HA remote access is not paid only, it works fine if you make it accessible from your local network. You can also do Google/Alexa integration on your own, there

HA remote access is not paid only, it works fine if you make it accessible from your local network. You can also do Google/Alexa integration on your own, there are instructions in the documentation. The paid service handles SSL and dynamic hostnames for you without having to expose stuff on your network. It also provides the cloud endpoint that Google and Alexa require. They in no way stop or impede you from doing any of that yourself, however.