head to head · open source
OpenMQTTGateway vs HomeSpan
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,117 GitHub stars, 910 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped 17 days ago. HomeSpan has 2,205 stars, 205 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. OpenMQTTGateway leads on adoption by 87% (4,117 vs 2,205 stars). OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ under GPL-3.0; HomeSpan is written in C++ under MIT. OpenMQTTGateway has attracted 22% as many forks as stars, HomeSpan 9%. OpenMQTTGateway was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (esp32, 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 | HomeSpan | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.1K | ★ 2.2K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Written in | C++ | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-10-19 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 910 | ⑂ 205 |
| 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 HomeSpan if
- You want the HomeSpan feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and HomeSpan 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 HomeSpan
Welcome! Welcome to HomeSpan a robust and extremely easy to use Arduino library for creating your own ESP32 based HomeKit devices entirely within the Arduino IDE. HomeSpan provides a microcontroller focused implementation of Apple's HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification Release R2 (HAP R2) designed specifically for the Espressif ESP32 microcontroller running within the Arduino IDE. HomeSpan pairs directly to HomeKit via your home WiFi network without the need for any external bridges or components. With HomeSpan you can use the full power of the ESP32's I/O functionality to create custom control software…
read the full HomeSpan overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenMQTTGateway or HomeSpan more popular?
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,117 GitHub stars and HomeSpan has 2,205. OpenMQTTGateway has the larger community by that measure.
Are OpenMQTTGateway and HomeSpan free?
Both are open source. OpenMQTTGateway is licensed under GPL-3.0 and HomeSpan under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between OpenMQTTGateway and HomeSpan?
OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ and HomeSpan 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 HomeSpan?
Choose OpenMQTTGateway if you want the larger community (4,117 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose HomeSpan if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.