head to head · open source
python-miio vs EMS-ESP32
python-miio has 4,335 GitHub stars, 602 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped 3 months ago. EMS-ESP32 has 1,053 stars, 159 forks, 15 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. python-miio leads on adoption by 312% (4,335 vs 1,053 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 | ★ 1.1K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | LGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Python | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-07-25 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 602 | ⑂ 159 |
| 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 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 EMS-ESP32
EMS ESP EMS ESP is an open source firmware for the Espressif ESP32 microcontroller to communicate with EMS (Energy Management System) compatible equipment from manufacturers such as Bosch, Buderus, Nefit, Junkers, Worcester, Sieger, elm.leblanc and iVT. It requires a small circuit to interface with the EMS bus which can be purchased from . These gateways are tested thoroughly and certified to work with EMS ESP. 📦 Key Features Compatible with EMS, EMS+, EMS2, EMS Plus, Logamatic EMS, Junkers 2 wire, Heatronic 3 and 4 Supporting over 120 different EMS compatible devices such as thermostats, boilers, heat pumps…
read the full EMS-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is python-miio or EMS-ESP32 more popular?
python-miio has 4,335 GitHub stars and EMS-ESP32 has 1,053. 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 (4,335 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.