head to head · open source
python-miio vs HomeSpan
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars, 601 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. HomeSpan has 2,166 stars, 199 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 5 days ago. python-miio leads on adoption by 99% (4,305 vs 2,166 stars). python-miio is written in Python under GPL-3.0; HomeSpan is written in C++ under MIT. python-miio has attracted 14% as many forks as stars, HomeSpan 9%. HomeSpan was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (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 | HomeSpan | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.3K | ★ 2.2K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Python | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-07-25 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 601 | ⑂ 199 |
| 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 HomeSpan if
- You want the HomeSpan feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and HomeSpan 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 HomeSpan
HomeSpan is an MIT licensed C++ Arduino library for the Arduino ESP32 ecosystem. It lets developers build HomeKit devices on Espressif ESP32 microcontrollers without external bridges or components. The project implements Apple's HomeKit Accessory Protocol Specification Release R2, called HAP R2, and pairs directly to HomeKit through a home WiFi network.
read the full HomeSpan overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is python-miio or HomeSpan more popular?
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars and HomeSpan has 2,166. python-miio has the larger community by that measure.
Are python-miio and HomeSpan free?
Both are open source. python-miio is licensed under GPL-3.0 and HomeSpan under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between python-miio and HomeSpan?
python-miio is written in Python and HomeSpan 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 HomeSpan?
Choose python-miio if you want the larger community (4,305 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose HomeSpan if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.