Is HARelay really free?

Yes! HARelay is completely free to use. We built this for the Home Assistant community and want everyone to have secure remote access without barriers.

Do I need to open any ports on my router?

No. HARelay uses outbound WebSocket connections, so your Home Assistant stays behind your firewall with no ports exposed. This is actually more secure than traditional port forwarding.

Absolutely. All connections are encrypted using TLS, and we never store your Home Assistant credentials. The tunnel only forwards traffic - we can't see your data.

What about performance?

HARelay uses WebSocket connections for low latency. Most users don't notice any difference compared to a direct local connection. Real-time features like live dashboards work seamlessly.

How HARelay Works

Secure remote access in three simple steps. No networking expertise required.

Create Your Account

Sign up for a free HARelay account. You'll get a unique subdomain (like abc123.harelay.com) automatically assigned to you.

Create Free Account

Create Account

Install the Home Assistant App (formerly Add-on)

Add our repository to Home Assistant's built-in App Store (not HACS) and install the HARelay app. Start the app and it will automatically enter pairing mode.

Where to find the App Store: Settings → Apps → Install app → Three dots menu → Repositories

No port forwarding required
No dynamic DNS needed
Works behind CGNAT and firewalls

# Add to Home Assistant App Store (not HACS)

https://github.com/harelay/ha-app

# That's all you need to add!

# No configuration required - just start the app

Enter the Pairing Code

The app displays a simple pairing code. Open the app's web interface, copy the code, and enter it on HARelay. Your Home Assistant is now connected and accessible from anywhere!

Your URL: abc123.harelay.com

Your pairing code

ABCD-1234

Enter this code at harelay.com/link

Behind the Scenes

HARelay creates a secure tunnel between your Home Assistant and our servers.

Your Device

Phone, laptop, tablet

HTTPS

HARelay

Secure tunnel server

WebSocket

Home Assistant

Your smart home

Frequently asked questions

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Feel free to reach out.

Is HARelay really free?: Yes! HARelay is completely free to use. We built this for the Home Assistant community and want everyone to have secure remote access without barriers.
Do I need to open any ports on my router?: No. HARelay uses outbound WebSocket connections, so your Home Assistant stays behind your firewall with no ports exposed. This is actually more secure than traditional port forwarding.
Is my data secure?: Absolutely. All connections are encrypted using TLS, and we never store your Home Assistant credentials. The tunnel only forwards traffic - we can't see your data.
What about performance?: HARelay uses WebSocket connections for low latency. Most users don't notice any difference compared to a direct local connection. Real-time features like live dashboards work seamlessly.

Ready to get started?

Create your free account and connect your Home Assistant in minutes.

Create Free Account