can i fork it?

Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Google Assistant · 🤖 automation

Google Assistant 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 Google Assistant ($15/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.

⚡ Quick Verdict · 2027 Comparison

Gladys Assistant is a verified Open Source-licensed open-source replacement for Google Assistant. Switching from Google Assistant ($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 Google Assistant.

Google Assistant vs Gladys Assistant Specifications

facts verified 2026-11-07

DimensionGoogle Assistant (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 & LicenseProprietary SaaSopen source Open Source
Where It RunsVendor CloudSelf-host (your server)
PlatformsWeb / Cloud
webself-hosteddocker to self-host
GitHub Stars—★ 3.3k (active nov 2026)

Deep Dive: Switching from Google Assistant to Gladys Assistant

Trade-offs, installation & data architecture

The Catch vs Google Assistant

What you trade away

Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Google Assistant.

Installation

How to deploy Gladys Assistant

Clone https://github.com/gladysassistant/gladys or deploy with Docker Compose

Day-2 Operations & Setup

What it takes to run

Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.

Data Ownership

Where your data lives

All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.

Build vs Fork Verdict: NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens)

Why fork Gladys Assistant instead of vibe-coding a Google Assistant clone?

Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Google Assistant or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 2 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Home Assistant.

Google Assistant vs Gladys Assistant FAQ

Is Gladys Assistant a good free alternative to Google Assistant?+

Yes. Gladys Assistant is a verified open-source (Open Source) replacement for Google 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.

What is the catch when switching from Google Assistant to Gladys Assistant?+

Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Google Assistant.

How much do you save switching from Google Assistant to Gladys Assistant?+

Google Assistant 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 Google Assistant?+

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.

Other Free Alternatives to Google Assistant

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