Crestron Power.
Without the Crestron Price.
Crestron builds solid automation for luxury homes and commercial spaces. But at $100,000+, is the dealer-locked ecosystem really worth 10x what a Home Assistant system costs? We don't think so.
The Real Cost of Crestron
Crestron dominates commercial AV. But for residential use, the numbers tell a different story.
Feature for Feature
Home Assistant matches Crestron's residential capabilities and adds features Crestron doesn't offer.
Home Assistant supports 2,000+ integrations, true offline operation, and doesn't require dealer involvement for any changes.
Who Chooses Home Assistant Over Crestron?
Custom Home Builders
Architects spec Crestron by default because of dealer commissions. Buyers discover post-move-in that they need a dealer for every change.
Commercial-to-Residential Crossover
Business owners who've seen Crestron in boardrooms and assume it's the only option for their home. Realize residential needs are different.
Frustrated Crestron Owners
People 3-5 years into a Crestron system who need updates but can't justify $200+/hour programming fees for simple changes.
Tech-Forward Homeowners
Engineers and IT professionals who know open-source is not inferior, just different. They want control over their own system.
An Honest Assessment
We respect what Crestron has built. Their commercial AV systems are the best in the industry, and their hardware is extremely reliable. For large commercial installations with dedicated AV teams, Crestron is still a strong choice.
But for residential use in Oklahoma, the math is hard to justify. You're paying for:
- Dealer-locked programming ($200-$400/hour for any change)
- Proprietary hardware with limited sourcing options
- Annual licensing fees just to keep your system running
- A system built for commercial scale, squeezed into residential use
Home Assistant does the same residential automation work at a fraction of the cost. For the commercial features you genuinely need, there are usually cheaper options that integrate with HA.
Transition Strategy for High-End Homes
Luxury projects need migration discipline. We plan around control continuity, room-level priorities, and timeline risk.
Critical Systems First
Lighting, climate, and access flows are stabilized before lower-priority feature migration begins.
Room-by-Room Cutover
High-touch spaces are migrated in planned windows so daily routines keep working during transition.
Ownership Handoff
Final delivery includes clear dashboard and automation ownership so you can evolve the system without dealer lock-in.
Common Questions
Is this only for ultra-luxury homes?
No. The alternative path is strongest for homeowners who want premium automation outcomes without enterprise-level licensing and dealer dependency.
Can we phase migration over time?
Yes. We typically phase by subsystem and room priority to keep critical automations stable while ownership transitions to a local-first stack.
Will we lose premium UX quality?
No. Dashboard and scene design are part of delivery. The goal is to match high-end user experience while removing recurring lock-in constraints.
Where should I start: comparison or implementation?
Start here if you are evaluating a Crestron replacement. If you are ready to scope installation, move to Home Assistant Installation.
Ready for Professional Automation Without the Lock-In?
Schedule a free consultation. We'll show you what a Home Assistant system can do for your home and how much you'll save compared to Crestron.