head to head · open source
n8n vs pyatv
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars, 60,753 forks, 1,143 open issues and last shipped today. pyatv has 1,175 stars, 145 forks, 258 open issues and last shipped 1 months ago. n8n leads on adoption by 17,354% (205,086 vs 1,175 stars). n8n is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; pyatv is written in Python under MIT. n8n has attracted 30% as many forks as stars, pyatv 12%. 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 | pyatv | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 205K | ★ 1.2K |
| License | Custom / other | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | Python |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-08-14 |
| Forks | ⑂ 61K | ⑂ 145 |
| 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 pyatv if
- You want the pyatv feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and pyatv 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 pyatv
A client library for Apple TV and AirPlay devices ================================================= This is an asyncio python library for interacting with Apple TV and AirPlay devices. It mainly targets Apple TVs (all generations, including tvOS 15 and later ), but also supports audio streaming via AirPlay to receivers like the HomePod, AirPort Express and third party speakers. It can act as remote control to the Music app/iTunes in macOS. All the documentation you need is available at pyatv.dev . What can it do? Some examples include: Remote control commands Metadata retrieval with push updates Stream files via …
read the full pyatv overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is n8n or pyatv more popular?
n8n has 205,086 GitHub stars and pyatv has 1,175. n8n has the larger community by that measure.
Are n8n and pyatv free?
Both are open source. n8n has no licence declared in this registry, and pyatv is licensed under MIT. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between n8n and pyatv?
n8n is written in TypeScript and pyatv in Python. 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 pyatv?
Choose n8n if you want the larger community (205,086 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose pyatv if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.