Purpose <p>This study aimed&#xa0;to determine the effect of eight weeks of Otago and Fit-and-Fall Proof (FFP) home-based exercises on balance, quality of life (QoL), and fear of falling (FOF) in older adults.</p> Methods <p>In this study, 39 older adults participated and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Otago, FFP, or control. The Four-Stage Balance Test, Timed Up and Go Test, Falls Efficacy Scale-International Questionnaire and the Older People's QoL Questionnaire were used to evaluate static balance (SB), dynamic balance (DB), FOF and QoL respectively.</p> <p>Individuals in the intervention groups performed the exercises for eight weeks, three times per week, for 60 min per session. Participants in the control group were instructed to maintain their normal routines during this period. The data were analyzed by conducting a mixed-design repeated measure (ANOVA) and Kruskal–Wallis test at a <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05 significance level using SPSS software (v. 26).</p> Results <p>The results showed&#xa0;significant improvements in SB and FOF in both exercise groups relative to the control (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The FFP demonstrated significant improvements in DB (<i>p</i> = 0.024) and QoL (<i>p</i> = 0.04) compared to the control group.</p> Conclusion <p>In older adults, eight weeks of FFP and Otago home-based exercises significantly improved SB, DB, QoL, and FOF. Nevertheless, FFP exercises were more effective at improving DB and QoL. In situations where the objective is to improve the DB and QoL of older adults, FFP can be recommended as the superior choice.</p> Trial registration <p>This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and it was approved by the local Ethics Committee of Bu Ali Sina University (code IR.BASU.REC.1400.022) and listed in the Registry of Clinical Trials with code no. IRCT20200204046368N6 at 14 August 2021. Before experimental procedures began, all the participants reviewed and voluntarily signed an informed written consent form.</p>