llms.txt
# Gladys Assistant
> Gladys Assistant is a privacy-first, open-source, self-hosted home automation platform. It runs locally on your hardware (mini-PC, Raspberry Pi, NAS) with no mandatory cloud. Alternative to Home Assistant, focused on simplicity, local control, and European privacy standards.
## What is Gladys Assistant?
Gladys Assistant is free, open-source smart home software (Apache 2.0) created in 2013 by Pierre-Gilles Leymarie. It lets you control lights, sensors, cameras, and automations from a single local dashboard. Data stays on your machine — no tracking, no data resale. The current major version is Gladys Assistant 5 (released August 2026), with a redesigned, mobile-first interface.
## Quick facts
- **Price**: the software is free forever. The optional Gladys Plus subscription starts at $7.99/month in the US and Canada ($11.99 for the full plan), €6.99/month in Europe, with a 1-month free trial, no credit card required, cancel anytime.
- **Runs on**: any Linux machine with Docker (mini-PC, Raspberry Pi, Synology or other NAS, server). Setup is guided by step-by-step documentation; no YAML or configuration files.
- **Works offline**: devices, scenes and automations run on your local network and keep working when the internet is down.
- **Privacy**: self-hosted, no ads, no tracking, no data resale. Remote access through Gladys Plus is end-to-end encrypted.
- **AI and voice**: a natural-language AI assistant (chat, Telegram, voice assistant widget) powered by open-weight models hosted in France (Scaleway), included in Gladys Plus. Not run by Amazon, Google or OpenAI.
- **Support**: an active community forum, automatically translated so English and French speakers read and answer each other seamlessly, plus email support (hello@gladysassistant.com). Independent project: no investors, funded by Gladys Plus subscribers.
- **Available worldwide**: the software and Gladys Plus work in any country, with prices in USD in North America. The interface is available in English, French, German and Spanish.
## Key pages
- [Homepage](https://gladysassistant.com/): Product overview and getting started
- [Documentation](https://gladysassistant.com/docs/): Installation guides (Docker, Raspberry Pi, mini-PC, Synology)
- [Integrations](https://gladysassistant.com/docs/integrations/): Zigbee2MQTT, Matter, MQTT, Shelly, Sonos, cameras, and more
- [MCP server](https://gladysassistant.com/docs/integrations/mcp/): Connect Claude Desktop, Perplexity, or Mistral to your smart home via Model Context Protocol
- [Agent authentication](https://gladysassistant.com/auth.md): How AI agents authenticate with Gladys via MCP API keys
- [AI control](https://gladysassistant.com/docs/integrations/openai/): Natural-language smart home control with open-weight LLMs hosted in France (Scaleway)
- [Gladys Plus](https://gladysassistant.com/plus/): Optional subscription — encrypted remote access, daily backups, voice assistants, AI, MCP over the internet
- [Open metrics](https://gladysassistant.com/open/): Public transparency data (active instances, community stats)
- [Voice assistant](https://gladysassistant.com/docs/dashboard/voice-assistant/): Talk to your home from the dashboard, a wall tablet or a phone
## Guides and comparisons
- [Home Assistant alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/home-assistant-alternative/): Why people switch from Home Assistant to Gladys
- [Gladys Assistant vs Home Assistant](https://gladysassistant.com/home-assistant-vs-gladys-assistant/): Feature-by-feature comparison
- [Alexa alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/alexa-alternative/): A private, self-hosted alternative to Amazon Alexa
- [Google Home alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/google-home-alternative/): A private, self-hosted alternative to Google Home
- [Best open-source home automation software](https://gladysassistant.com/open-source-home-automation/): Gladys, Home Assistant, openHAB, Domoticz, Jeedom and Node-RED compared
- [Local smart home](https://gladysassistant.com/local-smart-home/): How to build a smart home that works without the cloud
