head to head · open source
OpenMQTTGateway vs HomeKey-ESP32
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,117 GitHub stars, 910 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped 17 days ago. HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,116 stars, 101 forks, 47 open issues and last shipped 19 days ago. OpenMQTTGateway leads on adoption by 269% (4,117 vs 1,116 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 | 2026-10-19 | 2026-10-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 910 | ⑂ 101 |
| 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 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 HomeKey-ESP32
HomeKey ESP32 Apple HomeKey functionality for the rest of us Documentation What is HomeKey ESP32? The project aims to be the easy DIY solution for using Apple's HomeKey feature without the need to purchase a compatible smart lock that you probably don't want. HomeKey ESP32 brings Apple's secure NFC based unlocking to an ESP32 module near you, enabling you to unlock doors and whatnot with a simple tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch. No proprietary hardware required – just an ESP32 and one of the supported NFC modules [!WARNING] The flash memory is not encrypted as this kinda started as a pet project of mine but a…
read the full HomeKey-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenMQTTGateway or HomeKey-ESP32 more popular?
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,117 GitHub stars and HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,116. 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 (4,117 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.