head to head · open source
HAP-NodeJS vs HomeSpan
HAP-NodeJS has 2,720 GitHub stars, 620 forks, 6 open issues and last shipped 5 days ago. HomeSpan has 2,206 stars, 205 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. HAP-NodeJS leads on adoption by 23% (2,720 vs 2,206 stars). HAP-NodeJS is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; HomeSpan is written in C++ under MIT. HAP-NodeJS has attracted 23% as many forks as stars, HomeSpan 9%. HAP-NodeJS was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (homekit, homekit-server), 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
| HAP-NodeJS | HomeSpan | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 2.7K | ★ 2.2K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-11-01 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 620 | ⑂ 205 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick HAP-NodeJS if
- You weight community size — 2.7K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- 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 HAP-NodeJS
HAP NodeJS HAP NodeJS is an implementation of the HomeKit Accessory Server as specified in the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP), which is defined by Apple as part of the HomeKit Framework. HAP NodeJS is intended to be used as a library to easily create your own HomeKit Accessory on a Raspberry Pi, Intel Edison, or any other platform that can run Node.js :) If you are searching for a pluggable HomeKit bridge with over a thousand community driven plugins to bring HomeKit support to devices which do not support HomeKit out of the box, you may want to look at the [homebridge][project homebridge] project (which also…
read the full HAP-NodeJS overview →
About HomeSpan
Welcome! Welcome to HomeSpan a robust and extremely easy to use Arduino library for creating your own ESP32 based HomeKit devices entirely within the Arduino IDE. HomeSpan provides a microcontroller focused implementation of Apple's HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification Release R2 (HAP R2) designed specifically for the Espressif ESP32 microcontroller running within the Arduino IDE. HomeSpan pairs directly to HomeKit via your home WiFi network without the need for any external bridges or components. With HomeSpan you can use the full power of the ESP32's I/O functionality to create custom control software…
read the full HomeSpan overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is HAP-NodeJS or HomeSpan more popular?
HAP-NodeJS has 2,720 GitHub stars and HomeSpan has 2,206. HAP-NodeJS has the larger community by that measure.
Are HAP-NodeJS and HomeSpan free?
Both are open source. HAP-NodeJS is licensed under Apache-2.0 and HomeSpan under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between HAP-NodeJS and HomeSpan?
HAP-NodeJS is written in TypeScript 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, HAP-NodeJS or HomeSpan?
Choose HAP-NodeJS if you want the larger community (2,720 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose HomeSpan if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.