Home Assistant · AI Start here
AI in Home Assistant: local LLMs, cloud agents, voice, MCP and cameras
Every way to use AI in Home Assistant in 2026: Ollama, OpenAI, Gemini and Claude agents, the MCP server and AI Tasks, compared on cost and privacy.
Home Assistant
Guides, automations, integrations, AI, dashboards, and the release notes that change a real install. Home Assistant is the system this site is built around.
This is the flagship section. A guide that says Tested in our lab was run. Everything else is sourced research, and the page says so.
Home Assistant · Dashboards Start here
Home Assistant dashboards: the complete guide
How Home Assistant dashboards work in 2026: views, the Sections layout, cards, badges, visibility, community cards, tablets and phones, with links to every step-by-step guide.
Home Assistant · Guides & Tutorials
Home Assistant Christmas lights automation: sunset, holiday calendar and away safety (with blueprint)
Turn Christmas lights on at sunset and off at bedtime in Home Assistant, with weekend schedules, away handling and a free blueprint you can import.
Home Assistant · Guides & Tutorials
HACS becomes Marketplace in Home Assistant 2026.11: what to do
Home Assistant 2026.11 replaces HACS with the built-in Marketplace. What carries over, what stops updating, and the templates and YAML resources to check.
Platforms · Apple Home
Home Assistant and Apple Home: HomeKit Bridge, HomeKit Device, Matter and Thread (2026)
Use Home Assistant with Apple Home in 2026: HomeKit Bridge for Siri, HomeKit Device for accessories, Matter sharing, Thread and the new Home architecture.
Home Assistant · Guides & Tutorials
Connect Claude or ChatGPT to Home Assistant with the built-in MCP server
Turn on Home Assistant's built-in MCP server, limit what an AI can control, and connect Claude's free plan. Plus what ChatGPT requires, what MCP can't do yet, and privacy notes.
Home Assistant · Guides & Tutorials
Add your Apple iCloud Calendar to Home Assistant (2026 update)
Two ways to get iCloud calendars into Home Assistant: the Apple iCloud integration (calendars and Reminders since 2026.10) or CalDAV with an app password.
Home Assistant · Integrations
Run a local LLM in Home Assistant with Ollama
Connect Home Assistant to a local Ollama server, pick a model that supports tools, expose the right entities, and fix the 'unexpected error' people hit most.
Home Assistant · Guides & Tutorials
Getting started with dashboards: Sections view, cards, badges and visibility
Build a Home Assistant dashboard in the Sections view: sections, Tile cards, header badges and per-user visibility, with a working YAML example.
Buying guides · Sensors and switches
Best outdoor smart plugs for Christmas lights (that also work with Home Assistant)
Five US outdoor smart plugs for Christmas lights compared on Home Assistant route, IP rating, LED load limits and GFCI needs. Research-based, with sources.
Buying guides · Lighting
Best smart Christmas lights 2026: Govee vs Twinkly vs Philips Hue Festavia (and which ones Home Assistant can control)
Govee Christmas Lights 2, Twinkly Strings and Philips Hue Festavia compared on effects, outdoor ratings and what Home Assistant, Alexa, Google and Apple Home can control.
Buying guides · Radios
Best Thread border router for Home Assistant (2026): research guide
Which Thread border router to use with Home Assistant: ZBT-2, SMLIGHT, Apple TV, HomePod, Nest and Echo compared on compatibility, Thread 1.4 and price.