ad_on_is, 27 days ago in a nutshell This is how the control and information exchange of smart devices work: Phone App -> [Server] … [Server] -> Smart Device and vice versa There’s no way around this concept. Now, Google gives you the phone app and the (public) server part. but these only work with their servers and apps, keeping you locked in. HA gives you the same, a server and an app, but allows you to keep the server private (access via vpn for public) Also who guarantees that Google Home will be there in the next few years? HA will still keep running even if it ever gets abandoned.
in a nutshell
This is how the control and information exchange of smart devices work:
Phone App -> [Server] … [Server] -> Smart Device and vice versa
There’s no way around this concept.
Now, Google gives you the phone app and the (public) server part. but these only work with their servers and apps, keeping you locked in.
HA gives you the same, a server and an app, but allows you to keep the server private (access via vpn for public)
Also who guarantees that Google Home will be there in the next few years? HA will still keep running even if it ever gets abandoned.