Strong competition for Shelly: IoTorero joins "Works with Home Assistant"

Now officially certified: Several devices by IoTorero.

There was a time when Shelly devices were the undisputed go-to for affordable smart actuators. But the competition has caught up: A few days ago, various IoTorero devices received the official "Works with Home Assistant" certification – even ahead of comparable products from Shelly.

Bernhard Rotter (translated by Bernhard Rotter), Published 07/15/2026 🇩🇪

Gadget Smart Home

Many desire a smart home, but in practice, the implementation often falls short of initial expectations. The reasons are manifold: A full-scale setup frequently fails due to high costs, which is further exacerbated by recently soaring component prices. Another dampener for many users is cloud dependency: Numerous devices strictly rely on the manufacturer's servers and proprietary apps. As a result, you quickly lose track and soon find yourself juggling an unmanageable number of different apps.

Platforms like Home Assistant solve at least the latter problem. They allow devices from countless brands to be integrated and managed through a single user interface. The open-source system shines with its enormous compatibility. Products bearing the "Works with Home Assistant" label offer a particularly seamless integration.

This seal of approval has now been awarded to several devices from the Chinese manufacturer IoTorero (Athom Technology). Specifically, these include a smart plug, a smart relay, a garage door opener relay, and a smart wall outlet. The prices are quite competitive: A two-pack of smart outlets costs around 27 USD, excluding shipping. The devices can be purchased via the manufacturer's website as well as on platforms like AliExpress.

The standout feature of the certified IoTorero devices: They run on ESPHome software out of the box, enabling completely local operation without any manufacturer cloud. Since ESPHome is developed by the same foundation behind Home Assistant, the interplay is incredibly smooth. Another plus is longevity: Locally operated devices are independent of discontinued cloud services and are therefore considered particularly sustainable.

This makes IoTorero products a genuine alternative to industry heavyweights like Shelly. While Shelly also has a few "Works with Home Assistant" certified products, bestsellers like smart plugs – which represent the most direct alternative to IoTorero – are currently missing from this list.