head to head · open source
HAP-NodeJS vs HomeSpan
HAP-NodeJS has 2,722 GitHub stars, 619 forks, 6 open issues and last shipped 1 months ago. HomeSpan has 2,166 stars, 199 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 7 days ago. HAP-NodeJS leads on adoption by 26% (2,722 vs 2,166 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%. HomeSpan 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 | 2026-08-22 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 619 | ⑂ 199 |
| 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 is a TypeScript implementation of the server side of Apple's HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP), published under the Apache 2.0 licence as a library for developers who want to build their own HomeKit accessories on Raspberry Pi, Intel Edison, or any other platform that can run Node.js.
read the full HAP-NodeJS 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 HAP-NodeJS or HomeSpan more popular?
HAP-NodeJS has 2,722 GitHub stars and HomeSpan has 2,166. 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 (2,722 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose HomeSpan if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.