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Head-to-head · Smart Home Apps

Smart Life vs openHAB

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Smart Life #5 in Smart Home Apps 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Smart Life
openHAB #6 in Smart Home Apps 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit openHAB

Smart Life leads on 0 checks, openHAB on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresopenHAB · 1 of 2

Smart Life and openHAB score identically on our rubric (9.0 out of 10) for smart home apps; Smart Life sits at #5 and openHAB at #6 in our editorial ranking, so the choice comes down to fit.

openHAB offers local control; Smart Life doesn't publish it.

Smart Life is the better fit for households mixing compatible devices across brands. openHAB is the better fit for technical users wanting a free, self-hosted hub.

  • Smart Life fits best

    Households mixing compatible devices across brands

  • openHAB fits best

    Technical users wanting a free, self-hosted hub

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Smart Life 9.0/10 Visit ↗ openHAB 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 9.0
Ranking #5 in Smart Home Apps #6 in Smart Home Apps
Best for Households mixing compatible devices across brands Technical users wanting a free, self-hosted hub
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Mobile Self-hosted
Platforms iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Docs · 24/7 Community, Docs
Integrations 2 integrations 400+ integrations
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Smart Life 0/2 · openHAB 1/2
Remote control Not published Not published
Local control Not published ✓ (best)
Specs
Voice assistants Amazon Alexa; Google Assistant Not published
Device protocols Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; Zigbee Not published
Automation triggers Not published Not published
Mobile platforms iOS; Android Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Controls compatible devices across brands and categories in one app
  • Supports Alexa and Google Assistant voice control
  • Includes scenes, automations, sharing and member permissions
  • Runs locally on user hardware without requiring a cloud service
  • Rules support time- and event-based triggers, scripts, actions, and notifications
  • Bindings connect Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave, cameras, energy monitors, and more
Cons
  • Works through a mobile app on iOS and Android only
  • Voice assistant integrations are limited to Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Support information is limited to documentation
  • Requires user hardware and self-hosting
  • Device compatibility and setup depend on selected bindings and hardware
  • Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice integrations use myopenHAB cloud
Our verdict

Smart Life is Tuya’s mobile app for connecting and managing compatible smart-home devices across brands and categories. It is aimed at households that want device control, scenes and shared access in one place, rather than separate apps…

Read the review →

openHAB is open-source home automation software for connecting supported devices, services, and smart-home platforms. It suits technical users who want a free hub running on their own hardware and are prepared to choose bindings and manage…

Read the review →
  1. Smart LifeSmart Home Apps 9.0Free plan
  2. openHABSmart Home Apps 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Smart Life — where it wins

    • Controls compatible devices across brands and categories in one app
    • Supports Alexa and Google Assistant voice control
    • Includes scenes, automations, sharing and member permissions

    Where it doesn't

    • Works through a mobile app on iOS and Android only
    • Voice assistant integrations are limited to Alexa and Google Assistant
    • Support information is limited to documentation
  • openHAB — where it wins

    • Runs locally on user hardware without requiring a cloud service
    • Rules support time- and event-based triggers, scripts, actions, and notifications
    • Bindings connect Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave, cameras, energy monitors, and more

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires user hardware and self-hosting
    • Device compatibility and setup depend on selected bindings and hardware
    • Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice integrations use myopenHAB cloud

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update