Raspberry Pi Foundation · Open-source Linux hubs

Raspberry Pi 5 + HAOS

Wi-Fi · REST · about $120

local-onlyno cloud lock-in

Protocols

Wi-Fi
4.5 W
Idle power
$120
List price
~2200
Devices (est.)

Specifications

CategoryOpen-source Linux hubs
ProtocolsWi-Fi
Cloud dependencyno cloud lock-in
Local APIREST
Voice assistantslocal (Whisper/Rhasspy)
Open sourcefully open-source
Directly supported devices (est.)~2200
Idle power draw~4.5 W
Update outlookactively maintained
List price (Amazon.com, Q2/2026)about $120
Best for: Privacy-firstBest for: Tech enthusiast / tinkererBest for: Budget under $80

Setup & gotchas

💾 Move off SD card and onto an NVMe HAT — SD cards die slowly under the HA recorder write load. NVMe makes the Pi 5 a serious 24/7 hub for about $30 more.
🌡️ A Pi 5 without active cooling will throttle in a 24/7 closet during summer. The Argon NEO or the official Pi Active Cooler ($10-15) are basically mandatory.

Editorial take

Our hands-on read — the specs above are the sourced facts.

Strengths

  • + DIY classic with unbeatable price-to-performance
  • + HAOS image flashes to SD or NVMe in 10 minutes
  • + Plenty of headroom for 200+ entities (Pi 5 is 2-3x faster than Pi 4)

Trade-offs

  • Radios live on USB sticks — the Yellow layout is tidier
  • Active cooling strongly recommended (Pi 5 hits ~70 C under load)
  • Power supply matters: 27W USB-C PD or you'll see brownout crashes

Frequently asked questions

Does the Raspberry Pi 5 + HAOS require the cloud?
No. The Raspberry Pi 5 + HAOS runs local-only — REST, no vendor account is required for core automations.
Which protocols and voice assistants does the Raspberry Pi 5 + HAOS support?
Protocols: Wi-Fi. Voice: local (Whisper/Rhasspy). It directly supports an estimated 2200 devices/brands.
How much does the Raspberry Pi 5 + HAOS cost and how much power does it use?
List price is about $120 (Amazon.com market observation, Q2/2026 — actual prices fluctuate). Idle power draw is roughly 4.5 W.

Source & last checked

  • HA Pi installation docs: home-assistant.io/installation/raspberrypi
  • Sources last checked: 2026-07-20 · Prices: Amazon.com market observation, Q2/2026
  • Idle-power and device-count figures are vendor-claimed or community-measured estimates. Prices fluctuate. Details without warranty — check the current manufacturer spec sheet before buying.