head to head · open source
ring vs HomeKey-ESP32
ring has 1,523 GitHub stars, 213 forks, 37 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,081 stars, 93 forks, 47 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. ring leads on adoption by 41% (1,523 vs 1,081 stars). ring is written in TypeScript under MIT; HomeKey-ESP32 is written in C++ under MIT. ring 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 1 topic tag (homekit), 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
| ring | HomeKey-ESP32 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 1.5K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-23 | 2026-09-23 |
| Forks | ⑂ 213 | ⑂ 93 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick ring if
- You weight community size — 1.5K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- 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 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.
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 ring or HomeKey-ESP32 more popular?
ring has 1,523 GitHub stars and HomeKey-ESP32 has 1,081. ring has the larger community by that measure.
Are ring and HomeKey-ESP32 free?
Both are open source. ring is licensed under MIT and HomeKey-ESP32 under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between ring and HomeKey-ESP32?
ring is written in TypeScript 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, ring or HomeKey-ESP32?
Choose ring if you want the larger community (1,523 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose HomeKey-ESP32 if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.