €69. Homey also said customers can add multiple bridges for what it calls Satellite Mode. The approach extends wireless range across larger homes by placing additional radio points in different locations.

The split between software and radio hardware mirrors patterns seen in other parts of the market, where customers separate computing from connectivity. It also gives customers the option to concentrate radio devices in specific parts of a home while placing the server component on a more capable machine.

Feature Set

Homey said Self-Hosted Server includes the same features as Homey Pro. It said users can control over 50,000 devices from more than 1,000 brands.

The company said the product includes Homey Flow and Advanced Flow for automations. It also includes Homey Energy for energy monitoring and Homey Insights for data and trends. Homey said customers can build custom Homey Dashboards and install official Homey Apps and Community Apps from the Homey App Store.

The software model also widens the set of potential use cases. Some users run smart home systems on always-on servers for reliability. Others prefer container-based deployments where they manage updates and backups as part of a wider home lab setup.

Commercial Model

Homey said each new installation includes a one-month free trial. After the trial, customers can subscribe for €4.99 per month or buy a lifetime licence for €149.

The pricing places the offer between one-off hardware purchases and recurring cloud subscriptions that often accompany smart home ecosystems. For Homey, the model also creates a direct relationship with customers who do not buy its hubs.

Athom, which develops Homey, operates as part of LG Electronics following an acquisition in 2024. Homey products already sell across Europe, the US, and other markets, and the company said the new server product is available worldwide.