head to head · open source
homebridge vs steve
homebridge has 25,546 GitHub stars, 2,011 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. steve has 1,150 stars, 500 forks, 91 open issues and last shipped yesterday. homebridge leads on adoption by 2,121% (25,546 vs 1,150 stars). homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; steve is written in Java under GPL-3.0. homebridge has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, steve 43%. steve 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 | steve | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 26K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Java |
| Last push | 2026-11-08 | 2026-11-11 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 500 |
| 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 steve if
- You want the steve feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You evaluated both and steve 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 steve
SteVe started its life at the RWTH Aachen University in 2013. The name is derived from Steckdosenverwaltung in German (in English: socket administration). The aim of SteVe is to support the deployment and popularity of electric mobility, so it is easy to install and to use. It provides basic functions for the administration of charge points, user data, and RFID cards for user authentication and was tested successfully in operation. SteVe is considered as an open platform to implement, test and evaluate novel ideas for electric mobility, like authentication protocols, reservation mechanisms for charge points, and…
read the full steve overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is homebridge or steve more popular?
homebridge has 25,546 GitHub stars and steve has 1,150. homebridge has the larger community by that measure.
Are homebridge and steve free?
Both are open source. homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and steve under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between homebridge and steve?
homebridge is written in TypeScript and steve in Java. 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 steve?
Choose homebridge if you want the larger community (25,546 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose steve if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.