Gladys Assistant is an open-source, privacy-first home automation platform founded in 2013 by Pierre-Gilles Leymarie, initially built as a student side project on a Raspberry Pi.
The core software is free, self-hosted, and keeps home automation data on the user's own hardware rather than a vendor's cloud, distinguishing it from mainstream smart home platforms.
Key Features
Gladys supports open protocols like Zigbee, Matter, and MQTT alongside dozens of dedicated device integrations, plus a scenario engine for building automation rules.
Gladys Plus, the optional premium subscription, adds encrypted remote access, daily backups, camera streaming, AI model integration, and Model Context Protocol support.
Pricing
The core platform is free and open source, self-hosted with a single Docker command and no subscription required.
Gladys Plus is offered in Lite (about 5.83 euros per month) and Plus (about 8.33 euros per month) tiers, each with a one-month free trial and no long-term commitment.
Key Features
Self-hosted, privacy-first core — Runs entirely on the user's own Raspberry Pi, NAS, or Docker host, keeping home data off third-party clouds by default.
Open protocol support — Native support for Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, and MQTT alongside dedicated integrations for brands like Shelly, Sonos, and Tuya.
Automation and scenario engine — Build rules and scenarios that react to time, presence, or sensor data across connected devices.
Encrypted remote access (Gladys Plus) — End-to-end encrypted access to the home instance from outside the home network without manual port forwarding.
AI conversational control — Open-weight AI model integration lets users talk to their home setup in natural language.
MCP server support — Model Context Protocol integration allows AI agents to interact with the Gladys instance in a structured way.
Energy monitoring — Enedis integration provides detailed electricity usage tracking for users in France.
Official Raspberry Pi Imager listing — Gladys is available as a one-click install image directly inside the official Raspberry Pi Imager tool.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Core platform is fully free, open source, and self-hosted with no vendor lock-in
Strong privacy-first design keeps home data on the user's own hardware
Supports a wide range of open protocols and third-party device integrations
Official listing in the Raspberry Pi Imager tool simplifies installation
Gladys Plus is affordable relative to typical smart home cloud subscriptions
Cons
Smaller integration library and community than the dominant open-source competitor, Home Assistant
Requires self-hosting hardware and some technical comfort to set up and maintain
Encrypted remote access and camera streaming require the paid Gladys Plus subscription
Some features, like Enedis energy tracking, are most useful to users based in France
Small team size (roughly 5 to 10 people) limits pace of feature development compared to larger projects
Pricing
Free / Self-Hosted Free N/A
Gladys Plus Lite EUR 5.83/month (EUR 69.99/year) Monthly or annual
Gladys Plus EUR 8.33/month (EUR 99.99/year) Monthly or annual
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gladys Assistant free?
Yes, the core Gladys Assistant platform is free and open source, self-hosted on your own Raspberry Pi, NAS, or Docker host with no subscription required.
Who created Gladys Assistant?
Gladys Assistant was created in 2013 by Pierre-Gilles Leymarie as a student side project on a Raspberry Pi in France.
What does Gladys Plus add?
Gladys Plus is an optional paid subscription that adds encrypted remote access, daily encrypted backups, remote camera streaming, AI model integration, and Enedis electricity monitoring, offered in Lite and Plus tiers.
How is Gladys different from Home Assistant?
Both are open-source, self-hosted home automation platforms, but Gladys focuses more heavily on ease of setup and privacy-first messaging, while Home Assistant has a larger community and broader integration library.
Does Gladys Assistant require an internet connection?
The core automation engine runs locally on your own hardware and does not require sending data to a third-party cloud; remote access outside the home network is available through the optional Gladys Plus subscription.
What protocols does Gladys Assistant support?
Gladys supports open protocols including Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, and MQTT, plus dedicated integrations for brands like Shelly, Sonos, Tuya, and RTSP cameras.