head to head · open source
homebridge vs IRremoteESP8266
homebridge has 25,497 GitHub stars, 2,011 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 23 days ago. IRremoteESP8266 has 3,601 stars, 933 forks, 105 open issues and last shipped 1 months ago. homebridge leads on adoption by 608% (25,497 vs 3,601 stars). homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; IRremoteESP8266 is written in C++ under LGPL-2.1. homebridge has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, IRremoteESP8266 26%. homebridge 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.
← all 20902 open source comparisons
Side by side
| homebridge | IRremoteESP8266 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 25K | ★ 3.6K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | LGPL-2.1 |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-08-30 | 2026-08-23 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 933 |
| 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 IRremoteESP8266 if
- You want the IRremoteESP8266 feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the LGPL-2.1 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and IRremoteESP8266 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 IRremoteESP8266
IRremoteESP8266 is an open source C++ library for the Arduino framework that lets ESP8266 and ESP32 boards send and receive infrared signals. It lives in the embedded home automation and HVAC control ecosystem and is based on Arduino IRremote. It uses common 940 nm infrared LEDs and common infrared receiver modules, including TSOP{17,22,24,36,38,44,48} demodulators.
read the full IRremoteESP8266 overview →
More in Miscellaneous
Related comparisons
More Internet of Things (IoT) projects
Compare either of these against the rest of the Internet of Things (IoT) field.
Frequently asked questions
Is homebridge or IRremoteESP8266 more popular?
homebridge has 25,497 GitHub stars and IRremoteESP8266 has 3,601. homebridge has the larger community by that measure.
Are homebridge and IRremoteESP8266 free?
Both are open source. homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and IRremoteESP8266 under LGPL-2.1. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between homebridge and IRremoteESP8266?
homebridge is written in TypeScript and IRremoteESP8266 in C++. 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 IRremoteESP8266?
Choose homebridge if you want the larger community (25,497 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose IRremoteESP8266 if its feature set, stack or LGPL-2.1 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.