head to head · open source
SmartIR vs ble_monitor
SmartIR has 2,855 GitHub stars, 1,251 forks, 199 open issues and last shipped yesterday. ble_monitor has 2,252 stars, 290 forks, 119 open issues and last shipped 14 days ago. SmartIR leads on adoption by 27% (2,855 vs 2,252 stars). SmartIR is written in Python under MIT; ble_monitor is written in Python under MIT. SmartIR has attracted 44% as many forks as stars, ble_monitor 13%. SmartIR was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (homeassistant), 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
| SmartIR | ble_monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 2.9K | ★ 2.3K |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Written in | Python | Python |
| Last push | 2026-11-05 | 2026-10-23 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.3K | ⑂ 290 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick SmartIR if
- You weight community size — 2.9K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick ble_monitor if
- You want the ble_monitor feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and ble_monitor fits your workflow better
About SmartIR
⚠️ Warning You are free to fork, modify, and use the code in this repository in accordance with the applicable open source license. However, the name "SmartIR" must not be used in any capacity , especially for promoting, rebranding, or distributing your own fork or derivative works. Please respect this guideline to preserve the original project's identity. Overview SmartIR is a custom integration for controlling climate devices , media players , fans and lights via infrared controllers. SmartIR currently supports the following controllers: Broadlink Xiaomi IR Remote (ChuangmiIr) LOOK.in Remote ESPHome User…
read the full SmartIR overview →
About ble_monitor
Passive BLE Monitor integration This custom component for Home Assistant passively monitors many different BLE devices of several different brands. BLE Monitor can also be used as device tracker for BLE devices with a static MAC address or with the UUID. More info Documentation Installation instructions Configuration Supported devices Forward data from ESPhome DIY sensors FAQ New sensor request Developer documentation Forum Report issues Supported sensor brands Acconeer Air Mentor Amazfit ATC (custom firmware for Xiaomi/Qingping sensors) Beckett BlueMaestro Blustream (Taylor TaylorSense, D'Addario Humiditrak)…
read the full ble_monitor overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is SmartIR or ble_monitor more popular?
SmartIR has 2,855 GitHub stars and ble_monitor has 2,252. SmartIR has the larger community by that measure.
Are SmartIR and ble_monitor free?
Both are open source. SmartIR is licensed under MIT and ble_monitor under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between SmartIR and ble_monitor?
SmartIR is written in Python and ble_monitor 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, SmartIR or ble_monitor?
Choose SmartIR if you want the larger community (2,855 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose ble_monitor if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.