head to head · open source
OpenMQTTGateway vs better_thermostat
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,094 GitHub stars, 906 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped today. better_thermostat has 1,484 stars, 174 forks, 56 open issues and last shipped 8 days ago. OpenMQTTGateway leads on adoption by 176% (4,094 vs 1,484 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%. OpenMQTTGateway 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 | 2026-09-20 | 2026-09-12 |
| Forks | ⑂ 906 | ⑂ 174 |
| 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 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 →
About better_thermostat
Better Thermostat is a free, open source custom component for Home Assistant that adds smart climate control to thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), and it is aimed at home automation users who want accurate, automated room heating without writing their own automations.
read the full better_thermostat overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenMQTTGateway or better_thermostat more popular?
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,094 GitHub stars and better_thermostat has 1,484. 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 (4,094 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.