head to head · open source
espectre vs OpenMQTTGateway
espectre has 9,388 GitHub stars, 709 forks, 13 open issues and last shipped yesterday. OpenMQTTGateway has 4,095 stars, 906 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped yesterday. espectre leads on adoption by 129% (9,388 vs 4,095 stars). espectre is written in Python under GPL-3.0; OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ under GPL-3.0. espectre has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, OpenMQTTGateway 22%. espectre was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (home-assistant), 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
| espectre | OpenMQTTGateway | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 9.4K | ★ 4.1K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Python | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-21 | 2026-09-21 |
| Forks | ⑂ 709 | ⑂ 906 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick espectre if
- You weight community size — 9.4K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- 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 espectre
ESPectre is an open source Wi Fi CSI motion sensing platform that turns a supported ESP32 board into a private, local motion sensor reporting movement in real time, and it is built for embedded developers, Home Assistant users, and DIY builders who want room level sensing without cameras, microphones, wearables, or dedicated radar hardware.
read the full espectre overview →
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 espectre or OpenMQTTGateway more popular?
espectre has 9,388 GitHub stars and OpenMQTTGateway has 4,095. espectre has the larger community by that measure.
Are espectre and OpenMQTTGateway free?
Both are open source. espectre is licensed under GPL-3.0 and OpenMQTTGateway under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between espectre and OpenMQTTGateway?
espectre is written in Python 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, espectre or OpenMQTTGateway?
Choose espectre if you want the larger community (9,388 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose OpenMQTTGateway if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.