- [Do you need a Matter hub?](https://gladysassistant.com/matter-hub/): Matter controllers, Thread border routers and bridges explained
- [Zigbee vs Z-Wave vs Matter vs Thread](https://gladysassistant.com/zigbee-vs-matter-vs-zwave/): Which smart home protocol to choose
- [Best Zigbee USB dongle](https://gladysassistant.com/best-zigbee-dongle/): Zigbee coordinators for Raspberry Pi and Zigbee2MQTT
- [DIY home alarm system](https://gladysassistant.com/diy-home-alarm-system/): A self-monitored alarm that runs locally, with no monitoring contract
- [Works with Gladys](https://gladysassistant.com/works-with/): The brands and protocols Gladys supports, and which ones work without the internet
- [SmartThings alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/smartthings-alternative/): How to move from Samsung SmartThings to a local platform
- [Home Assistant Green alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/home-assistant-green-alternative/): Running Gladys on a mini-PC or a Raspberry Pi instead of a dedicated box
- [IKEA smart home](https://gladysassistant.com/ikea-smart-home/): Tradfri over Zigbee, DIRIGERA over Matter, and the new Matter over Thread range
- [Reolink RTSP URL](https://gladysassistant.com/reolink-rtsp-url/): How to enable RTSP and the URL format for Reolink cameras and NVRs
- [Hydro-Québec Rate Flex D](https://gladysassistant.com/hydro-quebec-flex-d/): How Flex D peak events work and how to automate them (Quebec, Canada)
- [Hydro-Québec peak events today](https://gladysassistant.com/hydro-quebec-peak-events/): Live residential peak events (Flex D and Winter Credit) from Hydro-Québec open data, with last winter's history
- [Sinopé Zigbee thermostats without Neviweb](https://gladysassistant.com/sinope-zigbee/): Pairing Sinopé ZB thermostats and load controllers with Zigbee2MQTT and automating Hydro-Québec peaks
- [Smart home MCP server](https://gladysassistant.com/smart-home-mcp-server/): Connecting Claude Desktop, VS Code Copilot, Perplexity or Le Chat to your home through the Gladys MCP server
- [Zigbee2MQTT without Home Assistant](https://gladysassistant.com/zigbee2mqtt-without-home-assistant/): Gladys installs and manages Zigbee2MQTT and its MQTT broker
- [Z-Wave JS UI without Home Assistant](https://gladysassistant.com/z-wave-js-ui-without-home-assistant/): Using Z-Wave JS UI with Gladys over MQTT
- [Hubitat alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/hubitat-alternative/): Gladys vs Hubitat Elevation and how to migrate
- [Homey alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/homey-alternative/): Gladys vs Homey Pro and Homey Self-Hosted Server
- [openHAB alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/openhab-alternative/): Gladys vs openHAB, an honest comparison
- [Domoticz alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/domoticz-alternative/): Gladys vs Domoticz, and how to migrate
- [Philips Hue without the bridge](https://gladysassistant.com/philips-hue-without-bridge/): Pairing Hue bulbs directly with a Zigbee dongle through Zigbee2MQTT
- [Aqara sensors without the hub](https://gladysassistant.com/aqara-without-hub/): Using Aqara Zigbee sensors locally, and which Aqara devices are Thread/Matter instead
- [Tuya Zigbee without the Tuya app](https://gladysassistant.com/tuya-zigbee-without-hub/): Local control for Tuya Zigbee devices, and how to check compatibility
- [Water leak detection and automatic shutoff](https://gladysassistant.com/water-leak-detection/): Zigbee leak sensors and a motorized valve driven by a local scene
- [Nest thermostat alternative](https://gladysassistant.com/nest-thermostat-alternative/): What changed after the October 2025 end of support for older Nest thermostats, and local alternatives
- [Ontario electricity rates now](https://gladysassistant.com/ontario-electricity-rates/): Live Time-of-Use and Ultra-Low Overnight period and price (Ontario, Canada)
- [Heures creuses reform](https://gladysassistant.com/fr/heures-creuses/): France's 2025–2027 off-peak hours changes and how to adapt (French)
