head to head · open source
android vs EMS-ESP32
android has 4,022 GitHub stars, 1,134 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped yesterday. EMS-ESP32 has 1,053 stars, 159 forks, 15 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. android leads on adoption by 282% (4,022 vs 1,053 stars). android is written in Kotlin under Apache-2.0; EMS-ESP32 is written in C++ under LGPL-3.0. android has attracted 28% as many forks as stars, EMS-ESP32 15%. android was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (home-assistant, home-automation), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| android | EMS-ESP32 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.0K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | LGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Kotlin | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-11-04 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.1K | ⑂ 159 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick android if
- You weight community size — 4.0K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Kotlin
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick EMS-ESP32 if
- You want the EMS-ESP32 feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the LGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and EMS-ESP32 fits your workflow better
About android
Home Assistant Companion for Android Welcome to the Home Assistant Companion for Android ! This is the official Android app for Home Assistant, a powerful open source home automation platform. Join us in building an app used by millions of users worldwide. Features Control Your Smart Home : Seamlessly interact with your Home Assistant instance. Native Android Experience : Leverage Android specific features like widgets, notifications, and location tracking. Customizable : Tailor the app to your needs with themes, dashboards, and more. Open Source : Contribute to a project that empowers users to take control of…
read the full android overview →
About EMS-ESP32
EMS ESP EMS ESP is an open source firmware for the Espressif ESP32 microcontroller to communicate with EMS (Energy Management System) compatible equipment from manufacturers such as Bosch, Buderus, Nefit, Junkers, Worcester, Sieger, elm.leblanc and iVT. It requires a small circuit to interface with the EMS bus which can be purchased from . These gateways are tested thoroughly and certified to work with EMS ESP. 📦 Key Features Compatible with EMS, EMS+, EMS2, EMS Plus, Logamatic EMS, Junkers 2 wire, Heatronic 3 and 4 Supporting over 120 different EMS compatible devices such as thermostats, boilers, heat pumps…
read the full EMS-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is android or EMS-ESP32 more popular?
android has 4,022 GitHub stars and EMS-ESP32 has 1,053. android has the larger community by that measure.
Are android and EMS-ESP32 free?
Both are open source. android is licensed under Apache-2.0 and EMS-ESP32 under LGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between android and EMS-ESP32?
android is written in Kotlin and EMS-ESP32 in C++. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, android or EMS-ESP32?
Choose android if you want the larger community (4,022 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose EMS-ESP32 if its feature set, stack or LGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.