head to head · open source
frigate vs homebridge
frigate has 36,022 GitHub stars, 3,614 forks, 95 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. homebridge has 25,497 stars, 2,011 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 23 days ago. frigate leads on adoption by 41% (36,022 vs 25,497 stars). frigate is written in TypeScript under MIT; homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. frigate has attracted 10% as many forks as stars, homebridge 8%. frigate 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
| frigate | homebridge | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 36K | ★ 25K |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-20 | 2026-08-30 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.6K | ⑂ 2.0K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick frigate if
- You weight community size — 36K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick homebridge if
- You want the homebridge feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and homebridge fits your workflow better
About frigate
Frigate NVR is a complete and local network video recorder built for Home Assistant, with AI object detection. It uses OpenCV and Tensorflow to run realtime object detection locally on IP cameras, so video analysis happens on your own hardware instead of a vendor cloud. Project lives in the Home Assistant home automation ecosystem, with tight integration through a custom component, and it talks over MQTT so other systems can consume its events. Written mainly in TypeScript, MIT licensed, 8 years old, 35,896 stars and 3,596 forks on GitHub.
read the full frigate overview →
About homebridge
Homebridge is a lightweight, free and open source Node.js server that emulates the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP) on a home network, so that smart home devices without native HomeKit support can be controlled through Apple's Home app and Siri.
read the full homebridge overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is frigate or homebridge more popular?
frigate has 36,022 GitHub stars and homebridge has 25,497. frigate has the larger community by that measure.
Are frigate and homebridge free?
Both are open source. frigate is licensed under MIT and homebridge under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between frigate and homebridge?
frigate is written in TypeScript and homebridge in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, frigate or homebridge?
Choose frigate if you want the larger community (36,022 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose homebridge if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.