FHEM
FHEM: FHEM brings local device automation, event logging and protocol support to a user-managed server. Ranked #22 of 25 in Home Automation by our editors (7.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for DIY users automating diverse devices on a local server.
At a glance
- Editor score7.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forDIY users automating diverse devices on a local server
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Local controlYes
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Runs locally and is open source, with no paid plan listed
- Supports a broad set of protocols and devices, including Z-Wave and MQTT
- Combines timed commands, event logs, scripts and a built-in web frontend
Where it doesn't
- Requires users to host and manage an always-on computer
- Uses modules for protocol and device support, which adds setup responsibility
- Support channels are limited to community resources and documentation
Our verdict on FHEM
FHEM is a Perl-based home-automation server for people who want to run device control on their own local computer. It can automate household equipment such as lamps, shutters and heating, and it is suited to DIY users connecting devices across different protocols. The software is open source and self-hosted, and can run on a NAS, Raspberry Pi, PC or Mac mini. Its built-in web frontend includes desktop and smartphone views, while telnet and TCP/IP offer other ways to interact with the system.
The main draw is the range of automation and logging tools in one local system. FHEM runs timed commands, records events to files or a database, and can filter logs with regular expressions. When events occur, it can notify external programs or scripts; it can also create devices and logs automatically when data arrives from new devices. Supported integrations include HomeMatic, MAX!, FS20, KNX, Z-Wave, EnOcean, Philips Hue, FRITZ!Dect, Alexa, HomeKit and MQTT. Text, JSON and XML interfaces are available over TCP/IP, SSL or HTTP, giving technically confident users options for linking other systems.
The tradeoff is that hosting and deployment are the user's responsibility: FHEM needs an always-on local computer, and its modular approach means users manage device and protocol support themselves. Its web frontend and SVG plots provide a way to view system information, including logged measurements such as power consumption, but this is not a hosted service with vendor-managed setup. The project describes FHEM as GPL-licensed, and support channels are community resources and documentation. Choose it if local control, protocol breadth and scripting matter more than turnkey deployment; consider a managed alternative if you do not want to maintain a home server.
Questions about FHEM
What does FHEM run on? Web, Windows, macOS and Linux. It runs self-hosted.
What does FHEM integrate with? 15 integrations, including HomeMatic, MAX!, FS20, KNX and Z-Wave.
Who is FHEM built for? Solo users and small businesses (our editorial estimate).
Your product? Our editors can test FHEM in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
FHEM pricing
FHEM fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Local control | Yes |
| Matter support | Not verified |
| Zigbee support | Not verified |
| Z-Wave support | Yes |
| Voice assistant support | Yes |
| Camera integration | Not verified |
| Energy monitoring | Yes |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 15 integrations: HomeMatic, MAX!, FS20, KNX, Z-Wave, EnOcean … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | fhem.de |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
FHEM integrations
FHEM lists 15 integrations on its own site.
- HomeMatic
- MAX!
- FS20
- KNX
- Z-Wave
- EnOcean
- Philips Hue
- FRITZ!Dect
- Intertechno
- HomeEasy
- X10
- Alexa
- HomeKit
- HomeBridge
- MQTT
Alternatives to FHEM
- Google HomeFree smart-home control with device organization, routines, Matter and Nest viewing.9.2
- HomeyFlexible cloud and hub options pair smart-home control with advanced automations.9.1
- openHABFlexible, local-first device integration for people comfortable self-hosting.9.0
Used FHEM? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used FHEM for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
FHEM is listed in our Home Automation directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/fhem/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/fhem.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update