head to head · open source
android vs HomeKey-ESP32
android has 3,903 GitHub stars, 1,067 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped yesterday. HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,079 stars, 94 forks, 47 open issues and last shipped yesterday. android leads on adoption by 262% (3,903 vs 1,079 stars). android is written in Kotlin under Apache-2.0; HomeKey-ESP32 is written in C++ under MIT. android has attracted 27% 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 | ★ 3.9K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Kotlin | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-19 | 2026-09-19 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.1K | ⑂ 94 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick android if
- You weight community size — 3.9K 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
The Home Assistant Companion for Android is the official Android application for Home Assistant, an open source home automation platform. It is written in Kotlin, released under the Apache 2.0 license, and distributed as an open source app for Android devices. The project sits inside the Home Assistant ecosystem and connects a mobile client to a user's Home Assistant instance.
read the full android overview →
About HomeKey-ESP32
HomeKey ESP32 is a reverse engineered, MIT licensed C++ firmware project that adds Apple Home Key — Apple's secure NFC based unlocking — to an ordinary ESP32 development board, so a door can be opened with a tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch instead of a certified commercial smart lock.
read the full HomeKey-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is android or HomeKey-ESP32 more popular?
android has 3,903 GitHub stars and HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,079. 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 (3,903 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.