head to head · open source
homebridge vs tagreader
homebridge has 25,499 GitHub stars, 2,011 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 23 days ago. tagreader has 1,607 stars, 212 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped 5 months ago. homebridge leads on adoption by 1,487% (25,499 vs 1,607 stars). homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; tagreader is written in Shell under GPL-3.0. homebridge has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, tagreader 13%. 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.
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Side by side
| homebridge | tagreader | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 25K | ★ 1.6K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Shell |
| Last push | 2026-08-30 | 2026-04-27 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 212 |
| 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 tagreader if
- You want the tagreader 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 tagreader 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 tagreader
tagreader is a GPL 3.0 NFC tag reader built from an ESP8266 D1 Mini and a PN532 module running ESPHome firmware, created specifically so that Home Assistant users can scan physical tags and manage them inside Home Assistant.
read the full tagreader overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is homebridge or tagreader more popular?
homebridge has 25,499 GitHub stars and tagreader has 1,607. homebridge has the larger community by that measure.
Are homebridge and tagreader free?
Both are open source. homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and tagreader under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between homebridge and tagreader?
homebridge is written in TypeScript and tagreader 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 tagreader?
Choose homebridge if you want the larger community (25,499 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose tagreader if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.