head to head · open source
n8n vs HomeKey-ESP32
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars, 61,361 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,116 stars, 100 forks, 47 open issues and last shipped 17 days ago. n8n leads on adoption by 18,661% (209,375 vs 1,116 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; HomeKey-ESP32 is written in C++ under MIT. n8n has attracted 29% as many forks as stars, HomeKey-ESP32 9%. n8n 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
| n8n | HomeKey-ESP32 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 209K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | Custom / other | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-10-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 100 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick n8n if
- You weight community size — 209K stars and counting
- You want the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick HomeKey-ESP32 if
- You want the HomeKey-ESP32 feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and HomeKey-ESP32 fits your workflow better
About n8n
n8n – The Platform for AI Agents and Workflow Automation Fair code platform to build and deploy AI agents and workflows. Combine a visual canvas with custom code, run it self hosted or in the cloud, and connect to 1500+ integrations. AI automation you can trust with real work, from prototype to production. Key Capabilities AI Native Automation Platform : Build and operationalize AI workflows and multi step agents using your own data, models, and tools Model Flexibility, No Lock In : Connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or open source models and switch providers without changing your architecture From Prototype…
About HomeKey-ESP32
HomeKey ESP32 Apple HomeKey functionality for the rest of us Documentation What is HomeKey ESP32? The project aims to be the easy DIY solution for using Apple's HomeKey feature without the need to purchase a compatible smart lock that you probably don't want. HomeKey ESP32 brings Apple's secure NFC based unlocking to an ESP32 module near you, enabling you to unlock doors and whatnot with a simple tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch. No proprietary hardware required – just an ESP32 and one of the supported NFC modules [!WARNING] The flash memory is not encrypted as this kinda started as a pet project of mine but a…
read the full HomeKey-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or HomeKey-ESP32 more popular?
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars and HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,116. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and HomeKey-ESP32 free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and HomeKey-ESP32 is licensed under MIT. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and HomeKey-ESP32?
n8n is written in TypeScript and HomeKey-ESP32 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, n8n or HomeKey-ESP32?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (209,375 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose HomeKey-ESP32 if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.