Homebridge vs Onloc
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?
Homebridge
Bring non-HomeKit smart devices into Apple Home
VS
Onloc
Track and share your location in real time
| Feature | Homebridge | Onloc |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 25,444 | ★ 10 |
| First released | 2014 | 2026 |
| Replaces | Apple HomeKit hubs | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Onloc if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Homebridge or Onloc better?
Homebridge is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Onloc if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Homebridge and Onloc free and open-source?
Yes. Homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Onloc under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Homebridge and Onloc with Docker?
Homebridge: yes. Onloc: yes.