ioBroker smart home overview

GermanyChecked 11 November 2026

ioBroker is an open-source automation and integration platform that, according to its documentation, connects devices and services from different manufacturers into one system. It is described as a community project led by project owner Bluefox, while ioBroker GmbH, an imprint-listed company in Altleiningen, Germany, provides commercial support, servers and cloud services. It runs on your own hardware and is administered in a web browser.

Visit ioBroker website Back to all brands

Works with full table

  • MatterYes
  • Google HomeYes
  • Apple HomeYes
  • Home AssistantNo
  • HomeyNo

Where ioBroker fits in a smart home

ioBroker is software you install yourself, for example with the Linux install script, a Docker image, a Raspberry Pi image or the Windows installer. Devices and services connect through adapters, which the documentation describes as JavaScript/Node.js plugins that each run as their own process. Automations can be built with rules, Blockly, JavaScript or TypeScript, or Node-RED, and dashboards with vis-2 or other visualisation adapters. Alexa and Google Home connect through the ioBroker.iot adapter and an ioBroker.pro account, and Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa can also be reached through the Matter adapter acting as a bridge.

That suits people who want local control across many brands and protocols and are comfortable choosing and maintaining adapters. Points where the official pages show limits: some features need a paid licence (the vis-2 editor licence for commercial use, KNX beyond 500 data points, JägerDesign widgets, the Pro cloud and smart assistant services, and Matter bridging beyond five devices); the legacy Z-Wave adapters in the project are archived; the Matter adapter's README notes that texts are only partly translated; and no official page we could read compares ioBroker with other platforms, so no such comparison is made here.

Runs on
Linux, macOS, Windows or Docker, including Raspberry Pi and NAS systems (per the ioBroker documentation)
Radios and protocols
Zigbee, Z-Wave, MQTT, KNX, Modbus and Matter through adapters; radio hardware is separate
Matter
Adapter can act as controller, bridge or single device
Integrations / apps
More than 800 adapters (as shown on the ioBroker home page we read, 11 Nov 2026; the page gives no date)

What can be connected

Source: ioBroker adapters page

Apps

No companion app from ioBroker was found in the sources checked. Its devices are set up and controlled through the hub or platform they are paired with.

Compatibility, platform by platform

Official supported by the brand Community built by someone else Not found searched, nothing found Unconfirmed sources conflict or could not be opened

