21 Best Homebridge Plugins You’ll Need

Homebridge is a server that emulates Apple’s HomeKit, which is Apple’s framework for managing compatible smart devices.

What Homebridge does is provide a solution that allows you to connect thousands of devices not currently supported on HomeKit.

It achieves that by allowing independent developers to create bridges between Homebridge and the APIs of those third-party devices, even without official smart support for HomeKit from the manufacturer.

That’s why Homebridge plugins are necessary. With the plugins, you will be able to control additional smart devices via Homebridge.

Some plugins, though, add other functionalities. For example, we will see plugins that add a dashboard to your Homebridge server so you can manage other devices you have already connected via other plugins.

Today, I will be taking a look at the best plugins for Homebridge that you need. While certainly not a comprehensive list of plugins, these are a great place to start.

Let’s get into it.

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21 Best Homebridge Plugins You’ll Need

1. Homebridge Alexa

One of the most popular plugins for Homebridge is Homebridge Alexa, which allows you to integrate your Amazon Alexa device to control all your connected Homebridge devices.

It does not automatically allow you to connect an Alexa enabled device to Homebridge, as that is not what the plugin does. Rather, it allows you to use Alexa to control other Homebridge devices, as stated.

It supports many Homebridge accessories, such as smart light bulbs, window covers, garage doors, and many others. Of course, it allows you to control your most important devices, such as audio speakers, your Apple TV, your heating and cooling system, and more.

The plugin does not currently support security systems, cameras, and Eve devices.

2. Homebridge Ring

Homebridge Ring allows you to add support for your Ring doorbells, security alarms, smart lighting system, and more. Ring is a company that sells smart doorbells with motion detection, alarms, cameras, and other security products.

It supports all camera models from Ring and allows you to see snapshots from your security camera. You can check the GitHub documentation (look for the README section) for more supported devices and features.

3. Homebridge Nest

Homebridge Nest, meanwhile, allows you to connect Nest devices from Google. You can use your Google account with it.

It supports Nest Protect, temperature sensors, and thermostat devices. The plugin offers a wide range of configuration options, such as exclude Nest Protect from HomeKit.

It also integrates with Siri, allowing you to issue Siri voice commands to control your thermostat and other Nest devices.

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4. Homebridge Sonos

If you have a Sonos speaker, you need the Homebridge Sonos plugin. It allows you to use Siri voice commands to control your Sonos speakers.

You can easily turn the music on and off with this plugin. It has some advanced configuration options as well.

5. Homebridge Display

Homebridge Display is one of my favorite plugins for Homebridge. It provides a display dashboard with which you can control Homebridge.

A weather forecast is included in the dashboard at the top left. You can see the current weather and the forecast for the upcoming week.

You can also access Spotify controls for playing and pausing music. The dashboard provides a calculator and a preview of some recent news stories.

Of course, on the dashboard, you can also control Homebridge devices. You can turn lights on and off, for example.

You can customize the dashboard and add or remove widgets.

There are some additional widgets, some of which are still under development, that you can add to your dashboard. They include the Sonos widget, a mirror widget, and more.

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6. Homebridge UI

Another useful plugin is the Homebridge UI dashboard, which allows you to control your Homebridge plugins and accessories from a web-based dashboard.

It supports over 450 Homebridge plugins, providing you with configuration options for them.

The easy-to-use dashboard comes with widgets that allow you to customize the display. You can use the dashboard to monitor the status and resource usage of your Homebridge (such as the CPU and memory consumption) and control different accessories.

Meanwhile, on the plugin screen, you can install, remove, and manage your plugins. It’s great to have a central location where you can manage your Homebridge plugins.

In addition to the accessories widget on the home screen of the display, you can control all of your accessories, from fans to garage doors, from the accessories page.

The web display is easily accessible from most browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer, the older version of Edge, is not supported.

Finally, the Homebridge UI plugin provides the hb-service tool, which allows you to install Homebridge as a service on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

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7. Homebridge Calendar Scheduler

Homebridge Calendar Scheduler is a useful plugin that lets you schedule triggers using iCal, Apple’s calendar software. Complete with progress reports, it’s a great tool for calendar scheduling.

For example, you can schedule an alert after a certain amount of time has passed since an event is over.

Alternatively, if you want to make sure you don’t miss an important event, such as a virtual meeting, you can schedule an alert a few minutes before the event is set to start.

8. Homebridge Plugin Command

Homebridge Plugin Command helps you to create switches which can run commands by themselves.

When you turn on a switch you have created, it will run the custom command you set up. This allows you to automate processes.

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9. Homebridge Omxplayer

Homebridge Omxplayer is a plugin that only works on Raspberry Pi. It allows you to control YouTube videos as well as local video file playback.

You can download and play YouTube videos, set up playlists, shuffle playlists, and set playlists to repeat themselves once done. It’s a great way to listen to your favorite music or podcasts.

You can also control the audio volume and more.

There are many possibilities for automation.

For example, you can set up videos to play on your TV screen, if it is connected to a Raspberry Pi device so that they play when you wake up in the morning. Or, you can connect it to a projector or speaker and have it play at certain times.

