head to head · open source
python-miio vs EMS-ESP32
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars, 601 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. EMS-ESP32 has 1,010 stars, 152 forks, 15 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. python-miio leads on adoption by 326% (4,305 vs 1,010 stars). python-miio is written in Python under GPL-3.0; EMS-ESP32 is written in C++ under LGPL-3.0. python-miio has attracted 14% as many forks as stars, EMS-ESP32 15%. EMS-ESP32 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 | EMS-ESP32 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.3K | ★ 1.0K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | LGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Python | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-07-25 | 2026-09-18 |
| Forks | ⑂ 601 | ⑂ 152 |
| 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 EMS-ESP32 if
- You want the EMS-ESP32 feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the LGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and EMS-ESP32 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 EMS-ESP32
EMS ESP32 is an open source C++ firmware for the Espressif ESP32 microcontroller that reads and controls EMS and Heatronic compatible equipment such as boilers, thermostats, solar modules and heat pumps, built for technically confident home automation users who own Bosch, Buderus, Nefit, Junkers, Worcester, Sieger, elm.leblanc or iVT heating hardware.
read the full EMS-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is python-miio or EMS-ESP32 more popular?
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars and EMS-ESP32 has 1,010. python-miio has the larger community by that measure.
Are python-miio and EMS-ESP32 free?
Both are open source. python-miio is licensed under GPL-3.0 and EMS-ESP32 under LGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between python-miio and EMS-ESP32?
python-miio is written in Python and EMS-ESP32 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, python-miio or EMS-ESP32?
Choose python-miio if you want the larger community (4,305 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose EMS-ESP32 if its feature set, stack or LGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.