There are three major cloud components. Alexa and Google integrations both have open options that are documented by NC and you are welcome to use them. There’s a lot of setup as you need to deal with a semi-complex config on AWS or GCP which can be challenging if you’re new to those environments, but they work as well as the paid NC option.
The remote access proxy service doesn’t really have an open equivalent but there are tons of other supported solutions out there for secure remote access to your Home Assistant install. Here is one example add-on to provide Wireguard support, developed and supported by an NC employee: https://github.com/hassio-addons/addon-wireguard
In short, the paid cloud services provide an easier path to solutions you can deploy for yourself if you wish. You can still use equivalent services that you host yourself under your own AWS/GCP account. Those services cost NC money to host, so asking for money isn’t too far out there. Of course, that money is more than what the cloud parts cost, and what we all get in return is a team of skilled developers working full time on the project and releasing everything for free.
yeah, I don't even need the NC integration, I use a reverse proxy with SSL, but I pay the $5 a month just because they are doing such a frigging amazing job with a giant project and I want to pay something for it so they can keep doing it full time!
The remote access proxy service doesn’t really have an open equivalent but there are tons of other supported solutions out there for secure remote access to your Home Assistant install. Here is one example add-on to provide Wireguard support, developed and supported by an NC employee: https://github.com/hassio-addons/addon-wireguard
In short, the paid cloud services provide an easier path to solutions you can deploy for yourself if you wish. You can still use equivalent services that you host yourself under your own AWS/GCP account. Those services cost NC money to host, so asking for money isn’t too far out there. Of course, that money is more than what the cloud parts cost, and what we all get in return is a team of skilled developers working full time on the project and releasing everything for free.