head to head · open source
homebridge vs iOS
homebridge has 25,497 GitHub stars, 2,011 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 23 days ago. iOS has 2,358 stars, 521 forks, 293 open issues and last shipped yesterday. homebridge leads on adoption by 981% (25,497 vs 2,358 stars). homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; iOS is written in Swift under Apache-2.0. homebridge has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, iOS 22%. iOS was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
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 | iOS | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 25K | ★ 2.4K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Swift |
| Last push | 2026-08-30 | 2026-09-21 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 521 |
| 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 iOS if
- You want the iOS feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Swift
- You evaluated both and iOS 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 iOS
Home Assistant for Apple Platforms is companion app for Home Assistant on iOS and macOS. It lives in Home Assistant open source home automation ecosystem. Project is written in Swift, licensed Apache 2.0, and tagged with home assistant, home automation, ios, macos, open source app, swift. Repository lists 2350 stars, 519 forks, 293 open issues, and 10 years age. Category is Productivity & Utilities / Automation. Last push is 2026 09 15T06:10:16Z.
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Frequently asked questions
Is homebridge or iOS more popular?
homebridge has 25,497 GitHub stars and iOS has 2,358. homebridge has the larger community by that measure.
Are homebridge and iOS free?
Both are open source. homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and iOS under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between homebridge and iOS?
homebridge is written in TypeScript and iOS in Swift. 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 iOS?
Choose homebridge if you want the larger community (25,497 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose iOS if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.