# ten-vad vs xiaozhi-esp32-server
_Voice Agents · independent comparison_

> ten-vad and xiaozhi-esp32-server are both open-source voice agents you can self-host for free. xiaozhi-esp32-server has wider GitHub adoption — 10k stars vs 2.2k. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**ten-vad**
- Open source · SDK / library · 2.2k★ · C · active 6 months ago
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/ten-vad) · [official](https://huggingface.co/TEN-framework/ten-vad)

**xiaozhi-esp32-server**
- Open source · Infrastructure · 10k★ · JavaScript · MIT · active 5 days ago
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/xiaozhi-esp32-server) · [official](http://xiaozhi.biz)

## Key differences

- xiaozhi-esp32-server has wider GitHub adoption — 10k stars vs 2.2k.
- ten-vad is written primarily in C; xiaozhi-esp32-server in JavaScript.

## Which to choose

**Choose ten-vad if:** your team works primarily in C.

**Choose xiaozhi-esp32-server if:** you want the more widely-adopted project (10k GitHub stars).

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between ten-vad and xiaozhi-esp32-server?**
xiaozhi-esp32-server has wider GitHub adoption — 10k stars vs 2.2k.

**Is ten-vad or xiaozhi-esp32-server better?**
Neither is universally better. ten-vad is the stronger fit for teams working primarily in C; xiaozhi-esp32-server for the more widely-adopted project (10k stars). Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is ten-vad or xiaozhi-esp32-server free?**
ten-vad is free to run and self-host; xiaozhi-esp32-server is free to run and self-host. Both are free to self-host — you only pay for the infrastructure and any model or API usage.

**Which is more popular, ten-vad or xiaozhi-esp32-server?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — xiaozhi-esp32-server is ahead (10k vs 2.2k). Stars measure attention, not necessarily the better fit for you.

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Source: [Agent Search Engine](https://agentsearchengine.app) — https://agentsearchengine.app/compare/ten-vad-vs-xiaozhi-esp32-server