Z-Wave vs. Zigbee: understanding home automation protocols

Z-Wave and Zigbee are the two most common protocols for todays automated home. Both Z-Wave and Zigbee are available in the Hubitat Elevation home automation hub. But what is the difference between the device types? Which should you choose to automate your home? And what about wifi devices? This video answers all of these questions and more.

[fancyhandlegoeshere]

I always wondered if I was "cheating myself" by staying w/ Zigbee for the most part but this video reassured me that I'm not. Thanks for the info!

[raymondbailey]

What am I waiting for? Well I need to do more research on how to move all my Phillips Hue devices over to hubitat with out a lot of aggravation before I buy the hubitat hub. 😊

[michaelhess]

I feel the constant power monitoring comment was aimed squarely at me! 😁

[Netz]

Wi-Fi devices do not require cloud serves unless intentionally by the manufacturer. Nothing stops a device from using your local network. Technically, that depends on the devices you are buying. If you can VLAN your devices (which you should for all IoT smart devices in your home, including your Smart TV) to never connect to the Internet, Wi-Fi is the clear choice since it's already running everywhere, and it's immensely more powerful than any low data protocol. It's not mesh, but for most installations people already make sure Wi-Fi coverage is on the whole home/building, which means you don't even need mesh. And mesh on ZigBee and Z-Wave look great on paper, but they don't work as most people think they do. For bigger installations it does not work and latency and disconnections will be a problem, which means you now need repeaters anyway...

Now, if you want to go with a home automation protocol using mesh, ZigBee is the clear choice. Z-Wave is a disaster and it's a proprietary protocol, while ZigBee is not. That means Z-Wave devices require paying licenses by device manufacturers (more expensive) and since it's proprietary, it's a horrible investment for the future.

You don't know what they can change tomorrow just because or raise the license fees or just decide to go bust. Do not use a proprietary protocol in your home, this means no Z-Wave, no Amazon or Google-specific protocols, or just any proprietary locked format from a private company. ZigBee is open source, which makes it a clear choice. Basically, Z-Wave is privately owned. That is a big no. The same goes for security cameras, with devices you want interconnection with other software and devices, this means making sure they are ONVIF compliant. If you stick to open protocols and devices, you can basically mix any brand and use any hardware or software with anything.

[BobFrTube]

Wi-Fi devices assuredly do not require connecting to a cloud. Especially when you use Hubitat. With Shelly and Tasmota and other implementations, they communicate directly over IP. They can be simpler and more flexible the legacy Z protocols.

[stevenye]

How do you deal with persistency. In my current setup I have found zigbee devices (hue bulbs) occasionally miss the initial turn on leaving some lights off when they should be on. So how do you ensure that if the light is switched on it actually switches on or does that have to be done by the user?

[kingzach]

Sounds like Zigbee is the best and easiest to use.

[mdg]

Can you mix Zigbee and Zwave devices in your home with this hub?

[apjabdulkalam]

Wifi is best, you were taking about latecy in network if u wanted to controle zigbee & z wave, even then u need wifi, when it comes to local network wifi is a common device in every home and cuts the cost down and also literary works the best.

[arishem]

Do you mind hubitat to support your users, or u will treat me with silence? Ticket 23225