Mozilla WebThings Gateway vs Pimatic
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Mozilla WebThings Gateway | Pimatic |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 81 · Excellent | 11 · At risk |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | CoffeeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,646 | ★ 598 |
| First released | 2018 | 2013 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Google Home | SmartThings |
What are Mozilla WebThings Gateway and Pimatic?
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
Pimatic
Pimatic is an open-source home automation framework built on Node.js that runs on low-power devices such as the Raspberry Pi. Plugins add device support, and a rule engine plus a mobile-friendly web UI handle control and automation.
- Plugin-based device support
- Rule engine
- Mobile-friendly web UI
- Runs on Raspberry Pi
Mozilla WebThings Gateway vs Pimatic: key differences
Mozilla WebThings Gateway is written in TypeScript, while Pimatic is built with CoffeeScript. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Mozilla WebThings Gateway versus GPL-2.0 for Pimatic. Pimatic is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Mozilla WebThings Gateway. Pimatic is the more established project (first released 2013), while Mozilla WebThings Gateway arrived in 2018. Mozilla WebThings Gateway has the considerably larger community, at 2,646 GitHub stars versus 598. Mozilla WebThings Gateway lists first-class Docker deployment; Pimatic does not.
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 Pimatic if…
- Lightweight
- Simple rule system
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Mozilla WebThings Gateway or Pimatic 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 Mozilla WebThings Gateway and Pimatic free and open-source?
Yes. Mozilla WebThings Gateway is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Pimatic under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mozilla WebThings Gateway and Pimatic with Docker?
Mozilla WebThings Gateway: yes. Pimatic: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Mozilla WebThings Gateway or Pimatic?
Pimatic has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Mozilla WebThings Gateway. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.