10. Homebridge Browsercam

Homebridge Browsercam lets you turn a device’s camera into a network-connected camera for livestreaming, security monitoring, and more.

All you need is a camera on a device – this could be an iPhone, Android tablet, computer, etc. – and a compatible browser. Most devices will work, as long as they are not very old or have extremely underpowered hardware.

Once you have set it up, you can take advantage of features such as motion sensors, streaming, recording, and more. You can even turn the camera into a light by enabling flash, if supported.

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11. Homebridge Xbox TV

Do you want to control your Xbox devices via Homebridge? You can with this plugin called Homebridge Xbox TV.

It has been tested with Xbox One S, Xbox One X, and Xbox Series X. If you have one of those models, it should work well; it may still work with other models, though.

Using the Homebridge app, you can do things like power the Xbox on and off. You can also record game DVR, control the media and volume, and set up automations.

It also integrates with Siri for voice controls.

12. Homebridge Kumo Cloud

Kumo Cloud is a software by Mitsubishi that allows you to control compatible HVAC smart systems from the cloud.

You can now use the Homebridge Kumo Cloud plugin to enable support for Kumo Cloud on Apple’s HomeKit via Homebridge.

It has a simple setup, only requiring your username and password and no advanced configurations. It will automatically search for and detect compatible Kumo devices.

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13. Homebridge SmartThings TV

If you have a Samsung TV, the Homebridge SmartThings TV plugin will be handy.

It allows you to control Samsung TVs using Homebridge via the SmartThings API.

Some of the things you can do include adjusting the volume and other basic functions for Samsung TVs.

14. Homebridge Advanced Timer

Homebridge Advanced Timer allows you to automate your heating and cooling system using an advanced timer. You can set up intervals, loops, and other schedules.

For example, you can set the heater to turn on for five minutes every half an hour. That will keep your house nice and warm on cold days without wasting too much energy.

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15. Homebridge Bed Control

Homebridge Bed Control is a plugin that allows you to control smart beds. This is not specific to a specific smart bed company or brand.

Rather, it is a generic and independent plugin that can be used with many smart bed technologies.

If you have a compatible smart bed, you can do things like control the foot warming and massage settings, the position of the bed, and more. It also has a privacy mode in which you can’t detect the occupancy status of a bed.

16. Homebridge Away Mode

Homebridge Away Mode is a particularly useful plugin that can reduce the chance of a break-in when you are not at home.

We all know the trick of leaving a light on somewhere in the house when away on vacation. It is supposed to make it look like someone is home, but the truth is that thieves are familiar with this trick as well.

While it might deter an opportunist who comes across your house for the first time in the middle of the night, it won’t deter someone who has been watching your house for a few days. If they see the same lights on every night, throughout the night, they will know you are away.

The Homebridge Away Mode solves that problem. It simulates occupancy when you are away by turning lights on and off automatically, at random times, depending on your settings.

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17. Homebridge Alexa Player

Homebridge Alexa Player extends Homebridge support to Alexa speakers and smart displays, mainly the Amazon Echo line of smart speakers.

The plugin is in its early stages of development, so it is possible that other devices will be added in the future.

Using the plugin, you can do things such as control the volume of the speaker.

18. Homebridge Device Alive

Have you ever wondered if a device on your network is on or off? With the Homebridge Device Alive plugin, you can easily check the status of a device on your network.

You can use a device’s IP address or MAC address. IP stands for Internet Protocol, and an IP address is a virtual address that is assigned to devices to identify them, either over the internet (a public IP address) or over your private network (a private IP address, which is not accessible from the internet).

MAC stands for Media Access Control. A MAC address is a hardware-based address assigned to a device by the manufacturer.

With this plugin, you can easily identify if the device is accessible over the network at any given time.

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19. Homebridge Brewer

Do you want to wake up in the morning with a ready-made cup of joe to start your day? You can do it with the Homebridge Brewer plugin, which allows you to schedule your coffee with Nespresso machines using HomeKit integration.

It can even count how many coffee capsules you have left, which is an easy way to check if you need to refill the machine or buy more capsules.

20. Homebridge Magic Occupancy

Homebridge Magic Occupancy lets you set up amazing automations for your home.

For example, you can set it up so that when you pull up in the driveway, the lights around your home and leading up to the front door automatically get turned on and then turn off once you are inside the house.

Perhaps you want your bathroom fan to turn on a few minutes after turning on the bathroom lights. That is also possible with this plugin.

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21. Homebridge Music

Homebridge Music allows you to control iTunes, speakers connected to iTunes, Airplay speakers, EyeTV, and more.

It can control the volume, turn the speakers on or off, or change the current track being played.

It requires macOS, so if you only have Windows or Linux, it won’t work.

Conclusion

There are many amazing plugins for Homebridge. Depending on the devices you own, you might want device-specific plugins; obviously, we could not list them all here.

I suggest searching the npm Registry for device-specific plugins. There, you can find code repositories and additional configuration instructions for each plugin.

You can also find several plugins on GitHub itself. Just make sure that the plugin is still being supported as the plugins that have fallen out of development may contain bugs that could compromise your network or ruin the functionality of the plugin.