head to head · open source
python-miio vs homeThing
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars, 601 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. homeThing has 546 stars, 42 forks, 13 open issues and last shipped 24 days ago. python-miio leads on adoption by 688% (4,305 vs 546 stars). python-miio is written in Python under GPL-3.0; homeThing is written in C++ under GPL-3.0. python-miio has attracted 14% as many forks as stars, homeThing 8%. homeThing 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 | homeThing | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.3K | ★ 546 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Python | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-07-25 | 2026-08-27 |
| Forks | ⑂ 601 | ⑂ 42 |
| 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 homeThing if
- You want the homeThing feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and homeThing 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 homeThing
homeThing is a collection of open source hardware and software — a 3D printable ESP32 remote, an ESPHome menu system, and components for controlling Home Assistant devices — for makers and Home Assistant users who want a battery powered physical remote with a screen and scroll wheel instead of a touch screen.
read the full homeThing overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is python-miio or homeThing more popular?
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars and homeThing has 546. python-miio has the larger community by that measure.
Are python-miio and homeThing free?
Both are open source. python-miio is licensed under GPL-3.0 and homeThing under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between python-miio and homeThing?
python-miio is written in Python and homeThing 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 homeThing?
Choose python-miio if you want the larger community (4,305 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose homeThing if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.