How to Install Home Assistant: An Honest Path Comparison
There's no single 'right' way to start with Home Assistant — there are three main paths, each with its own trade-offs. Here they all are in one place, no sales pressure.
How to choose and get started
Assess your setup
Do you have a spare Raspberry Pi or mini-PC, or do you want to install alongside other services on an existing server or NAS? That answer decides which path fits.
Pick your install method
Home Assistant OS for a dedicated device, Container for an existing server, or ready-made Green/Yellow hardware — each has its place, compared below.
Install and connect to your network
Flash the image to an SD card or start the container, plug the device into your network with a cable, and open the web UI to finish onboarding.
Add devices and automations gradually
Start with a few integrations, set up backups, and read the release notes before each update — Core updates roughly monthly, add-ons more often.
Three paths — how they differ
There's no single right path
Home Assistant runs locally on your own network no matter which path you pick — what changes is convenience, control, and the technical effort required.
Home Assistant OS (Raspberry Pi / mini-PC)
A full dedicated OS image with the Supervisor — add-ons install straight from the HA UI. The most common path for beginners, but it wants a device of its own.
Home Assistant Container (Docker)
Runs alongside other services on an existing server or NAS. More flexible if you're already comfortable with Docker, but without the Supervisor there's no add-on store.
Home Assistant Green or Yellow
Official, ready-made hardware from Nabu Casa for a plug-and-play experience — no hunting for an SD card or picking a device yourself. Simpler, but pricier than a self-sourced Pi.
Local by default
Your automations and data stay on your own network. The Nabu Casa cloud service is optional and paid — useful for remote access or voice integrations, never required.
Zigbee, Matter, and wired protocols
Zigbee devices connect via ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT (each has its own logic, neither is universally better), Matter works locally, and KNX or Modbus integrations put HA on top of your existing bus as a visualisation layer, not a replacement.
What to have ready before you start
Whichever path you pick, these will come in handy from day one.
- A Raspberry Pi or mini-PC, if you're going the HA OS route
- A reliable SD card or SSD for the system drive
- An Ethernet cable for a more stable connection than WiFi
- A Zigbee coordinator, if you're planning wireless sensors and switches
- A spot for off-device backups — another drive or the cloud
Frequently asked questions
Are Home Assistant OS and Home Assistant Core the same thing?
No. HA OS is a full dedicated system image with the Supervisor and add-on store. HA Core is just the Python package with no Supervisor — good if you already run your own Python environment and want full control.
Is Home Assistant free?
Home Assistant Core is open-source and free. Nabu Casa offers an optional paid cloud service for remote access and voice integrations, but nothing about it is required for the system to work.
ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT — which is better for Zigbee devices?
There's no universal answer. ZHA is built into HA and configured entirely in the UI; Zigbee2MQTT is a separate project that bridges to an MQTT broker — device/quirk support and setup complexity differ between them. Both need a Zigbee coordinator.
Can I install Home Assistant on my NAS?
Yes, with Home Assistant Container (Docker), if your NAS supports it. Keep in mind — without the Supervisor you won't get the add-on store, just integrations and services you manage manually.
Will Home Assistant replace my KNX or Modbus system?
No. HA connects to KNX via an IP interface or to Modbus over TCP/RTU as a visualisation and automation layer on top of the bus — the bus logic and its own controller stay exactly where they are.
Ready to pick your path?
The shop stocks hardware for all three paths — from Raspberry Pi accessories to Zigbee coordinators. Have a look at what fits your setup.