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What is the difference between an integration and an add-on?
| Term | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Integration | Connects Home Assistant to a device, service, or software capability and makes supported functions available within Home Assistant. | An integration connects Home Assistant to an MQTT broker or provides software-based functions such as Workday. |
| App (formerly add-on) | A separate program that runs alongside Home Assistant and provides a service. | An MQTT broker, file-sharing service, or database. |
| Entity | A specific value to monitor or function to control, exposed through an integration. | A sensor reading or a controllable device function. |
Home Assistant’s Glossary describes apps as “additional standalone third-party software packages that can be installed on Home Assistant OS.” The current documentation calls them Apps; “add-on” is the older term many users still encounter.
An integration is the connection and configuration layer, not necessarily a physical device. Home Assistant’s setup guide uses Workday as an example of an integration that supplies software-based functionality. Once configured, an integration can expose one or more entities. An entity is the particular monitored value or controllable function, rather than the connection itself.
How apps and integrations work together
Think of an app as a service provider and an integration as Home Assistant’s way to use that service. For example, an MQTT broker app runs the broker; the MQTT integration then connects Home Assistant to it. Installing the broker alone does not make it an integration, and installing an integration does not necessarily require an app.
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After an integration is set up, its detail page can show its entities and related automations, scripts, scenes, and activity. These are parts of Home Assistant’s configuration and activity view; they are not all separate integrations.
Add an integration in Home Assistant
- Open Settings > Devices & services.
- If Home Assistant has discovered the device or service, select it in the Discovered section and follow the prompts.
- Otherwise, select Add integration, search for the integration, and follow its configuration steps.
- Open the integration’s detail view to review the entities it created and any related Home Assistant activity.
The steps use Home Assistant’s documented setup path. Integration configuration varies: some need account details or network access, while others may not require a physical device.
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Where apps are available—and what Container users can do
Apps are available through Home Assistant OS. In Home Assistant OS, open Settings > Apps to find and manage them; some advanced apps may require Advanced Mode. Home Assistant currently calls these Apps, though the interface wording may change over time.
Home Assistant Container supports integrations but does not include the Home Assistant app-management feature. Container users can install equivalent external software themselves where available, but it will not be managed in Home Assistant’s Apps panel. They also take responsibility for managing their system and updates.
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This distinction matters for features whose setup depends on an app. Home Assistant’s installation documentation notes that Thread and Z-Wave do not have out-of-the-box support on Container installations. That does not mean every integration needs an app or radio adapter; requirements depend on the specific device, service, and installation.
Choose an installation type based on how you want to run Home Assistant
| Option | Apps | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Home Assistant OS | Supported | Purpose-built for the Home Assistant ecosystem, with built-in app management. The official installation page recommends it for most users. |
| Home Assistant Container | Not included | Integrations work, but you provide and manage the host system, external applications, and updates. |
| Home Assistant Green | Supported, because it ships with Home Assistant OS | A dedicated, ready-to-use host with Home Assistant OS already installed. |
| Single-board computer, x86-64 machine, or virtual machine | Depends on the installation method | These can host Home Assistant OS or a self-managed Container installation; setup and administration vary by host and method. |
Choose Home Assistant OS if you want integrated app management and a more guided route. Choose Container if you already manage a container environment and are comfortable handling the host, updates, and any companion software yourself. Home Assistant Green is an optional dedicated host, not a requirement for integrations.
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Home Assistant’s integration setup documentation says it works with devices and services from over a thousand brands. The documentation does not state when that count was measured or how it was calculated, so treat it as Home Assistant’s own undated description rather than a current independently verified count.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Custom integrations have a different support status
Integrations created by the community are called custom integrations. Home Assistant’s glossary says they are used at the user’s risk and are not supported, reviewed, or tested by the Home Assistant development team. That status is distinct from whether an integration can be useful: check its documentation and maintenance before relying on it.
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