head to head · open source
tagreader vs Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter
tagreader has 1,623 GitHub stars, 219 forks, 48 open issues and last shipped 6 months ago. Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter has 700 stars, 136 forks, 18 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. tagreader leads on adoption by 132% (1,623 vs 700 stars). tagreader is written in Shell under GPL-3.0; Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter is written in C++ under MIT. tagreader has attracted 13% as many forks as stars, Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter 19%. Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (esphome), 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
| tagreader | Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 1.6K | ★ 700 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Shell | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-04-27 | 2026-11-05 |
| Forks | ⑂ 219 | ⑂ 136 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick tagreader if
- You weight community size — 1.6K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Shell
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter if
- You want the Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter fits your workflow better
About tagreader
Tag Reader for Home Assistant The tag reader is a simple to build/use NFC tag reader, specially created for Home Assistant. It is using a D1 mini ESP 8266 and the PN532 NFC module. The firmware is built using ESPhome. I am selling a pre built version, a DIY version (assembly required), or just the case (use with own components). Check it out on my website. Building the tag reader To build your own tag reader, you need the following components: ESP8266 D1 Mini PN532 NFC Reader WS2812 Buzzer The 3D models for the case are here. WARNING regarding AZdelivery D1. We have had several users contacting us with different…
read the full tagreader overview →
About Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter
CircuitSetup Expandable 6 Channel ESP32 Energy Meter The CircuitSetup Expandable 6 Channel ESP32 Energy Meter is a real time power and energy monitor built around two ATM90E32AS metering ICs. The main board measures six current transformer channels and one voltage reference by default, and you can stack up to six add on boards for a total of 42 current channels. It is a good fit for whole home monitoring, subpanels, solar, large branch circuits, and multi voltage or 3 phase projects. The first AC AC adapter powers the main board and provides the primary voltage reference. A second voltage can be measured on the…
read the full Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is tagreader or Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter more popular?
tagreader has 1,623 GitHub stars and Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter has 700. tagreader has the larger community by that measure.
Are tagreader and Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter free?
Both are open source. tagreader is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between tagreader and Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter?
tagreader is written in Shell and Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter 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, tagreader or Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter?
Choose tagreader if you want the larger community (1,623 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Expandable-6-Channel-ESP32-Energy-Meter if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.