head to head · open source
HAP-NodeJS vs ring
HAP-NodeJS has 2,722 GitHub stars, 619 forks, 6 open issues and last shipped 1 months ago. ring has 1,523 stars, 213 forks, 37 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. HAP-NodeJS leads on adoption by 79% (2,722 vs 1,523 stars). HAP-NodeJS is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; ring is written in TypeScript under MIT. HAP-NodeJS has attracted 23% as many forks as stars, ring 14%. ring was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (homekit), 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 | ring | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 2.7K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-08-22 | 2026-09-23 |
| Forks | ⑂ 619 | ⑂ 213 |
| 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 ring if
- You want the ring feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and ring 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 ring
Ring is an unofficial, MIT licensed TypeScript project that packages interaction and automation for the majority of Ring doorbells, cameras, alarm systems and smart lighting, aimed at developers building their own Ring integrations and at homebridge users who want those devices inside Apple HomeKit.
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Frequently asked questions
Is HAP-NodeJS or ring more popular?
HAP-NodeJS has 2,722 GitHub stars and ring has 1,523. HAP-NodeJS has the larger community by that measure.
Are HAP-NodeJS and ring free?
Both are open source. HAP-NodeJS is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ring under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between HAP-NodeJS and ring?
HAP-NodeJS is written in TypeScript and ring 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, HAP-NodeJS or ring?
Choose HAP-NodeJS if you want the larger community (2,722 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose ring if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.