Home Assistant Green and Home Assistant Yellow are both official Nabu Casa hardware for running Home Assistant. They share the same software stack and the same target audience (people who want home automation that respects their data and runs locally), but they target different ends of the user spectrum: Green for simplicity, Yellow for flexibility.
This is the side-by-side comparison for 2026, with the actual specs and the decision framework that tells you which one fits.
Quick verdict
For most readers, the answer is Home Assistant Green. It is $199, ships ready to run, and handles a typical residential smart home (50 to 200 devices) with room to spare. Done.
Choose Home Assistant Yellow if all three are true: you have PoE infrastructure on your network, you want the integrated Zigbee/Thread/Matter radio in the same enclosure as the server, and you are okay assembling a Compute Module 4 into a kit (the pre-assembled Standard model has been discontinued).
If neither feels right (you want maximum flexibility on a budget), a Raspberry Pi 5 with an SSD and a USB Zigbee coordinator is the third option that often wins.
Side-by-side specs
| Feature | Home Assistant Green | Home Assistant Yellow |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 (complete) | Kit only as of 2026, CM4 sold separately |
| CPU | Rockchip RK3566 quad-core A55 @ 1.8 GHz | Raspberry Pi CM4 (varies by variant) |
| RAM | 4 GB LPDDR4X | 1 / 2 / 4 / 8 GB (depends on CM4 chosen) |
| Storage | 32 GB eMMC (fixed) | CM4 eMMC + optional NVMe via M.2 |
| Network | Gigabit ethernet | Gigabit ethernet + PoE+ |
| Zigbee/Thread/Matter | USB add-on only | Integrated radio |
| USB ports | 2x USB 2.0 | Multiple USB (varies) |
| Setup time | 10-15 minutes | 30-60 minutes (assembly + flash) |
| Idle power | ~1.7 W | Similar (depends on CM4) |
| Dimensions | 112 x 112 x 32 mm | 123 x 123 x 36 mm |
The decision matrix
Pick Green if any of these are true
- You want home automation without thinking about hardware.
- You have never assembled computer parts and would rather not start.
- Your smart home is or will be under 200 devices.
- Your network does not have PoE (PoE+ capable switches are not common in entry-level home networking gear).
- You can run a USB Zigbee coordinator out of the back of the hub without it bothering you.
Pick Yellow if all of these are true
- You already have or plan to invest in PoE+ network infrastructure.
- You want one box that combines server, Zigbee/Thread/Matter radio, and storage.
- You are comfortable mounting a Compute Module 4 into a carrier and flashing the OS.
- You appreciate the well-built form factor and PoE power as worth the assembly tradeoff.
Skip both and build a Pi 5 system if
- You are budget-constrained and the Green's $199 is more than you want to spend.
- You already have a spare Raspberry Pi 5 sitting around.
- You want to host other services on the same hardware alongside Home Assistant (Plex, Nextcloud, etc.).
- You enjoy tinkering and would rather configure things yourself than have them pre-configured.
Skip both and buy a mini PC if
- You want to run Frigate NVR with multiple cameras.
- You expect 500+ entities and complex automations.
- You want to consolidate your home server functions (NAS, media server, Home Assistant) into one device.
Performance, side by side
For a typical 100-entity residential setup with 20 to 30 automations and the Mobile App on family phones, both Green and Yellow (with a 4 GB CM4) perform identically. Dashboard loads are instant. Automations fire in under 500 ms. Idle CPU sits around 5 to 10 percent.
Where you would see a real difference is at the extremes:
- NVMe vs eMMC storage: Yellow with NVMe writes about 10x faster than Green's eMMC. This matters if you keep long-history retention or run frequent backup snapshots. For most users it is invisible.
- Higher-RAM CM4: A Yellow with an 8 GB CM4 has more memory headroom than Green's fixed 4 GB. For heavy add-ons (multiple Frigate cameras, large AppDaemon apps), this matters. For typical use, both have plenty.
- Integrated radio range: Yellow's onboard antenna performs slightly better than common USB Zigbee dongles, especially for devices at the edge of your home. The difference is real but small.
Honest take on cost
The Green's $199 includes everything. Power supply, ethernet cable, the device itself, and the OS pre-installed. Done.
The Yellow kit price varies by region and configuration. By the time you add a CM4 with 4 GB RAM and 32 GB eMMC, ethernet cable, NVMe SSD (if you want one), and possibly a PoE injector for testing, total cost is often $250 to $400. That is not a fair comparison without the assembled Standard model that no longer exists, but it is the real cost of going Yellow today.
A DIY Raspberry Pi 5 setup with a 4 GB Pi 5, official power supply, M.2 HAT, 250 GB NVMe SSD, case, and USB Zigbee coordinator typically lands at $150 to $200 all-in. Cheaper than either official option, more work to set up, and no PoE.
What about Home Assistant Skyconnect / Connect ZBT-1?
Worth a note because it is the third Nabu Casa product people compare with these two. The Connect ZBT-1 (formerly SkyConnect) is a USB Zigbee/Thread/Matter coordinator, not a server. It costs about $30 and pairs with Green or any other server hardware to add Zigbee capability. If you pick Green, the Connect ZBT-1 is the natural Zigbee add-on.
What to do next
If you picked Green: read our complete setup guide for the unbox-to-running walkthrough.
If you picked Yellow: read our Yellow review for the assembly tips and CM4 sourcing notes.
If you decided to build a Pi system instead: see our Home Assistant server hardware guide for the full DIY parts list.
Whichever you chose, the next step after running hardware is figuring out which Zigbee or Matter devices to actually add. The Best Zigbee Devices for Home Assistant guide covers the starter set worth knowing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy Home Assistant Green or Yellow?
Buy Green for plug-and-play simplicity at $199. Buy Yellow if you have PoE infrastructure, want integrated Zigbee/Thread/Matter radio in the same box, and are comfortable assembling a Compute Module 4 into a carrier board kit (the pre-assembled Standard model is discontinued).
Is Home Assistant Yellow worth the extra cost?
Yellow is worth it when PoE infrastructure already exists in your network and you value the integrated Zigbee/Thread/Matter radio. For users without PoE or already comfortable with a USB Zigbee coordinator, Green is the better value.
Can Yellow do everything Green can do?
Yes. Yellow is a superset of Green's capabilities with the added options of PoE, NVMe storage, and integrated radio. The trade-off is that Yellow requires assembly (CM4 installation) and has more configuration choices to make during setup.
What about just building a Raspberry Pi 5 setup?
A Pi 5 with an SSD and USB Zigbee coordinator is the budget-friendly third option, typically $150 to $200 all-in. It requires more setup work than Green but more flexibility for tinkering and hosting other services alongside Home Assistant. The right choice for the DIY-inclined.
Curated with AI assistance via Charmed.