Apple Home vs Hubitat Elevation

AHApple Home8.8Visit Hubitat Elevation8.7Visit

Higher score AH Apple Home #5 in Home Automation 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 7 features Visit Apple Home

vs

Hubitat Elevation #6 in Home Automation 8.7/10 Paid ✓ 7 of 7 features Visit Hubitat

• Apple Home fits best

  Apple households using HomeKit and Matter accessories

• Hubitat Elevation fits best

  Users wanting local automation with broad radio support

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Side by side

Feature	AHApple Home 8.8/10 Visit ↗	Hubitat Elevation 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.7
Ranking	#5 in Home Automation	#6 in Home Automation
Best for	Apple households using HomeKit and Matter accessories	Users wanting local automation with broad radio support
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$184.95 one-time
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile, Desktop	Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms	iOS, macOS	Web, iOS, Android
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features Apple Home 5/7 · Hubitat Elevation 7/7
Local control	✓	✓
Matter support	✓	✓
Zigbee support	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Z-Wave support	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Voice assistant support	✓	✓
Camera integration	✓	✓
Energy monitoring	✓	✓
Our review
Pros	Controls HomeKit and Matter accessories with scenes, rooms, and automations Siri control, compatible camera feeds, and energy information are included A HomePod or Apple TV home hub enables remote access and away-from-home automations	Runs automations locally and supports Zigbee, Z-Wave and Matter Built-in apps cover rules, lighting and thermostat schedules Tracks energy use or cost and supports Ring-triggered automations
Cons	Available on iOS and macOS, limiting platform fit Remote access and away-from-home automations require a HomePod or Apple TV hub Energy usage and rates are limited to participating U.S. providers	Costs $184.95 upfront, with no free plan Custom apps and device drivers require Groovy Some integrations, including Ring, rely on cloud services
Our verdict	Apple Home gives people using Apple devices one place to add, organize, control, and automate compatible smart home accessories. It supports HomeKit and Matter devices, with rooms and categories for organizing accessories and scenes for… Read the review →	Hubitat Elevation is a physical home-automation hub for people who want compatible devices to run automations locally. Its C-8 Pro North America version connects over Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, with web and mobile… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Apple Home — where it wins

  • Controls HomeKit and Matter accessories with scenes, rooms, and automations
  • Siri control, compatible camera feeds, and energy information are included
  • A HomePod or Apple TV home hub enables remote access and away-from-home automations

  Where it doesn't

  • Available on iOS and macOS, limiting platform fit
  • Remote access and away-from-home automations require a HomePod or Apple TV hub
  • Energy usage and rates are limited to participating U.S. providers

• Hubitat Elevation — where it wins

  • Runs automations locally and supports Zigbee, Z-Wave and Matter
  • Built-in apps cover rules, lighting and thermostat schedules
  • Tracks energy use or cost and supports Ring-triggered automations

  Where it doesn't

  • Costs $184.95 upfront, with no free plan
  • Custom apps and device drivers require Groovy
  • Some integrations, including Ring, rely on cloud services

• AHApple Home8.8/10 · Free plan

  A free HomeKit and Matter controller for Apple households, with remote access requiring a home hub.

  Visit Apple HomeFull verdict →
• Hubitat Elevation8.7/10 · Paid

  A multi-radio hub for local automations, with a $184.95 one-time price.

  Visit HubitatFull verdict →