head to head · open source
n8n vs OpenMQTTGateway
n8n has 204,887 GitHub stars, 60,739 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. OpenMQTTGateway has 4,095 stars, 905 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. n8n leads on adoption by 4,903% (204,887 vs 4,095 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ under GPL-3.0. n8n has attracted 30% as many forks as stars, OpenMQTTGateway 22%. 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 | OpenMQTTGateway | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 205K | ★ 4.1K |
| License | Custom / other | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-14 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 905 |
| 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 OpenMQTTGateway if
- You want the OpenMQTTGateway feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and OpenMQTTGateway 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 OpenMQTTGateway
OpenMQTTGateway is an open source C++ gateway firmware for ESP8266 and ESP32 boards that connects local radio and sensor protocols to MQTT. It lives in the home automation ecosystem and is associated with Home Assistant, OpenHAB, NodeRed, and AWS IOT. The project aims to unify various technologies and protocols into a single firmware, reducing the need for multiple physical bridges.
read the full OpenMQTTGateway overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or OpenMQTTGateway more popular?
n8n has 204,887 GitHub stars and OpenMQTTGateway has 4,095. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and OpenMQTTGateway free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and OpenMQTTGateway is licensed under GPL-3.0. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and OpenMQTTGateway?
n8n is written in TypeScript and OpenMQTTGateway 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 OpenMQTTGateway?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (204,887 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose OpenMQTTGateway if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.