head to head · open source
n8n vs OpenMQTTGateway
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars, 61,361 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped yesterday. OpenMQTTGateway has 4,116 stars, 908 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped 15 days ago. n8n leads on adoption by 4,987% (209,375 vs 4,116 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 29% 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 | ★ 209K | ★ 4.1K |
| License | Custom / other | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-10-19 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 908 |
| 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 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 – 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 OpenMQTTGateway
OpenMQTTGateway aims to unify various technologies and protocols into a single firmware. This reduces the need for multiple physical bridges and streamlines diverse technologies under the widely used MQTT protocol. Sponsors Documentation The documentation is here New to OpenMQTTGateway? Follow the Getting Started guide to flash a board from your browser and see your first sensor data in about 15 minutes. The reference sheet, with the list of all functions, pinouts is here Upload Upload OpenMQTTGateway directly from the upload page (no additional software required) or build your own configuration with PlatformIO…
read the full OpenMQTTGateway overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or OpenMQTTGateway more popular?
n8n has 209,375 GitHub stars and OpenMQTTGateway has 4,116. 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 (209,375 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.