head to head · open source
HAP-NodeJS vs ring
HAP-NodeJS has 2,720 GitHub stars, 620 forks, 6 open issues and last shipped 8 days ago. ring has 1,542 stars, 225 forks, 37 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. HAP-NodeJS leads on adoption by 76% (2,720 vs 1,542 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 15%. 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 | 2026-11-01 | 2026-11-07 |
| Forks | ⑂ 620 | ⑂ 225 |
| 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 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 ring
Ring This repo contains unofficial packages to enable interaction and automation with the majority of Ring products Troubleshooting Issues If you are having issues, please look for related articles in the wiki and search existing Issues before opening a new Issue/Discussion ring client api The ring client api is a TypeScript package designed to be used by developers to create your own apps/programs which interact with Rings api homebridge ring homebridge ring allows users to easily integrate Ring products into Apple HomeKit via homebridge Examples See the examples directory for examples using the ring client api…
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Frequently asked questions
Is HAP-NodeJS or ring more popular?
HAP-NodeJS has 2,720 GitHub stars and ring has 1,542. 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 (2,720 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose ring if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.