head to head · open source
python-miio vs HomeKey-ESP32
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars, 601 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,079 stars, 94 forks, 47 open issues and last shipped yesterday. python-miio leads on adoption by 299% (4,305 vs 1,079 stars). python-miio is written in Python under GPL-3.0; HomeKey-ESP32 is written in C++ under MIT. python-miio has attracted 14% as many forks as stars, HomeKey-ESP32 9%. HomeKey-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 | HomeKey-ESP32 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.3K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Python | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-07-25 | 2026-09-19 |
| Forks | ⑂ 601 | ⑂ 94 |
| 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 HomeKey-ESP32 if
- You want the HomeKey-ESP32 feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and HomeKey-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 HomeKey-ESP32
HomeKey ESP32 is a reverse engineered, MIT licensed C++ firmware project that adds Apple Home Key — Apple's secure NFC based unlocking — to an ordinary ESP32 development board, so a door can be opened with a tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch instead of a certified commercial smart lock.
read the full HomeKey-ESP32 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is python-miio or HomeKey-ESP32 more popular?
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars and HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,079. python-miio has the larger community by that measure.
Are python-miio and HomeKey-ESP32 free?
Both are open source. python-miio is licensed under GPL-3.0 and HomeKey-ESP32 under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between python-miio and HomeKey-ESP32?
python-miio is written in Python and HomeKey-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 HomeKey-ESP32?
Choose python-miio if you want the larger community (4,305 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose HomeKey-ESP32 if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.