- [Best smart home hub](https://gladysassistant.com/best-smart-home-hub/): Buyer's guide comparing SmartThings, Hubitat, Homey, Home Assistant Green and a mini-PC running Gladys (French version compares the French market, including the Gladys starter kit)
- [Best mini-PC for home automation](https://gladysassistant.com/mini-pc-home-automation/): What hardware to run a self-hosted smart home on
- [Shelly without the cloud](https://gladysassistant.com/shelly-without-cloud/): Local, real-time control of Shelly relays, plugs and energy meters
- [All guides](https://gladysassistant.com/guides/): Every guide, tool and comparison, by theme
## French version
- [Accueil](https://gladysassistant.com/fr/)
- [Documentation FR](https://gladysassistant.com/fr/docs/)
- [Gladys Plus FR](https://gladysassistant.com/fr/plus/)
## German version
- [Startseite](https://gladysassistant.com/de/)
- [Dokumentation DE](https://gladysassistant.com/de/docs/)
- [Gladys Plus DE](https://gladysassistant.com/de/plus/)
## Spanish version
- [Inicio](https://gladysassistant.com/es/)
- [Documentación ES](https://gladysassistant.com/es/docs/)
- [Gladys Plus ES](https://gladysassistant.com/es/plus/)
## Differentiators vs Home Assistant
- Simpler UI and lower learning curve for beginners
- Privacy-first by design: self-hosted, no mandatory cloud
- Native MCP server to connect AI agents (Claude, Perplexity, Mistral) to your home
- Open-weight AI models hosted in Europe (Scaleway, France) via Gladys Plus
- External integrations: community integrations packaged as Docker containers, published on GitHub and installable in one click, that anyone can create without a pull request or review, and that run in an isolated sandbox so they cannot destabilize the instance (installing one needs no command line, no YAML and no technical skills)
- Strong focus on Matter, Zigbee2MQTT, and open protocols
## Supported protocols and integrations
- Zigbee (via Zigbee2MQTT)
- Z-Wave (via Z-Wave JS UI)
- Matter (industry standard, local), which covers devices from many brands (Eve, Nanoleaf, Aqara, IKEA, and more)
- MQTT, Tasmota, ESPHome
- Popular brands: Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, TP-Link Kasa and Tapo, Shelly, Meross, Sonos, Reolink cameras, LG ThinQ and LG webOS, Samsung Smart TV, Roborock, Home Connect (Bosch, Siemens), Enphase, SolarEdge, EcoFlow, Apple TV, Plex, Spotify
- Hydro-Québec (Canada): consumption, Winter Credit and Flex D peak events, see https://gladysassistant.com/hydro-quebec-flex-d/
- Apple HomeKit, Google Home and Alexa (the voice assistants control your Gladys devices; Google Home and Alexa via Gladys Plus)
- Enedis energy monitoring (France, via Gladys Plus)
- External integrations catalog (Netatmo, Tuya, Zendure, Freebox, MELCloud, Spotify, and more): https://gladysassistant.com/docs/integrations/external/
- Create an external integration (developer guide, no pull request or review needed): https://gladysassistant.com/docs/dev/external-integrations/
## Pricing
- **Gladys Assistant core**: Free and open-source, forever
- **Gladys Plus Lite**: $7.99/month in the US and Canada (€6.99/month in Europe) — remote access, Google Home/Alexa, REST API
- **Gladys Plus**: $11.99/month in the US and Canada (€9.99/month in Europe) — adds encrypted backups, camera streaming, AI and voice assistant, Enedis, MCP server
- Yearly plans save about 17%. 1-month free trial, no credit card required.
## Community and source code
- [GitHub](https://github.com/GladysAssistant/Gladys): Source code (3,100+ stars)
- [Forum](https://community.gladysassistant.com/): Active community
- [Twitter/X](https://twitter.com/gladysassistant): @gladysassistant
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/GladysAssistant): Tutorials and release videos
## Languages
- **Gladys Assistant (product UI)**: English, French, German and Spanish (since Gladys 5.1)
- **Website and documentation** (gladysassistant.com): English, French (`/fr/`), German (`/de/`) and Spanish (`/es/`). A few France/Québec/Ontario-specific pages are only in English and French
