head to head · open source
homebridge vs docker-homebridge
homebridge has 25,542 GitHub stars, 2,012 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 7 days ago. docker-homebridge has 2,692 stars, 251 forks, 3 open issues and last shipped 5 days ago. homebridge leads on adoption by 849% (25,542 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 | ★ 26K | ★ 2.7K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Shell |
| Last push | 2026-11-01 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 251 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick homebridge if
- You weight community size — 26K 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 Homebridge is a lightweight Node.js server you can run on your home network to emulate the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP). It supports plugins, which are community contributed modules that provide a basic bridge from HomeKit to various 3rd party APIs provided by manufacturers of "smart home" devices. From v2, plugins can also expose accessories over Matter for use with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings and other Matter capable controllers. Homebridge is a free, non commercial, community driven open source project. It is not affiliated with Apple, Google, Amazon, or the Connectivity…
read the full homebridge overview →
About docker-homebridge
Homebridge Docker Official Docker image for Homebridge Emulate the iOS HomeKit API on your network 📢 Important Update We have migrated the official Homebridge Docker image from oznu/homebridge to homebridge/homebridge . Please update your configurations to use the new image location for the latest updates and features. 🚀 Quick Start Prerequisites Docker Engine with networking access Host network mode support ( required for HomeKit ) ⚠️ Compatibility Note : This image does not work with Docker Desktop for Mac or Windows due to networking limitations (details). 📦 Available Images This is a multi architecture…
read the full docker-homebridge overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is homebridge or docker-homebridge more popular?
homebridge has 25,542 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 (25,542 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.