Z-wave Vs Zigbee

Z-wave Vs Zigbee

Z-wave Vs Zigbee

To ensure that all smart devices can stay in sync with each other, there are wireless protocols for Hubs and the two biggest names are Zigbee and Z-Wave.

Wireless is at the heart of both of these standards, but there are important differences between the two that you should understand before starting your project.

What it is about is using two different ways to not use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for integration.

Below, we'll look at the great smart home devices that support both standards, as well as compare the benefits of both in action and help you decide which is best for your project.

Z-wave Vs Zigbee
Z-wave Vs Zigbee

Z-wave vs Zigbee: the differences

Before we dive into the devices, we'll look at how Zigbee and Z-Wave differ. Yes, they are both mesh networks, but they work quite differently. Here's what you need to know.

Zigbee can connect more devices

Zigbee can support many more devices at any given time: in fact, more than 65,000 devices or nodes on the mesh network.

Z-Wave, on the other hand, is limited to 232 devices, which, let's face it, is still more than enough for most homes, although that number will increase tenfold thanks to the launch of Z-Wave LR.

Zigbee is open

Zigbee is an open standard released by the Zigbee Alliance, while Z-Wave was released by Silicon Labs, which had stricter controls to make sure all Z-Wave devices work with all Z-Wave controllers.

However, in late 2019 there was big news that Z-Wave was set to open the standard in 2020.

Another New Option: What is Thread

That openness has continued into 2020. The Z-Wave Alliance completed its incorporation as a solely independent nonprofit organization in August 2020 with seven founding members under its new standards development organization (SDO) structure: Alarm.com, Assa Abloy, Leedarson, Ring, Silicon Labs, StratIS and Qolsys.

Zigbee has also seen some pretty big changes; Apple, Google and Amazon announced, together with the Zigbee Alliance, the creation of the Connected Home over IP project (CHIP Project); an initiative to simplify development for manufacturers and increase compatibility for consumers in the smart home world.

Zigbee allows more hops

Zigbee and Z-Wave are mesh networks, which means that signals can jump from one device to another and each device or sensor does not need to connect to Wi-Fi, but they usually have a Hub / Gateway so they can connect to the Internet. .

Z-Wave allows up to four 'hops' between controller and device, while Zigbee has no limit.

Zigbee and Z-Wave are equal in security

Both Zigbee and Z-Wave use the same AES-128 symmetric encryption and claim to be safe and secure from hacking.

Well, nothing is 100% certain, but it's worth knowing that these two big standards are taking the same solid approach.

Z-Wave is more unified

Zigbee operates on the 915MHz frequency in the US and the 2.4GHz frequency in the UK, which may seem familiar as it is also the most important frequency for Wi-Fi.

One caveat about Zigbee is that it is divided into several protocols. There's home automation, smart energy profile, SEP energy management, Light Link, digital health, home hospital care, and more. Unfortunately, Zigbee devices of different protocols cannot communicate well with each other.

Zigbee 3.0, however, unifies all of these protocols so they can work together. Lux, for example, offered the first thermostat to earn Zigbee 3.0 approval, allowing it to connect to any device that has a Zigbee badge.

This is how Z-Wave really works: it's a unified standard.

Z-Wave operates in the 918/960 MHz low frequency band, meaning interference is minimal for Z-Wave and possible on Zigbee. Still, Zigbee is faster with data speeds of 40-250 kbps, compared to Z-Wave's 9.6-100kbps.


Z-wave Vs Zigbee: the devices

Z-wave Vs Zigbee: Two big smart home standards explored
Z-wave Vs Zigbee

With Zigbee there are around 2.500 products from 400 brands in the Zigbee Alliance. Z-Wave has more than 4.000 compatible devices and more companies have signed up: 700 members.

When considering popular and premium brands and products for home automation, we'd say Zigbee has a bit of an edge, but which one is best for you? It depends on the smart home automation kit you already have and what you are looking to add.

Devices that work with Zigbee

Some well-known home automation brands and devices that support Zigbee (also known as Zigbee certified products) include:

  • Philips Hue
  • Samsung SmartThings
  • Amazon Echo
  • Hive Active Heating and accessories
  • Honeywell thermostats
  • Ikea tradfri
  • Entry no
  • Belkin WeMo Link
  • Yale smart locks
  • Sengled smart lights
  • ADT Security Hub
  • Somfy blinds and drapery motors
  • GE Appliances
  • LG SmartThinq
  • Luxury Konoz

Devices that work with Z-Wave

Many major brands also support the Z-Wave standard, and you can see all certified products on the official website. These are some of the most notable:

  • Samsung SmartThings
  • Honeywell thermostats
  • Hogar Milo (with Google Assistant for voice controls)
  • ADT Security Hub
  • August smart locks
  • Fibaro smart sensors
  • Yale smart locks
  • Logitech Home Harmony Hub Extender
  • Somfy
  • GE Appliances
  • LG SmartThinq
  • Kwikset smart locks

Z-wave Vs Zigbee: Which is better?

Z-wave Vs Zigbee: Which is better?
Z-wave Vs Zigbee

It is not yet clear whether Zigbee and Z-Wave will grow in tandem, or whether one will be superior to the other. Without a doubt, it is a more productive and calm battle than the one fought between Google and Amazon.

We're just starting to see smart speakers with Zigbee and Z-Wave built in, but we expect to see more. For now, systems like Wink and Samsung SmartThings support both standards. You don't actually have to choose Zigbee and Z-Wave, but if you are trying to make a simple and reliable installation, you may have to choose one.

If you plan to stick with the big manufacturers (you may already have some) and want a faster connection, Zigbee is worth considering.

For greater range, potentially more reliable connections, and a better chance of all compatible devices working with each other, choose Z-Wave.

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