head to head · open source
homebridge vs HAP-NodeJS
homebridge has 25,499 GitHub stars, 2,011 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 23 days ago. HAP-NodeJS has 2,722 stars, 619 forks, 6 open issues and last shipped 1 months ago. homebridge leads on adoption by 837% (25,499 vs 2,722 stars). homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; HAP-NodeJS is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. homebridge has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, HAP-NodeJS 23%. homebridge was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 4 topic tags (hap, homekit, homekit-accessory-protocol, siri), 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 | HAP-NodeJS | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 25K | ★ 2.7K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-08-30 | 2026-08-22 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 619 |
| 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 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 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 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 homebridge or HAP-NodeJS more popular?
homebridge has 25,499 GitHub stars and HAP-NodeJS has 2,722. homebridge has the larger community by that measure.
Are homebridge and HAP-NodeJS free?
Both are open source. homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and HAP-NodeJS under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between homebridge and HAP-NodeJS?
homebridge is written in TypeScript 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, homebridge or HAP-NodeJS?
Choose homebridge if you want the larger community (25,499 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose HAP-NodeJS if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.