Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Amazon Alexa · 🤖 automation
Amazon Alexa vs Gladys Assistant
Privacy-first home automation platform that runs locally on your hardware, supports Zigbee, Matter, and MQTT, and lets you automate your home without coding. Here is how Gladys Assistant ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Amazon Alexa ($15/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Gladys Assistant is a verified Open Source-licensed open-source replacement for Amazon Alexa. Switching from Amazon Alexa ($15/mo) saves $180/yr per solo seat, or $900/yr for a 5-person team. Deployment: Runs on Self-host.
The catch: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Amazon Alexa.
Gladys Assistant
$0.00/mo · Open Source
Amazon Alexa vs Gladys Assistant Specifications
facts verified 2026-11-07
| Dimension | Amazon Alexa (Paid) | Gladys Assistant (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $15 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $180 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $180) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $900 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $900) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,800 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,800) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source Open Source |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 3.3k (active nov 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Amazon Alexa to Gladys Assistant
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Amazon Alexa.
How to deploy Gladys Assistant
Clone https://github.com/gladysassistant/gladys or deploy with Docker Compose
What it takes to run
Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
Where your data lives
All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
Why fork Gladys Assistant instead of vibe-coding a Amazon Alexa clone?
Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Amazon Alexa or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 2 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Home Assistant.
Amazon Alexa vs Gladys Assistant FAQ
Is Gladys Assistant a good free alternative to Amazon Alexa?+
Yes. Gladys Assistant is a verified open-source (Open Source) replacement for Amazon Alexa. Privacy-first home automation platform that runs locally on your hardware, supports Zigbee, Matter, and MQTT, and lets you automate your home without coding.
What is the catch when switching from Amazon Alexa to Gladys Assistant?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Amazon Alexa.
How much do you save switching from Amazon Alexa to Gladys Assistant?+
Amazon Alexa costs $15/mo ($180/yr) per seat, whereas Gladys Assistant is $0/mo. Switching saves $180/yr for a solo user, $900/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,800/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Gladys Assistant instead of Amazon Alexa?+
Install: Clone https://github.com/gladysassistant/gladys or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
