head to head · open source
python-miio vs pyatv
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars, 601 forks, 313 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. pyatv has 1,175 stars, 146 forks, 258 open issues and last shipped 1 months ago. python-miio leads on adoption by 266% (4,305 vs 1,175 stars). python-miio is written in Python under GPL-3.0; pyatv is written in Python under MIT. python-miio has attracted 14% as many forks as stars, pyatv 12%. pyatv 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 | pyatv | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 4.3K | ★ 1.2K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Python | Python |
| Last push | 2026-07-25 | 2026-08-14 |
| Forks | ⑂ 601 | ⑂ 146 |
| 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 pyatv if
- You want the pyatv feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and pyatv 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 pyatv
pyatv is an asyncio Python client library, distributed on PyPI under the MIT licence, that lets developers and home automation builders control Apple TV, HomePod, AirPort Express, and other AirPlay and RAOP receivers from their own code and scripts.
read the full pyatv overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is python-miio or pyatv more popular?
python-miio has 4,305 GitHub stars and pyatv has 1,175. python-miio has the larger community by that measure.
Are python-miio and pyatv free?
Both are open source. python-miio is licensed under GPL-3.0 and pyatv under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between python-miio and pyatv?
python-miio is written in Python and pyatv in Python. 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 pyatv?
Choose python-miio if you want the larger community (4,305 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose pyatv if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.