ioBroker vs Mozilla WebThings Gateway
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
ioBroker
Integration platform for the Internet of Things
VS
Mozilla WebThings Gateway
Open gateway for the decentralized web of things
| Feature | ioBroker | Mozilla WebThings Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 81 · Excellent |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | MIT | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Shell | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,377 | ★ 2,646 |
| First released | 2014 | 2018 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Hubitat | SmartThings, Google Home |
What are ioBroker and Mozilla WebThings Gateway?
ioBroker
ioBroker is an open-source IoT integration platform that connects and automates devices across many protocols and vendors. It uses adapters to bring smart home systems together under one logic engine.
- Hundreds of adapters
- JavaScript automation engine
- Multi-protocol device support
- Flexible visualization
Mozilla WebThings Gateway
WebThings Gateway is an open-source gateway for monitoring and controlling smart home devices over the web using open standards. Originating at Mozilla, it now continues as a community project.
- Web of Things standards
- Add-on device support
- Rules engine
- Local web interface
ioBroker vs Mozilla WebThings Gateway: key differences
IoBroker is written in Shell, while Mozilla WebThings Gateway is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for ioBroker versus MPL-2.0 for Mozilla WebThings Gateway. Mozilla WebThings Gateway is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for ioBroker. IoBroker is the more established project (first released 2014), while Mozilla WebThings Gateway arrived in 2018.
Why pick each one
Choose ioBroker if…
- Extremely flexible
- Huge adapter ecosystem
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Setup can be complex
Choose Mozilla WebThings Gateway if…
- Open standards-based
- Privacy-focused
Watch out for
- Smaller community after Mozilla
- Fewer integrations than HA
Frequently asked questions
Is ioBroker or Mozilla WebThings Gateway better?
Neither is universally better. Mozilla WebThings Gateway has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are ioBroker and Mozilla WebThings Gateway free and open-source?
Yes. ioBroker is licensed under MIT and Mozilla WebThings Gateway under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ioBroker and Mozilla WebThings Gateway with Docker?
ioBroker: yes. Mozilla WebThings Gateway: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ioBroker or Mozilla WebThings Gateway?
Mozilla WebThings Gateway has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for ioBroker. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.