OpenSprinkler vs ThingsBoard
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?
OpenSprinkler
Open-source internet-connected irrigation controller
VS
ThingsBoard
Open-source IoT platform for device management and data
| Feature | OpenSprinkler | ThingsBoard |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 553 | ★ 22,200 |
| First released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Rachio | AWS IoT, Azure IoT |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenSprinkler or ThingsBoard better?
Neither is universally better. ThingsBoard has the larger community, while OpenSprinkler is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are OpenSprinkler and ThingsBoard free and open-source?
Yes. OpenSprinkler is licensed under GPL-3.0 and ThingsBoard under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenSprinkler and ThingsBoard with Docker?
OpenSprinkler: check the project docs for container support. ThingsBoard: yes.