Key Takeaways
- This guide covers off-the-shelf hub appliances — Home Assistant Green ($199), Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro ($179.95), Homey Pro ($449) — for a DIY mini-PC/Pi build instead, see the best hardware for a local smart home guide
- All 3 prices confirmed directly from manufacturers 2026-07-16 — this category has already seen a discontinuation (Home Assistant Yellow) and 2 price increases in 2026 alone
- Different from the ecosystem comparison guide, which compares software platforms (Alexa, Google, Apple, Home Assistant), not hub hardware
- Priorities to compare: local-processing depth, protocol support (Zigbee/Z-Wave/Thread/Matter), and whether the app ecosystem locks you in
Hub Appliance vs DIY Build
A dedicated hub appliance is ready to run out of the box; a DIY mini-PC or Raspberry Pi build (see the best hardware guide) offers more flexibility and headroom to add local AI, at the cost of more setup effort.
- Choose an appliance if you want the simplest path to a working local-first smart home without researching individual hardware components.
- Choose a DIY build if you want to run additional workloads on the same box — a local LLM, Frigate camera detection with a dedicated accelerator — since a dedicated hub appliance is typically not sized for that.
- Both paths can run Home Assistant's software; the difference is packaged hardware versus assembled hardware, not a different software experience for Home Assistant specifically (Hubitat and Homey run their own separate platforms).
What Differs Between Hubs
The main differences between hub appliances are which software platform they run (Home Assistant vs a proprietary platform), built-in protocol radios, and how much local processing versus cloud dependency each requires.
- Home Assistant Green ($199, confirmed on home-assistant.io) runs the actual Home Assistant software — the same platform covered throughout this cluster — in a plug-and-play appliance form factor. Nabu Casa has raised its price twice in 2026 from an original $99 at 2023 launch, citing rising RAM component costs.
- Hubitat's Elevation C-8 Pro ($179.95, confirmed on hubitat.com) runs its own separate automation platform with a stated local-processing focus, supporting Zigbee 3.0, Z-Wave 800 Long Range, Matter 1.5 (as a controller), and Bluetooth — distinct from Home Assistant's ecosystem and community integrations.
- Homey Pro ($449, confirmed on homey.app — raised from $399 on June 1, 2026) runs its own platform too, with the broadest built-in protocol support of the three: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Matter v1.3, Thread border router, Zigbee 3.0, Z-Wave 700, 433MHz, and infrared, on a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 4GB RAM.
How This Differs From the Ecosystem Comparison
The ecosystem comparison guide compares software platforms and their voice assistants (Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, Home Assistant); this guide compares physical hub hardware for buyers who've already decided they want a dedicated appliance.
- Read the ecosystem comparison first if you're deciding which platform/voice-assistant approach fits you.
- Read this guide once you know you want a dedicated hub appliance and need to choose the physical hardware.
- Read the best hardware for a local smart home guide instead if you'd rather build a mini-PC/Pi hub yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a hub appliance better than a DIY mini-PC build?
Neither is universally better — an appliance is simpler to set up; a DIY build offers more flexibility for additional workloads like a local LLM or Frigate camera detection. Choose based on whether you want simplicity or headroom.
Do Hubitat and Homey run Home Assistant software?
No — they run their own separate automation platforms, distinct from Home Assistant. This is an important distinction from a Home Assistant Green-class device, which runs the actual Home Assistant software.
Is Home Assistant Yellow still available?
No — Home Assistant Yellow was discontinued in early 2026. Home Assistant Green ($199, confirmed on home-assistant.io) is the current official appliance option.
Can I add local AI or camera detection to a hub appliance?
Generally, dedicated hub appliances are sized for hub duties, not additional heavy workloads — see the best hardware for a local smart home guide if you want a single box that also runs a local LLM or Frigate.
Which hub has the best built-in protocol support?
Homey Pro ($449) has the broadest confirmed radio support of the three — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Matter v1.3, Thread border router, Zigbee 3.0, Z-Wave 700, 433MHz, and infrared. Hubitat's C-8 Pro ($179.95) covers Zigbee 3.0, Z-Wave 800 Long Range, Matter 1.5 (controller), and Bluetooth. Home Assistant Green ($199) relies on USB dongles (see the Zigbee/Thread dongles guide) for radio support rather than building it all in.
Have these hub prices changed recently?
Yes — both Home Assistant Green (twice in 2026, from an original $99 at 2023 launch) and Homey Pro (from $399 to $449 on June 1, 2026) have raised prices this year, both manufacturers citing rising component costs.