Homebridge 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?
Homebridge
Bring non-HomeKit smart devices into Apple Home
VS
SmartHomeNG
Modular home automation framework with KNX focus
| Feature | Homebridge | SmartHomeNG |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 25,444 | ★ 127 |
| First released | 2014 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Apple HomeKit hubs | Loxone |
Why pick each one
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 Homebridge or SmartHomeNG better?
Homebridge is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider SmartHomeNG if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Homebridge and SmartHomeNG free and open-source?
Yes. Homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and SmartHomeNG under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Homebridge and SmartHomeNG with Docker?
Homebridge: yes. SmartHomeNG: yes.