head to head · open source
espectre vs homeThing
espectre has 9,395 GitHub stars, 710 forks, 13 open issues and last shipped yesterday. homeThing has 546 stars, 42 forks, 13 open issues and last shipped 29 days ago. espectre leads on adoption by 1,621% (9,395 vs 546 stars). espectre is written in Python under GPL-3.0; homeThing is written in C++ under GPL-3.0. espectre has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, homeThing 8%. espectre was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (home-assistant), 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
| espectre | homeThing | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 9.4K | ★ 546 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Python | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-24 | 2026-08-27 |
| Forks | ⑂ 710 | ⑂ 42 |
| 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 homeThing if
- You want the homeThing feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and homeThing 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 homeThing
homeThing is a collection of open source hardware and software — a 3D printable ESP32 remote, an ESPHome menu system, and components for controlling Home Assistant devices — for makers and Home Assistant users who want a battery powered physical remote with a screen and scroll wheel instead of a touch screen.
read the full homeThing overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is espectre or homeThing more popular?
espectre has 9,395 GitHub stars and homeThing has 546. espectre has the larger community by that measure.
Are espectre and homeThing free?
Both are open source. espectre is licensed under GPL-3.0 and homeThing under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between espectre and homeThing?
espectre is written in Python and homeThing 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 homeThing?
Choose espectre if you want the larger community (9,395 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose homeThing if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.