Theengs Gateway vs Zigbee2MQTT
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?
Theengs Gateway
BLE-to-MQTT gateway for hundreds of sensors
VS
Zigbee2MQTT
Bridge Zigbee devices to MQTT without vendor hubs
| Feature | Theengs Gateway | Zigbee2MQTT |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 171 | ★ 15,477 |
| First released | 2022 | 2018 |
| Replaces | SmartThings Hub | SmartThings |
Why pick each one
Choose Theengs Gateway if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Choose Zigbee2MQTT if…
- Frees devices from vendor hubs
- Wide device support
- Local control
Frequently asked questions
Is Theengs Gateway or Zigbee2MQTT better?
Neither is universally better. Zigbee2MQTT has the larger community, while Theengs Gateway is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Theengs Gateway and Zigbee2MQTT free and open-source?
Yes. Theengs Gateway is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Zigbee2MQTT under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Theengs Gateway and Zigbee2MQTT with Docker?
Theengs Gateway: yes. Zigbee2MQTT: yes.