Back in September 2021, we were able to report for the first time on the new smart home hub from Homey, which will henceforth be the entry-level model. The Homey Bridge combines numerous wireless technologies, but moves the processing of commands to the cloud and therefore, unlike Homey Pro, no longer offers the possibility to use the connected devices via HomeKit.
While Homey Pro is supposed to cost 399€, the Homey Bridge will only cost 69€. Nevertheless, the device supports Zigbee, Z-Wave Plus, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared and 433MHz.
What initially sounds like a good deal is not that interesting anymore upon closer inspection, at least as a HomeKit user. Because the price does not come from nowhere. The manufacturer has dispensed with the expensive computer hardware and relies on the cloud to process the commands. So without an Internet connection, “flows,” as Homey calls the automations, no longer work either.
Subscription required for more than 5 devices
If you want to connect more than 5 devices, you have to pay for Homey Premium. The subscription costs an additional €2.99 per month.
Probably the biggest drawback, however, are the apps, some of which require a Homey Pro and then cannot be used via the cloud service. This also includes the unofficial HomeKit integration HomeKitty.
So before you reach for the Homey Bridge, you should be aware of the drawbacks. Some devices that are connected to the cloud anyway can also be connected to the Homey cloud without any hardware at all. These include Tado, Nest, Philips Hue, Sonos, Shelly, Nuki and more. Therefore, before buying, we recommend first trying out the cloud for free and then deciding whether the software solution is the right one at all.
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