PlatformStatusWhat it meansSources
Hardware, editions and installation
Linux (install script)OfficialThe installation page gives a one-line script, curl -sLf https://iobroker.net/install.sh | bash -, and says it may take a few minutes. It says ioBroker can be installed on any system that supports Node.js, and states at least 4 GB RAM for the main host and at least 1 GB for satellite hosts in multihost setups. A manual Linux guide is listed in the documentation.Installation Documentation index
Raspberry PiOfficialA prepared Raspberry Pi OS image for Raspberry Pi 5, 4, 3 and 2 (from rev. 1.2) is offered, to be written to an SD card, with details in the ioBroker/raspi-image repository. The page says the image is needed mainly if the script fails or there is no internet connection. Installation with the Linux script on a Pi is the same route.Installation
DockerOfficialThe installation page links a Docker image, hub.docker.com/r/buanet/iobroker, with its documentation on docs.buanet.de. We could not confirm who maintains the image. The documentation index also lists a Docker installation page.Installation Documentation index
Windows installerOfficialA 64-bit Windows installer is offered that sets up ioBroker without the command line. The documentation index also lists a manual Windows installation page. The npm package page for ioBroker gives a command-line route with npx iobroker.Installation Documentation index iobroker on npm
macOS, Proxmox and Node.js guidesOfficialThe documentation index lists installation pages for Proxmox, macOS and Node.js. The installation page itself has no macOS section, and we did not open the macOS or Proxmox pages.Documentation index Installation
Admin UIOfficialThe Admin adapter is the web interface for the whole installation, installed automatically with ioBroker. Its page lists tabs for adapters, instances, objects and states, hosts (including updating the js-controller), users and groups, events and log, and system settings, and gives the address pattern http://host:8081. Scripts and Node-RED tabs appear when those adapters are installed.Admin adapter What is ioBroker?
Multihost and satellitesUnconfirmedThe installation page mentions satellite hosts in multihost setups with a RAM figure, but we did not read a page explaining multihost operation.Installation
Protocols and ecosystems
Wi-Fi and LAN devicesYesAdapters connect over the network, for example shelly, wled and hue in the adapter list. There is no single Wi-Fi feature; support depends on each adapter.Adapters
BluetoothNot mentionedA forum post by the Matter adapter's author describes pairing Matter devices over Bluetooth LE from the ioBroker host when no other adapter uses BLE, plus pairing through the ioBroker Visu app. The post is an older beta-era thread, so current behaviour is unconfirmed.Matter controller forum thread
ZigbeeOfficialThe ioBroker.zigbee adapter runs its own Zigbee network. The README recommends Texas Instruments CC2652 or CC1352 based coordinators, lists Dresden Elektronik Conbee/RaspBee as supported, and calls Silicon Labs EZSP and ZiGate support experimental. It depends on zigbee-herdsman and states more than 4000 compatible devices from more than 450 vendors (README, undated). The adapter list also names zigbee2mqtt.ioBroker.zigbee on GitHub Adapters
Z-WaveUnconfirmedThe legacy ioBroker.zwave adapter (OpenZWave) was archived on 13 March 2021 and recommends ioBroker.zwave2. The zwave2 repository by AlCalzone was archived on 19 February 2026 with a note that it is no longer maintained and recommending ioBroker.zwavews. We did not open an official page for zwavews, so current Z-Wave support could not be confirmed.ioBroker.zwave (archived) ioBroker.zwave2 (archived)
ThreadYesThe Matter adapter provides Thread and Wi-Fi topology visualisation and Thread diagnostics, and its README mentions Thread devices during over-the-air updates. We could not confirm a border router requirement or role.ioBroker.matter on GitHub
433 / 868 MHzUnconfirmedThe adapter list excerpt we read does not name a 433 or 868 MHz adapter, and we did not search for one on an official page.Searched, no source
InfraredUnconfirmedNo infrared adapter was confirmed on an official page we read.Searched, no source
MatterOfficialThe ioBroker.matter adapter implements bridges, devices and a controller. Controller mode controls external Matter devices and turns attributes into states, bridge mode exposes several ioBroker devices to Google Home, Apple Home and Alexa, and device mode exposes a single standalone device. The README says only bridges are possible for Alexa at present and that the adapter cannot be installed from GitHub, only through the ioBroker repository. The licences page says the Matter adapter is free with unlimited Matter devices connected to ioBroker.ioBroker.matter on GitHub Matter adapter architecture notes Licenses
KNXOfficialAn adapter named knx is listed under IoT Systems in the adapter list. The licences page says up to 500 data points run free without registration, and a one-year or unlimited licence is needed beyond that.Adapters Licenses
MQTTYesAn mqtt adapter is listed under Protocols, and the list also shows hass-mqtt under IoT Systems. We did not open an MQTT adapter page, so the broker and client roles are unconfirmed.Adapters
AlexaOfficialThe ioBroker.iot adapter links to Alexa through an ioBroker skill and requires an ioBroker.pro account. The licences page says the free tier has 50 voice commands or service calls per day, while the iot adapter documentation says 20 requests per day without a licence, so the free limit is unclear. The documentation also states a trial and monthly request caps and gives prices that we did not treat as current. Alexa can also be reached through the Matter bridge.ioBroker.iot documentation Licenses ioBroker.matter on GitHub
Google HomeOfficialThe iot adapter supports Google Home through ioBroker Actions in the Google Home app, with an ioBroker.pro account, per the licences page. Google Home can also be reached through the Matter bridge, per the licences page and the Matter adapter notes.Licenses ioBroker.iot documentation Matter adapter architecture notes Google Home compatible devices
Apple HomeOfficialThe ioBroker home page says Apple Home connects through the Matter adapter. The licences page says passing ioBroker devices to Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa is limited to five devices without a licence and unlimited with one.ioBroker home page Licenses Apple Home accessories list
Yandex AlisaOfficialThe licences page lists Yandex Alisa alongside Alexa and Google Home for the smart assistant service.Licenses
Home AssistantNot mentionedThe documentation lists Lovelace, described as the Home Assistant interface, among the visualisation options, and the adapter list shows hass-mqtt. We found no official page comparing ioBroker with Home Assistant or describing a direct integration.What is ioBroker? Adapters
HomeyNot foundNo official ioBroker page naming Homey was found among the pages we read, and a dedicated search was not completed.Searched, no source
Node-REDOfficialThe documentation lists Node-RED as an automation method, and the adapter list shows a node-red adapter under Logic. The Admin adapter page says a Node-RED tab appears when that adapter is installed.What is ioBroker? Adapters Admin adapter
Philips Hue and SmartThingsYesThe adapter list names hue and tradfri under Lighting and smartthings under Household. We did not open those adapter pages.Adapters
Apps, integrations and developer access
Official mobile appsUnconfirmedWe found no App Store or Google Play listing on an official ioBroker page. A forum post mentions an ioBroker Visu app for pairing, but we did not confirm a store listing.Searched, no source
Adapter countOfficialThe ioBroker home page says more than 800 adapters, with no date given on the page. The adapters page and documentation index give no number. The GitHub organisation page showed 241 repositories on 11 Nov 2026, which is not the same thing as adapters.ioBroker home page Adapters ioBroker GitHub organisation
Visualisation: vis-2 and visOfficialThe documentation names vis-2 and its predecessor vis, webui, the Devices adapter and Lovelace, plus echarts, flexcharts and energy flow chart adapters. The licences page says vis-2 has a free licence checked at each ioBroker restart (internet required), a commercial licence for business use and an offline licence.What is ioBroker? Licenses
Scripting and automationOfficialThe documentation lists a rule wizard, Blockly, JavaScript or TypeScript with npm modules, Node-RED and custom Node.js modules, usable side by side. The home page says automations run locally and keep working when the internet is down. The ioBroker.javascript repository describes itself as a script engine for JavaScript and Blockly.What is ioBroker? ioBroker home page ioBroker GitHub organisation
Community adaptersYesEach adapter has its own GitHub repository, and the project is described as community driven. The ioBroker GitHub organisation lists many repositories. We could not confirm how third-party adapters are reviewed before listing.What is ioBroker? ioBroker GitHub organisation
REST and Socket APIUnconfirmedThe adapter list names cloud, socketio and rest-api under Communication, but we did not open pages for them and could not confirm endpoints, authentication or access method.Adapters
Developer toolsOfficialThe dev-docs state there is no need to install ioBroker to develop an adapter and point to the ioBroker dev-server, a command-line tool for building and testing adapters and their admin interface on the three main desktop operating systems.ioBroker developer documentation ioBroker dev-server
ioBroker.cloud and ioBroker.proOfficialThe licences page describes remote access at iobroker.net (free, limited by data volume and functionality, browser access with vis-2 without editing) and iobroker.pro (adds vis-2 editing, Admin, JavaScript, e-charts and the smart assistants and services). Both require the ioBroker.cloud adapter. A licence does not renew automatically, and when it expires only remote access ends while local operation continues. The home page says ioBroker.pro offers remote access without opening ports. No prices appear on the page we read.Licenses ioBroker home page
Licences and costsOfficialThe home page says the platform is open source and free, with optional licences for some services. The documentation says most software is mostly MIT licensed and three adapters require a licence (vis-2, KNX, JägerDesign widgets), as do the cloud services. Payment is by PayPal or on account for terms of a year or more.ioBroker home page What is ioBroker? Licenses
German-speaking communityOfficialThe documentation says support has come through the forum, Discord and Facebook groups since 2014. The site is offered in German, English and Russian, and the imprint company is in Germany. We did not count members.What is ioBroker? ioBroker home page

