head to head · open source
espectre vs HomeSpan
espectre has 9,388 GitHub stars, 708 forks, 13 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. HomeSpan has 2,166 stars, 199 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 10 days ago. espectre leads on adoption by 333% (9,388 vs 2,166 stars). espectre is written in Python under GPL-3.0; HomeSpan is written in C++ under MIT. espectre has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, HomeSpan 9%. espectre was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
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
| espectre | HomeSpan | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 9.4K | ★ 2.2K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Python | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-23 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 708 | ⑂ 199 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick espectre if
- You weight community size — 9.4K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick HomeSpan if
- You want the HomeSpan feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and HomeSpan fits your workflow better
About espectre
ESPectre is an open source Wi Fi CSI motion sensing platform that turns a supported ESP32 board into a private, local motion sensor reporting movement in real time, and it is built for embedded developers, Home Assistant users, and DIY builders who want room level sensing without cameras, microphones, wearables, or dedicated radar hardware.
read the full espectre overview →
About HomeSpan
HomeSpan is an MIT licensed C++ Arduino library for the Arduino ESP32 ecosystem. It lets developers build HomeKit devices on Espressif ESP32 microcontrollers without external bridges or components. The project implements Apple's HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification Release R2, called HAP R2, and pairs directly to HomeKit through a home WiFi network.
read the full HomeSpan overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is espectre or HomeSpan more popular?
espectre has 9,388 GitHub stars and HomeSpan has 2,166. espectre has the larger community by that measure.
Are espectre and HomeSpan free?
Both are open source. espectre is licensed under GPL-3.0 and HomeSpan under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between espectre and HomeSpan?
espectre is written in Python and HomeSpan 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, espectre or HomeSpan?
Choose espectre if you want the larger community (9,388 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose HomeSpan if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.