head to head · open source
homebridge vs operating-system
homebridge has 25,544 GitHub stars, 2,010 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 8 days ago. operating-system has 7,634 stars, 1,335 forks, 95 open issues and last shipped 3 days ago. homebridge leads on adoption by 235% (25,544 vs 7,634 stars). homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; operating-system is written in Python under Apache-2.0. homebridge has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, operating-system 17%. operating-system was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
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
| homebridge | operating-system | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 26K | ★ 7.6K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Python |
| Last push | 2026-11-01 | 2026-11-06 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 1.3K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick homebridge if
- You weight community size — 26K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick operating-system if
- You want the operating-system feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and operating-system fits your workflow better
About homebridge
Homebridge Homebridge is a lightweight Node.js server you can run on your home network to emulate the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP). It supports plugins, which are community contributed modules that provide a basic bridge from HomeKit to various 3rd party APIs provided by manufacturers of "smart home" devices. From v2, plugins can also expose accessories over Matter for use with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings and other Matter capable controllers. Homebridge is a free, non commercial, community driven open source project. It is not affiliated with Apple, Google, Amazon, or the Connectivity…
read the full homebridge overview →
About operating-system
Home Assistant Operating System Home Assistant Operating System (formerly HassOS) is a Linux based operating system optimized to host Home Assistant and its Apps. Home Assistant Operating System uses Docker as its container engine. By default it deploys the Home Assistant Supervisor as a container. Home Assistant Supervisor in turn uses the Docker container engine to control Home Assistant Core and Apps in separate containers. Home Assistant Operating System is not based on a regular Linux distribution like Ubuntu. It is built using Buildroot and it is optimized to run Home Assistant. It targets single board…
read the full operating-system overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is homebridge or operating-system more popular?
homebridge has 25,544 GitHub stars and operating-system has 7,634. homebridge has the larger community by that measure.
Are homebridge and operating-system free?
Both are open source. homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and operating-system under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between homebridge and operating-system?
homebridge is written in TypeScript and operating-system in Python. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, homebridge or operating-system?
Choose homebridge if you want the larger community (25,544 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose operating-system if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.