EMQX vs SmartHomeNG
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
| Feature | EMQX | SmartHomeNG |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Erlang | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 16,599 | ★ 127 |
| First released | 2026 | 2013 |
| Replaces | — | Loxone |
Why pick each one
Choose EMQX if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 16.6k GitHub stars
- Written in Erlang
Choose SmartHomeNG if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is EMQX or SmartHomeNG better?
EMQX is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider SmartHomeNG if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are EMQX and SmartHomeNG free and open-source?
Yes. EMQX is licensed under Apache-2.0 and SmartHomeNG under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run EMQX and SmartHomeNG with Docker?
EMQX: yes. SmartHomeNG: yes.