head to head · open source
python-miio vs better_thermostat
python-miio has 4,335 GitHub stars, 602 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped 3 months ago. better_thermostat has 1,543 stars, 192 forks, 56 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. python-miio leads on adoption by 181% (4,335 vs 1,543 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 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 602 | ⑂ 192 |
| 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 This library (and its accompanying cli tool, miiocli ) can be used to control devices using Xiaomi's miIO and MIoT protocols. This is a voluntary, community driven effort and is not affiliated with any of the companies whose devices are supported by this library. Issue reports and pull requests are welcome, see contributing! The full documentation is available at python miio.readthedocs.io. Installation Getting started Controlling modern (MIoT) devices Controlling older (miIO) devices Troubleshooting API usage Contributing Simulators Supported devices Projects using this library Other related…
read the full python-miio overview →
About better_thermostat
Better Thermostat For more info visit: Requirements Minimum required Home Assistant version: 2026.7.2 ( continuously tested against Home Assistant ) Companion UI We've created a companion UI element which can display more information than the default thermostat element in Home Assistant. Check it out via HACS: better thermostat ui card If you have a question or need help please create a new discussion or check if your question is already answered If you have a suggestion, found a bug, or want to add a new device or function create a new issue If you want to contribute to this project create a new pull request…
read the full better_thermostat overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is python-miio or better_thermostat more popular?
python-miio has 4,335 GitHub stars and better_thermostat has 1,543. 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 (4,335 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.