head to head · open source
homebridge vs docker-homebridge
homebridge has 25,499 GitHub stars, 2,011 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 24 days ago. docker-homebridge has 2,692 stars, 251 forks, 3 open issues and last shipped yesterday. homebridge leads on adoption by 847% (25,499 vs 2,692 stars). homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; docker-homebridge is written in Shell under GPL-3.0. homebridge has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, docker-homebridge 9%. docker-homebridge was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (homebridge), 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
| homebridge | docker-homebridge | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 25K | ★ 2.7K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Shell |
| Last push | 2026-08-30 | 2026-09-22 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 251 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick homebridge if
- You weight community size — 25K 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 docker-homebridge if
- You want the docker-homebridge feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Shell
- You evaluated both and docker-homebridge fits your workflow better
About homebridge
Homebridge is a lightweight, free and open source Node.js server that emulates the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP) on a home network, so that smart home devices without native HomeKit support can be controlled through Apple's Home app and Siri.
read the full homebridge overview →
About docker-homebridge
docker homebridge is the official Docker image for Homebridge, packaging the HomeKit bridge that emulates the iOS HomeKit API on a local network as a multi architecture container for x86 64, ARM32v7 and ARM64v8 hosts.
read the full docker-homebridge overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is homebridge or docker-homebridge more popular?
homebridge has 25,499 GitHub stars and docker-homebridge has 2,692. homebridge has the larger community by that measure.
Are homebridge and docker-homebridge free?
Both are open source. homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and docker-homebridge under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between homebridge and docker-homebridge?
homebridge is written in TypeScript and docker-homebridge in Shell. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, homebridge or docker-homebridge?
Choose homebridge if you want the larger community (25,499 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose docker-homebridge if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.