head to head · open source
n8n vs HomeKey-ESP32
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars, 60,753 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped today. HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,079 stars, 94 forks, 47 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. n8n leads on adoption by 18,907% (205,086 vs 1,079 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; HomeKey-ESP32 is written in C++ under MIT. n8n has attracted 30% 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 | ★ 205K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | Custom / other | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-16 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 94 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick n8n if
- You weight community size — 205K 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 is a visual workflow automation platform built in TypeScript that combines a drag and drop editor with custom code execution. It lives in the integration and automation ecosystem, positioned as an open alternative to proprietary services like Zapier. Users design multi step workflows—called “n8n flows”—that connect apps, services, and custom logic to automate repetitive tasks.
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 l…
read the full HomeKey-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or HomeKey-ESP32 more popular?
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars and HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,079. 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 (205,086 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose HomeKey-ESP32 if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.