ESPHome Starter Kit

The easiest way to start building your own smart home devices, with the official ESPHome Starter Kit. Designed and engineered by Apollo Automation in partnership with the Open Home Foundation, the kit pairs a modern ESP32-C6 board with snap-together modules. No soldering, no breadboards, no parts sourcing, no code required. The new ESPHome Desktop app handles configuration through a simple visual interface, with no Home Assistant install required. Plug it in, snap on a module, and build your first working smart home device in an afternoon.

KEY FEATURES

• PLUG AND PLAY: snap-together modules connect with a single ribbon cable. No soldering, breadboards, or jumper wires required.
• NEW ESPHOME DESKTOP: a free desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux that handles configuration through a simple visual interface. No Home Assistant install required to get started.
• MODERN SILICON: the ESP32-C6 chip brings Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Thread support to the kit. Zigbee is also possible at the chip level for advanced users.
• FLEXIBLE POWER: USB-C powered, with support for an optional rechargeable LiPo battery (sold separately) for cable-free deployment around the home.
• NO CODE REQUIRED: the visual interface walks users through every step, and learners can move to YAML whenever they want to.
• WORKS WITH HOME ASSISTANT: devices built with the kit appear in Home Assistant automatically, or work with any ESPHome-compatible platform.
• LOCAL BY DEFAULT: devices run 100% locally with no cloud, no account, and no telemetry.
• BUILT TO LAST: every module is durable, open to modification, and designed to keep working long after the lessons end.
• REAL DEVICES, NOT LEARNING RIGS: build a motion sensor, environment monitor, button trigger, and notification light. Each one is a real product you’ll keep using in your home.
• MULTI-SENSOR CAPABILITY: combine any two modules on the main board at the same time to create a multi-purpose sensor.
• LEARN AS YOU BUILD: an accompanying wiki explains the “why” behind each step, building skills that transfer into the wider ESPHome ecosystem.
• FUNDS THE OPEN HOME FOUNDATION: the majority of profits from every kit support ESPHome, Home Assistant, and over 250 community-driven open source projects.
• OFFICIAL ESPHOME PARTNER PRODUCT: designed and engineered by Apollo Automation alongside the team behind ESPHome.
  

HOW IT WORKS

1. Plug in. Connect a module to the main board with an included FPC cable, no soldering or breadboard.
2. Configure visually. Open the ESPHome Device Builder desktop app and set up the device in a visual editor, no YAML knowledge needed.
3. Run it your way. Use the device standalone, or connect it to Home Assistant for deeper automations. 
4. Keep building. Swap modules to build the next device; every module stays useful in your home afterward.

Q&A

Q: Do I need any coding experience?
A: No. The kit uses the ESPHome Device Builder desktop app's visual editor: no YAML, no C++, no Arduino IDE.
Q: Do I need Home Assistant?
A: No. The kit works as a standalone device. You can optionally connect it to Home Assistant for deeper automations.
Q: What can I build with it?
A: A motion sensor, a notification light, an environment monitor, and an automation trigger, plus a multisensor by running two modules at once.
Q: Is my data private?
A: Yes. Everything runs locally: no cloud, no accounts, no subscriptions.
Q: What connectivity does it support?
A: The ESP32-C6 supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Thread. Zigbee is possible at the chip level for advanced users.
Q: How is it powered?
A: Over USB-C, with support for an optional rechargeable LiPo battery.
Q: Can I expand it later?
A: Yes, two 14-pin FPC ports let you add and swap modules, and each module remains a usable product.
Q: Where does my money go?
A: The majority of profit from every kit goes directly to the Open Home Foundation.