head to head · open source
android vs ring
android has 3,919 GitHub stars, 1,070 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. ring has 1,523 stars, 213 forks, 37 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. android leads on adoption by 157% (3,919 vs 1,523 stars). android is written in Kotlin under Apache-2.0; ring is written in TypeScript under MIT. android has attracted 27% as many forks as stars, ring 14%. ring was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
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
| android | ring | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 3.9K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Kotlin | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-23 | 2026-09-23 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.1K | ⑂ 213 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick android if
- You weight community size — 3.9K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Kotlin
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick ring if
- You want the ring feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and ring fits your workflow better
About android
The Home Assistant Companion for Android is the official Android application for Home Assistant, an open source home automation platform. It is written in Kotlin, released under the Apache 2.0 license, and distributed as an open source app for Android devices. The project sits inside the Home Assistant ecosystem and connects a mobile client to a user's Home Assistant instance.
read the full android overview →
About ring
Ring is an unofficial, MIT licensed TypeScript project that packages interaction and automation for the majority of Ring doorbells, cameras, alarm systems and smart lighting, aimed at developers building their own Ring integrations and at homebridge users who want those devices inside Apple HomeKit.
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Frequently asked questions
Is android or ring more popular?
android has 3,919 GitHub stars and ring has 1,523. android has the larger community by that measure.
Are android and ring free?
Both are open source. android is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ring under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between android and ring?
android is written in Kotlin and ring in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, android or ring?
Choose android if you want the larger community (3,919 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose ring if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.