head to head · open source
IRremoteESP8266 vs HAP-NodeJS
IRremoteESP8266 has 3,602 GitHub stars, 934 forks, 105 open issues and last shipped 1 months ago. HAP-NodeJS has 2,722 stars, 619 forks, 6 open issues and last shipped 1 months ago. IRremoteESP8266 leads on adoption by 32% (3,602 vs 2,722 stars). IRremoteESP8266 is written in C++ under LGPL-2.1; HAP-NodeJS is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. IRremoteESP8266 has attracted 26% as many forks as stars, HAP-NodeJS 23%. IRremoteESP8266 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
| IRremoteESP8266 | HAP-NodeJS | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 3.6K | ★ 2.7K |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | C++ | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-08-23 | 2026-08-22 |
| Forks | ⑂ 934 | ⑂ 619 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick IRremoteESP8266 if
- You weight community size — 3.6K stars and counting
- You want the LGPL-2.1 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick HAP-NodeJS if
- You want the HAP-NodeJS 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 HAP-NodeJS fits your workflow better
About IRremoteESP8266
IRremoteESP8266 is an open source C++ library for the Arduino framework that lets ESP8266 and ESP32 boards send and receive infrared signals. It lives in the embedded home automation and HVAC control ecosystem and is based on Arduino IRremote. It uses common 940 nm infrared LEDs and common infrared receiver modules, including TSOP{17,22,24,36,38,44,48} demodulators.
read the full IRremoteESP8266 overview →
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 →
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Frequently asked questions
Is IRremoteESP8266 or HAP-NodeJS more popular?
IRremoteESP8266 has 3,602 GitHub stars and HAP-NodeJS has 2,722. IRremoteESP8266 has the larger community by that measure.
Are IRremoteESP8266 and HAP-NodeJS free?
Both are open source. IRremoteESP8266 is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and HAP-NodeJS under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between IRremoteESP8266 and HAP-NodeJS?
IRremoteESP8266 is written in C++ and HAP-NodeJS 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, IRremoteESP8266 or HAP-NodeJS?
Choose IRremoteESP8266 if you want the larger community (3,602 stars) or its LGPL-2.1 licence terms. Choose HAP-NodeJS if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.