Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

Ninja Blocks is a home automation system designed for developers who want to build custom smart home applications. Launched in 2012, it provides an API that allows users to control and automate various connected… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. The home automation system with an API launched in 2012; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Ninja.new▲120

   Automate manual tasks with a fully autonomous AI agent

   2025 · ninja.new · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Blocks▲448

   Hi HN, We just launched Blocks - an AI platform where anyone can build custom work apps and AI agents in minutes, no coding required. We’re seeing a shift in how software is built and used. With AI, software isn’t just about tracking processes anymore - it can actively help people get work done. The problem is that most teams still face 2 options: either buy off-the-shelf tools that never quite fit, or invest a lot of time and money into custom development. Neither works well. Blocks is the third option. It’s an AI-native platform where teams can create apps and AI agents for their workflows…

   2025 · blocks.diy · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Dobb·E – towards home robots with an open-source platform▲394

   Hi HN! Proud to share our open-source robot platform, Dobb·E, a home robot system that needs just 5 minutes of human teaching to learn new tasks. We've already taken Dobb·E to 10 different homes in New York, taught it 100+ tasks, and we are just getting started! I would love to hear your thoughts about this. Here are some more details, below (or see a Twitter thread with attached media: https://twitter.com/i/status/1729515379892826211 or https://nitter.net/i/status/1729515379892826211): We engineered Dobb·E to maximize efficiency, safety, and…

   2023 · dobb-e.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Blocks▲715

   AI-powered builder to create your emails

   2023 · useblocks.io · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Lazy IoT▲533

   Control your environment with one easy keyboard shortcut

   2019 · lazy-app.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   StartKit.AI▲520

   The first SaaS boilerplate for creating AI products

   2024 · startkit.ai · its alternatives →

7. 7OR
   OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere▲542

   Hi all, excited to share our latest work, OK-Robot, which is an open and modular framework to perform navigation and manipulation with a robot assistant in practically any homes without having to teach the robot anything new! You can simply unbox the target robot, install OK-Robot, give it a "scan" (think a 60 second iPhone video), and start asking the robot to move arbitrary things from A to B. We already tested it out in 10 home environments in New York city, and one environment each in Pittsburgh and Fremont. We based everything off of the current best machine learning models, and so…

   2024 · ok-robot.github.io · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Josh.ai▲133

   Control and automate your home from anywhere

   2016 · josh.ai · its alternatives →

9. 9
   crib.ninja▲68

   Intelligent apartment search with real-time collaboration

   2016 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    OS Ninja▲286

    Explore and learn open source using AI

    Jan 2026 · os.ninja · its alternatives →

11. 11
    ELFblocks▲2

    Modular DIY smart home automation blocks

    2015 · elfblocks.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Code Blocks by Sttabot AI▲131

    Build native applications in seconds

    2023 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Zuli Smartplug▲87

    Micro-location based home automation

    2014 · zuli.io · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Common Ninja AI▲33

    Smarter widget building powered by an AI-assisted chat.

    Nov 2025 · commoninja.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    SwitchBot▲93

    Make all your devices smart in seconds

    2016 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Zeroqode Blocks▲121

    🛠️Build a Bubble app superfast with 🏗️prebuilt components

    2019 · zeroqode.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Create Like Ninja▲95

    Create content for blog, articles and social powered by AI

    2024 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    SmartRent▲70

    Smart home automation for property managers and renters

    2020 · smartrent.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Python 3 home automation with Polymer/Material design front end▲61

    2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

20. 20T3
    ThingsTwin – 3D House Plan Based UI for Smart Home▲62

    2021 · thingstwin.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Zuli Smartplug▲134

    Your invisible interface to the smart home

    2015 · zuli.io · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Product Ninja▲97

    A smart hardware marketplace to shop and try products

    2016 · productninja.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Pushcut▲112

    Smart notifications that kick off your automation

    2019 · pushcut.io · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Itsyhome▲72

    Hey HN! Nick here – developer of Itsyhome, a menu bar app for macOS that gives you control over your whole HomeKit fleet (and very soon Home Assistant). I run 130+ HomeKit devices at home and the Home app was too heavy for quick adjustments. Full HomeKit support, favourites, hidden items, device groups, pinning of rooms/accessories/groups as separate menu bar items, iCloud sync – all in a native experience and tiny package. Open source (https://github.com/nickustinov/itsyhome-macos) and free to use (there is an optional one-time purchase for a Pro version which…

    Feb 2026 · itsyhome.app · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →