head to head · open source
HomeSpan vs ring
HomeSpan has 2,166 GitHub stars, 199 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 10 days ago. ring has 1,523 stars, 213 forks, 37 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. HomeSpan leads on adoption by 42% (2,166 vs 1,523 stars). HomeSpan is written in C++ under MIT; ring is written in TypeScript under MIT. HomeSpan has attracted 9% as many forks as stars, ring 14%. ring was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (homekit), 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
| HomeSpan | ring | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 2.2K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Written in | C++ | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-15 | 2026-09-23 |
| Forks | ⑂ 199 | ⑂ 213 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick HomeSpan if
- You weight community size — 2.2K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick ring if
- You want the ring feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and ring fits your workflow better
About HomeSpan
HomeSpan is an MIT licensed C++ Arduino library for the Arduino ESP32 ecosystem. It lets developers build HomeKit devices on Espressif ESP32 microcontrollers without external bridges or components. The project implements Apple's HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification Release R2, called HAP R2, and pairs directly to HomeKit through a home WiFi network.
read the full HomeSpan overview →
About ring
Ring is an unofficial, MIT licensed TypeScript project that packages interaction and automation for the majority of Ring doorbells, cameras, alarm systems and smart lighting, aimed at developers building their own Ring integrations and at homebridge users who want those devices inside Apple HomeKit.
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Frequently asked questions
Is HomeSpan or ring more popular?
HomeSpan has 2,166 GitHub stars and ring has 1,523. HomeSpan has the larger community by that measure.
Are HomeSpan and ring free?
Both are open source. HomeSpan is licensed under MIT and ring under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between HomeSpan and ring?
HomeSpan is written in C++ and ring 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, HomeSpan or ring?
Choose HomeSpan if you want the larger community (2,166 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose ring if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.