balenaCloud

Best Self-hosted Alternatives to balenaCloud

A curated collection of the 2 best self hosted alternatives to balenaCloud.

Cloud platform for deploying, updating, and managing fleets of containerized IoT and edge devices. Provides remote device management, over-the-air (OTA) updates, fleet monitoring, application rollouts, and support for Raspberry Pi and other hardware.

Alternatives List

#1
ESPHome

ESPHome

ESPHome generates custom firmware for ESP32/ESP8266 and other boards from YAML, enabling local smart home devices with Home Assistant, API, and MQTT integration.

ESPHome screenshot

ESPHome is an open-source firmware framework that turns supported microcontrollers into configurable smart home devices using simple YAML files. It generates and builds device firmware, then lets you control and monitor devices locally via integrations such as Home Assistant, native API, web interfaces, and MQTT.

Key Features

  • YAML-based configuration for creating custom sensors, switches, displays, and more
  • Broad hardware support via modular components (many sensors, buses, and peripherals)
  • Seamless Home Assistant integration (commonly used via the Home Assistant add-on)
  • Multiple control interfaces including native API, web UI, and MQTT
  • On-device automations for local logic and reduced dependency on a central controller
  • Over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates for remote maintenance
  • Local-first operation designed to work without cloud dependencies

Use Cases

  • Build DIY smart home sensors (temperature, air quality, presence) and actuators (relays, lights)
  • Deploy locally controlled smart devices for homes and small commercial installations
  • Prototype and standardize firmware for hardware products targeting ESPHome ecosystems

Limitations and Considerations

  • Requires flashing compatible hardware and ongoing firmware management practices
  • Hardware feature support varies by chip family and component; some advanced use cases may require custom components

ESPHome is a strong fit for anyone who wants reliable, locally controlled smart home devices without writing embedded C++ from scratch. Its YAML workflow, broad component ecosystem, and OTA updates make it practical for both hobbyist and professional deployments.

10.6kstars
5.1kforks
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#2
evcc

evcc

Open-source EV charge controller that optimizes vehicle charging with PV, batteries and dynamic tariffs; supports many chargers, vehicles and smart-home integrations.

evcc screenshot

evcc is an open-source energy management system focused on electric vehicle charging. It controls chargers and smart sockets to maximize PV surplus, use favorable tariffs, and coordinate with home batteries and vehicles.

Key Features

  • Local-first EV charge control that adjusts charging power to PV surplus and dynamic electricity prices.
  • Broad hardware support: many EV chargers, vehicle APIs, inverters, home batteries, smart plugs and energy meters are supported and tested.
  • Protocol and plugin support including OCPP, EEBus, Modbus, SunSpec, MQTT, HTTP/JSON and scriptable extensions for custom devices.
  • Dynamic tariff and price-based scheduling, PV-surplus charging, load management for multi-vehicle and multi-system setups.
  • Responsive web UI with light/dark modes and a public demo instance for exploration.
  • Lightweight Go backend with a TypeScript/Node-based frontend toolchain; designed to run on low-resource devices (Raspberry Pi) or in Docker.
  • Integrations with common smart-home platforms (Home Assistant, openHAB, ioBroker) and vehicle services for SOC, remote charge and preconditioning.

Use Cases

  • Homeowners with PV systems who want to prioritize solar surplus for EV charging and lower grid consumption.
  • Multi-vehicle homes or small installations needing coordinated load management to avoid overloading the connection.
  • Installers, power users and developers evaluating integrations or testing via the public demo and extensive device plugin support.

Limitations and Considerations

  • Initial setup requires intermediate technical knowledge (editing YAML, CLI familiarity) and can be time consuming for complex integrations.
  • The project relies primarily on community channels for support; individual paid support is not directly offered by the core team.
  • Feature availability depends on device APIs and vendor interfaces; some integrations may be partially limited by manufacturer capabilities.

In summary, evcc is a flexible, community-driven EV charge controller and home energy manager designed for local operation and broad device compatibility. It is optimized for PV-first charging scenarios and offers extensible plugins for custom hardware and smart-home integrations.

6.2kstars
1.2kforks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running