Mozilla WebThings Gateway vs openHAB
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
openHAB
Vendor-neutral open-source home automation
| Feature | Mozilla WebThings Gateway | openHAB |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 81 · Excellent | 79 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | MPL-2.0 | EPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,646 | ★ 1,142 |
| First released | 2018 | 2010 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Google Home | SmartThings, Google Home |
What are Mozilla WebThings Gateway and openHAB?
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
openHAB
openHAB is a vendor-neutral, open-source home automation platform that integrates many devices and technologies behind one system. It targets smart home enthusiasts wanting deep configurability. It is deployed via Docker or native packages.
- Hundreds of device bindings
- Powerful rule engine
- Runs fully offline
- Cross-platform
Mozilla WebThings Gateway vs openHAB: key differences
Mozilla WebThings Gateway is written in TypeScript, while openHAB is built with Java. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Mozilla WebThings Gateway versus EPL-2.0 for openHAB. Mozilla WebThings Gateway is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for openHAB. OpenHAB is the more established project (first released 2010), while Mozilla WebThings Gateway arrived in 2018. Mozilla WebThings Gateway has the considerably larger community, at 2,646 GitHub stars versus 1,142.
Why pick each one
Choose Mozilla WebThings Gateway if…
- Open standards-based
- Privacy-focused
Watch out for
- Smaller community after Mozilla
- Fewer integrations than HA
Choose openHAB if…
- Very flexible
- Vendor neutral
- Mature project
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Heavier Java runtime
Frequently asked questions
Is Mozilla WebThings Gateway or openHAB better?
Mozilla WebThings Gateway is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider openHAB if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Mozilla WebThings Gateway and openHAB free and open-source?
Yes. Mozilla WebThings Gateway is licensed under MPL-2.0 and openHAB under EPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mozilla WebThings Gateway and openHAB with Docker?
Mozilla WebThings Gateway: yes. openHAB: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Mozilla WebThings Gateway or openHAB?
Mozilla WebThings Gateway has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for openHAB. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.