Checked 11 November 2026 against the brand's own pages, app store listings and each project's own page. “Not found” means we searched and found nothing, not that it is impossible. Compatibility changes often. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix it.

Common questions about ioBroker

Does ioBroker support Matter?

Yes, officially. The ioBroker.matter adapter implements bridges, devices and a controller. Controller mode controls external Matter devices and turns attributes into states, bridge mode exposes several ioBroker devices to Google Home, Apple Home and Alexa, and device mode exposes a single standalone device. The README says only bridges are possible for Alexa at present and that the adapter cannot be installed from GitHub, only through the ioBroker repository. The licences page says the Matter adapter is free with unlimited Matter devices connected to ioBroker.

Does ioBroker work with Google Home?

Yes, officially. The iot adapter supports Google Home through ioBroker Actions in the Google Home app, with an ioBroker.pro account, per the licences page. Google Home can also be reached through the Matter bridge, per the licences page and the Matter adapter notes.

Does ioBroker work with Apple Home (HomeKit)?

Yes, officially. The ioBroker home page says Apple Home connects through the Matter adapter. The licences page says passing ioBroker devices to Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa is limited to five devices without a licence and unlimited with one.

Does ioBroker work with Home Assistant?

Not that we could find. The documentation lists Lovelace, described as the Home Assistant interface, among the visualisation options, and the adapter list shows hass-mqtt. We found no official page comparing ioBroker with Home Assistant or describing a direct integration.

Does ioBroker work with Homey?

Not that we could find. No official ioBroker page naming Homey was found among the pages we read, and a dedicated search was not completed.

Answers come from the sourced table above. See how ioBroker compares with all brands on the smart home brand statistics page.