head to head · open source
OpenMQTTGateway vs HomeKey-ESP32
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,094 GitHub stars, 906 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped today. HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,079 stars, 94 forks, 47 open issues and last shipped yesterday. OpenMQTTGateway leads on adoption by 279% (4,094 vs 1,079 stars). OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ under GPL-3.0; HomeKey-ESP32 is written in C++ under MIT. OpenMQTTGateway has attracted 22% as many forks as stars, HomeKey-ESP32 9%. OpenMQTTGateway was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 3 topic tags (arduino, 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 | HomeKey-ESP32 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.1K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Written in | C++ | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-20 | 2026-09-19 |
| Forks | ⑂ 906 | ⑂ 94 |
| 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 HomeKey-ESP32 if
- You want the HomeKey-ESP32 feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and HomeKey-ESP32 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 HomeKey-ESP32
HomeKey ESP32 is a reverse engineered, MIT licensed C++ firmware project that adds Apple Home Key — Apple's secure NFC based unlocking — to an ordinary ESP32 development board, so a door can be opened with a tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch instead of a certified commercial smart lock.
read the full HomeKey-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenMQTTGateway or HomeKey-ESP32 more popular?
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,094 GitHub stars and HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,079. OpenMQTTGateway has the larger community by that measure.
Are OpenMQTTGateway and HomeKey-ESP32 free?
Both are open source. OpenMQTTGateway is licensed under GPL-3.0 and HomeKey-ESP32 under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between OpenMQTTGateway and HomeKey-ESP32?
OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ and HomeKey-ESP32 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, OpenMQTTGateway or HomeKey-ESP32?
Choose OpenMQTTGateway if you want the larger community (4,094 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose HomeKey-ESP32 if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.