head to head · open source
n8n vs HomeSpan
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars, 61,361 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. HomeSpan has 2,203 stars, 205 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. n8n leads on adoption by 9,404% (209,375 vs 2,203 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; HomeSpan is written in C++ under MIT. n8n has attracted 29% 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.
← all 20902 open source comparisons
Side by side
| n8n | HomeSpan | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 209K | ★ 2.2K |
| License | Custom / other | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 205 |
| 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 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 – 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 HomeSpan
Welcome! Welcome to HomeSpan a robust and extremely easy to use Arduino library for creating your own ESP32 based HomeKit devices entirely within the Arduino IDE. HomeSpan provides a microcontroller focused implementation of Apple's HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification Release R2 (HAP R2) designed specifically for the Espressif ESP32 microcontroller running within the Arduino IDE. HomeSpan pairs directly to HomeKit via your home WiFi network without the need for any external bridges or components. With HomeSpan you can use the full power of the ESP32's I/O functionality to create custom control software…
read the full HomeSpan overview →
More in Productivity & Utilities
Related comparisons
More Automation projects
Compare either of these against the rest of the Automation field.
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or HomeSpan more popular?
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars and HomeSpan has 2,203. 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 (209,375 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose HomeSpan if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.