Build Your Own Home Assistant Brain
Build or purchase your own Home Assistant controller to serve as the brain in your sovereign smart home.
Platform Options
| Platform | Best For | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi | Most DIYers, dedicated HA device with a few extra features | Full guide |
| StartOS | Sovereign focused home server with advanced networking | Coming soon |
| Umbrel | Sovereign focused home server | Coming soon |
What You’ll End Up With
Raspberry Pi + Home Assistant OS
Best for: Dedicated HA device
This is the path our product kits use. You’ll end up with essentially the same system we sell, but built yourself.
StartOS Server + Home Assistant (Container)
Best for: Users who want HA alongside their Bitcoin node and other StartOS services
Run Home Assistant in a container as a service on StartOS, integrated with your sovereign computing stack.
StartOS Guide → coming soon
Umbrel Server + Home Assistant (Container)
Best for: Users who want HA alongside their Bitcoin node and other Umbrel services
Run Home Assistant in a container as an application on Umbrel, integrated with your sovereign computing stack.
Umbrel Guide → coming soon
Where to Buy
- Exergy Dedicated Home Assistant kits for Exergy systems
- Home Assistant Plug and play Home Assistant brains
- Start9 Labs Robust Bitcoin native home servers with advanced security and privacy
- Umbrel Bitcoin native home servers with a focus on simplicity
Other Platforms
Home Assistant runs on many platforms:
- Docker on any Linux system
- Virtual machine on Windows/Mac
- Old laptops or mini PCs
- Proxmox, TrueNAS, Synology…
The Exergy integrations work on any Home Assistant installation. Our guides focus on common paths, but the concepts apply anywhere.
See the official Home Assistant installation guide for all options.