head to head · open source
python-miio vs better_thermostat
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars, 601 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. better_thermostat has 1,484 stars, 174 forks, 56 open issues and last shipped 8 days ago. python-miio leads on adoption by 190% (4,305 vs 1,484 stars). python-miio is written in Python under GPL-3.0; better_thermostat is written in Python under AGPL-3.0. python-miio has attracted 14% as many forks as stars, better_thermostat 12%. better_thermostat was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (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
| python-miio | better_thermostat | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.3K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Python | Python |
| Last push | 2026-07-25 | 2026-09-12 |
| Forks | ⑂ 601 | ⑂ 174 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick python-miio if
- You weight community size — 4.3K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick better_thermostat if
- You want the better_thermostat feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and better_thermostat fits your workflow better
About python-miio
python miio is a Python library and console tool for controlling Xiaomi smart appliances. It supports devices using Xiaomi's miIO and MIoT protocols, and it provides programmatic access through Python and command line access through miiocli. The project lives in the Python home automation ecosystem, and its topics connect it to Home Assistant and Xiaomi smart home control.
read the full python-miio overview →
About better_thermostat
Better Thermostat is a free, open source custom component for Home Assistant that adds smart climate control to thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), and it is aimed at home automation users who want accurate, automated room heating without writing their own automations.
read the full better_thermostat overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is python-miio or better_thermostat more popular?
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars and better_thermostat has 1,484. python-miio has the larger community by that measure.
Are python-miio and better_thermostat free?
Both are open source. python-miio is licensed under GPL-3.0 and better_thermostat under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between python-miio and better_thermostat?
python-miio is written in Python and better_thermostat 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, python-miio or better_thermostat?
Choose python-miio if you want the larger community (4,305 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose better_thermostat if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.