Home Assistant Green vs Homey Pro (2026): the complete portable automation kit

Compare complete routes, not bare boxes

Sources: Green, Homey Pro and the Home Assistant backup instructions. This is a documentation-based comparison. We have not tested response time, reliability, device capacity or migration success.

A complete first-room example

Suppose the goal is one removable contact sensor turning on a plug-in lamp. Start with a specific sensor and a correctly rated plug that are documented as supported by the chosen platform. Do not assume that a Zigbee logo guarantees every capability or that a Matter bridge exposes all vendor features.

The Green basket is Green, authorized Ethernet, the supported radio path, the sensor, the plug and lamp, plus a private backup destination. The Homey basket is the North American 2026 Pro package, the same explicitly supported device roles, and its optional Ethernet adapter only if you need wired networking. Compare those completed baskets. A collection of radio logos is not a compatibility verdict.

Green: avoid buying the wrong radio kit

Connect ZBT-2 is the current Home Assistant adapter replacing discontinued ZBT-1. Dedicate one adapter to Zigbee or Thread; do not budget one stick to run both networks simultaneously. You may already have a suitable Thread border router, while a Wi-Fi Matter accessory uses a different network route.

The Matter documentation explains the controller, server and network requirements. Check the exact accessory before buying extra hardware. Green’s included Ethernet requirement is also a practical rental constraint: if you only receive isolated building Wi-Fi, resolve an authorized personal-network route before buying a hub that expects local discovery.

Homey: match the generation, region and app

The current model comparison identifies Homey Pro (2026) separately from Early 2023. Require the seller to identify the generation instead of treating a generic “Homey Pro” title as enough. Search the Homey App Store for each exact device and read which actions and triggers the app exposes.

Homey’s US documentation specifies the North American Z-Wave offering and says 433 MHz transmission is disabled in the US and Canada. Do not buy it to replace a generic 433 MHz remote based on an overseas feature list. A supported radio also does not mean a proprietary accessory no longer needs its manufacturer bridge; check the documented integration route.

Local control, remote convenience and the first-year total

For either platform, separate a local automation from a cloud integration. A hub on your shelf cannot make a vendor’s remote API local. Keep manual operation available, and make an internet-disconnected check of a noncritical routine once the system is safely configured. Do not use a smart-home routine as the sole protection against a consequential leak or other hazard.

The current Nabu Casa page, checked October 22, displays US$6.50 monthly or US$65 annually before tax for its optional remote-service subscription. A matched current CAD checkout was not verified. This is not a required Home Assistant software licence. Homey’s included remote service and optional cloud backups are separate line items.

A useful first-year formula is hub + missing radio(s) + optional Ethernet adapter + supported sensor/plug + selected services + shipping/tax. Write a USD basket and a CAD basket independently. Matched regional hardware checkout totals are unavailable here; do not compare an old Green list price with a current Homey bundle.

Troubleshoot the failed step, not the whole ecosystem

If pairing fails, first identify the protocol, required pairing/reset process and exact integration/app. If pairing succeeds but a trigger is missing, check what that integration exposes before replacing the sensor. If the device works manually but the automation fails, run the trigger and action separately and inspect the rule’s conditions.

Owner discussions about extra gateways and backup complexity are useful pre-purchase questions, not evidence that one platform is generally unreliable. Build one harmless routine first. Give another household member a physical fallback and a short description of what should happen, rather than expecting them to maintain an unfamiliar dashboard.

A hub that moves needs a recovery plan

Before dismantling, create a backup and store a copy separately from the hub. For Green, preserve the backup emergency kit required to restore encrypted backups. For Homey, check the official USB backup tool and cable/computer requirements before moving day. A backup existing is not proof a restoration has been tested.

Label radios, cables and owned accessories. Remove only equipment you own; leave fixed rental fittings and maintenance access intact. At the next address, review network addresses, radio placement, room names, permissions and household access. Reusing a hub need not mean retaining an automation whose assumptions no longer fit the room.

When keeping the current platform is the better choice

If the household only needs a bedside lamp schedule already handled by its current app, either hub may add administration without meaningful benefit. Try the existing supported platform or a manual routine first. The reason to buy is a concrete automation or local-control requirement that the present setup cannot meet.

For a Green-only setup, see the Green complete-kit guide. A supported accessory may still need re-pairing after a platform change.

Exact models & regional retailer links

Ordinary Amazon US and Canada links; no affiliate tags or commission. Model searches can include different generations and unrelated offers. A direct link identifies a listing, not current stock, seller authorization or a complete kit. Confirm model, regional power/radio version, contents, warranty and returns.