Homey Bridge vs. Homey Pro - Which Hub to Choose?
Athom Homey wants to reach out to the masses by launching Homey Bridge and drastically lowering the price of its new hardware as well as making its cloud service free. Does this mean that everyone has to pay a monthly cost? And what restrictions are there in Homey Bridge? Below we try to sort out the somewhat complicated procedure.
What is Homey?
Homey is manufactured by Athom in the Netherlands. It is a smart hub with associated app for mobile and computer. The business idea is to gather all the connected devices in your home under one roof. The benefits of it are many and this is what Homey really takes into account. By using their very powerful app, you can, for example, create feeds and thus automate your home.
Free up to 5 devices
With the new service Homey, it will be free to use Homey's cloud service with up to five devices. This means that you will be able to use Homey's extremely powerful features to automate its five devices without any additional costs or hardware.
After this, it is required to upgrade to “Homey Premium” for 35SEK/month. If you want to be able to control devices that are not connected to the cloud in your home via one of the protocols that Homey Bridge supports (Z-wave, ZigBee, Bluetooth, Wifi, 433mhz and Infrared), you need to buy a Homey Bridge for €69.
Although there is no subscription required to use Homey Bridge (maximum five devices), three months of Homey Premium are included.
“We want to make smart home easy and fun for everyone.”
-Athom
Homey Pro remains as usual
Homey Pro (where now Homey 1st gen is included) remains as usual and includes everything as before without any monthly cost. Homey Pro is aimed at those users who are more advanced. If you write your own scripts and want access to more advanced apps, the Pro family is best suited. Of note is that these devices require a Homey Pro Backup (Homey+) subscription of €0.99 to back up.
Advantages and disadvantages of Homey Pro
+ Option to buy to “Advanced Flow”. A node-based interface for creating feeds (Homey Pro only).
+ The software runs locally - great for those who don't want to share their home in the cloud
+ Slips the monthly cost of 35kr
+ Access to a wider range of apps
+ Access to Homey Script (an extension for the one that we write our own scripts)
- Expensive hardware to procure
- Requires Homey Pro Backup (Homey+) subscription of €0.99 to back up
Advantages and disadvantages of Homey Bridge
+ No subscription required with up to five devices
+ Cheap hardware to procure
+ Stylish design that is easier to place in the home
+ An updated database and hardware for IR (Database coming later to Homey Pro)
- Does not work without internet connection
- No access to Homekit or Siri (Siri Shortcuts work though)
- Unable to communicate with local devices over wifi
Summary
If you own a Homey Pro or Homey 1st gen since before, there are no advantages to upgrading. It is also not possible to migrate between devices, so if you are already a user, it is best not to switch to Homey Bridge. If you are a new Homey user and just want things to work, Homey Bridge is a good option. Keep in mind that Homey Bridge doesn't have access to as many apps and can't control your local wifi-connected devices in your home. The cost of 35kr/month means that it takes just over ten years to reach the same price as for a Homey Pro with a subscription for backup.
Our recommendations
Existing user Don't switch.
New advanced user - Buy Homey Pro
New less advanced user - Buy Homey Bridge
Glossary
Homey - This is now the name of the new cloud service.
Homey Bridge - This is the name of the new hardware designed to fit the large mass
Homey Pro - This is the name of any device that looks like a white round orb. These are intended for the more advanced user.
Homey+ - This is the name of the current backup service to Homey Pro.
Homey Pro Backup - This is the new name for Homey+
Homey Premium - This is the name of the subscription for Homey Bridge that allows you to control more than five devices.
Homey Insights - This is a service to be able to compare data related to one's home.
Homey Energy - This is an overview of the energy consumption of your home.
Skript Homey - This is a service for writing their own scripts.
Avantische Flow - An additional service to Home Pro users for a one-time cost. Create flows in a node-based interface.
Homey Pro and Homey Bridge FAQ
What are the differences between Homey Bridge and Homey Pro?
Homey Bridge is a basic version with a focus on simpler smart home features. Homey Pro offers advanced features and support for more devices, but at a higher cost.
What protocols do both Homey Bridge and Homey Pro support?
Both Homey Bridge and Homey Pro support a variety of protocols such as Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making them compatible with a wide range of smart devices.
What are the main advantages of Homey Pro?
Homey Pro offers more processing power, RAM and storage compared to Homey Bridge, enabling management of larger smart home networks and more advanced automations.
Is Homey Bridge enough for a less smart home?
Yes, Homey Bridge is an excellent solution for a smaller smart home with a limited number of devices and automations.
How do I choose between Homey Bridge and Homey Pro?
Choose Homey Bridge if you have a less smart home and want a more affordable solution. Choose Homey Pro if you have a larger smart home with more devices and need more performance and functionality.
