head to head · open source
n8n vs HomeSpan
n8n has 204,887 GitHub stars, 60,739 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. HomeSpan has 2,165 stars, 199 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 3 days ago. n8n leads on adoption by 9,364% (204,887 vs 2,165 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; HomeSpan is written in C++ under MIT. n8n has attracted 30% as many forks as stars, HomeSpan 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 | HomeSpan | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 205K | ★ 2.2K |
| License | Custom / other | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 199 |
| 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 HomeSpan if
- You want the HomeSpan feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and HomeSpan 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 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 →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or HomeSpan more popular?
n8n has 204,887 GitHub stars and HomeSpan has 2,165. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and HomeSpan free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and HomeSpan is licensed under MIT. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and HomeSpan?
n8n is written in TypeScript and HomeSpan 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 HomeSpan?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (204,887 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose HomeSpan if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.