head to head · open source
OpenMQTTGateway vs homeThing
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,117 GitHub stars, 910 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped 17 days ago. homeThing has 549 stars, 42 forks, 13 open issues and last shipped 11 days ago. OpenMQTTGateway leads on adoption by 650% (4,117 vs 549 stars). OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ under GPL-3.0; homeThing is written in C++ under GPL-3.0. OpenMQTTGateway has attracted 22% as many forks as stars, homeThing 8%. homeThing was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 3 topic tags (esp32, 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 | homeThing | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.1K | ★ 549 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | C++ | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-10-19 | 2026-10-25 |
| Forks | ⑂ 910 | ⑂ 42 |
| 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 homeThing if
- You want the homeThing 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 homeThing 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 homeThing
homeThing Remote ⚙️ (esphome remote) homeThing is a collection of software and hardware for creating universal remotes that control smart home devices. There are 3 components that belong to homeThing: the case and circuit board, the menu system code, and the code to control smart home devices Hardware specific for smart home remotes that's open source, customizable, and 3D printable. Menu system for ESP32 devices focused on controlling smart home devices similar to an iPod's menu. ESPHome Components for controlling Home Assistant devices. Check out the next generation homeThing C6 Learn More Get Started Learn…
read the full homeThing overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenMQTTGateway or homeThing more popular?
OpenMQTTGateway has 4,117 GitHub stars and homeThing has 549. OpenMQTTGateway has the larger community by that measure.
Are OpenMQTTGateway and homeThing free?
Both are open source. OpenMQTTGateway is licensed under GPL-3.0 and homeThing under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between OpenMQTTGateway and homeThing?
OpenMQTTGateway is written in C++ and homeThing 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 homeThing?
Choose OpenMQTTGateway if you want the larger community (4,117 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose homeThing if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.