Cloud Forge review
A free launcher for cloud deployments, not a managed Home Assistant host.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Cloud Forge is a browser-based launcher that prepares deployments of curated applications in a user's AWS or Alibaba Cloud account. For Home Assistant hosting, it may suit cloud users who are comfortable completing deployment in their provider console, but the listed product details do not establish a Home Assistant template. It is a deployment tool rather than a managed hosting service, so it is not a fit for buyers seeking Cloud Forge to run or maintain Home Assistant for them.
The catalog is free, and users can select a cloud provider, region, and application version. Cloud Forge prepares AWS CloudFormation or Alibaba Cloud ROS deployments, while the resulting resources run in the user's cloud account. Cloud resource charges and applicable AWS Marketplace software fees are separate from the launcher. The listed category specifications also indicate no managed updates, so buyers should not treat the free launcher as an all-in hosting plan.
Deployment keeps cloud credentials and final confirmation in the provider console: users review and confirm the deployment there. That division may appeal to people who want to manage their own cloud resources, but it adds provider-side work and responsibility. Choose Cloud Forge only if a suitable Home Assistant template is available to you and you are prepared to handle the deployment and resulting infrastructure in your cloud account. Those seeking verified Home Assistant availability or managed hosting should choose a provider that explicitly offers both.
Cloud Forge pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free browser-based catalog of curated application deployment templates
- Prepares deployments for AWS CloudFormation and Alibaba Cloud ROS
- Lets users select a cloud provider, region, and application version
- Where it doesn't
- Home Assistant template presence is not established
- Resources run in the user's cloud account, not on Cloud Forge
- Final review and deployment confirmation happen in the provider console
Cloud Forge fact sheet, pricing and score →
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