head to head · open source
android vs HomeKey-ESP32
android has 4,021 GitHub stars, 1,132 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,116 stars, 101 forks, 47 open issues and last shipped 19 days ago. android leads on adoption by 260% (4,021 vs 1,116 stars). android is written in Kotlin under Apache-2.0; HomeKey-ESP32 is written in C++ under MIT. android has attracted 28% as many forks as stars, HomeKey-ESP32 9%. 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 | HomeKey-ESP32 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.0K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Kotlin | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-10-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.1K | ⑂ 101 |
| 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 HomeKey-ESP32 if
- You want the HomeKey-ESP32 feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and HomeKey-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 HomeKey-ESP32
HomeKey ESP32 Apple HomeKey functionality for the rest of us Documentation What is HomeKey ESP32? The project aims to be the easy DIY solution for using Apple's HomeKey feature without the need to purchase a compatible smart lock that you probably don't want. HomeKey ESP32 brings Apple's secure NFC based unlocking to an ESP32 module near you, enabling you to unlock doors and whatnot with a simple tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch. No proprietary hardware required – just an ESP32 and one of the supported NFC modules [!WARNING] The flash memory is not encrypted as this kinda started as a pet project of mine but a…
read the full HomeKey-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is android or HomeKey-ESP32 more popular?
android has 4,021 GitHub stars and HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,116. android has the larger community by that measure.
Are android and HomeKey-ESP32 free?
Both are open source. android is licensed under Apache-2.0 and HomeKey-ESP32 under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between android and HomeKey-ESP32?
android is written in Kotlin and HomeKey-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 HomeKey-ESP32?
Choose android if you want the larger community (4,021 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose HomeKey-ESP32 if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.