head to head · open source
OpenMQTTGateway vs better_thermostat
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,117 GitHub stars, 910 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped 17 days ago. better_thermostat has 1,543 stars, 192 forks, 56 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. OpenMQTTGateway leads on adoption by 167% (4,117 vs 1,543 stars). OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ under GPL-3.0; better_thermostat is written in Python under AGPL-3.0. OpenMQTTGateway has attracted 22% as many forks as stars, better_thermostat 12%. better_thermostat was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (home-assistant, home-automation), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
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
| OpenMQTTGateway | better_thermostat | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.1K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | C++ | Python |
| Last push | 2026-10-19 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 910 | ⑂ 192 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick OpenMQTTGateway if
- You weight community size — 4.1K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick better_thermostat if
- You want the better_thermostat feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and better_thermostat fits your workflow better
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 →
About better_thermostat
Better Thermostat For more info visit: Requirements Minimum required Home Assistant version: 2026.7.2 ( continuously tested against Home Assistant ) Companion UI We've created a companion UI element which can display more information than the default thermostat element in Home Assistant. Check it out via HACS: better thermostat ui card If you have a question or need help please create a new discussion or check if your question is already answered If you have a suggestion, found a bug, or want to add a new device or function create a new issue If you want to contribute to this project create a new pull request…
read the full better_thermostat overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenMQTTGateway or better_thermostat more popular?
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,117 GitHub stars and better_thermostat has 1,543. OpenMQTTGateway has the larger community by that measure.
Are OpenMQTTGateway and better_thermostat free?
Both are open source. OpenMQTTGateway is licensed under GPL-3.0 and better_thermostat under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between OpenMQTTGateway and better_thermostat?
OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ and better_thermostat 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, OpenMQTTGateway or better_thermostat?
Choose OpenMQTTGateway if you want the larger community (4,117 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose better_thermostat if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.