Call them home automation standards, languages, or protocols…Z-Wave and Zigbee, like Wifi, and Bluetooth are communications standards. I have smart home gear using all four.
If you are going to have Z-Wave or Zigbee compatible devices, remember first, you still need, very reliable Wifi. Without the Wifi element, your Z-Wave or Zigbee hubs/bridges, have no way to talk to your phones, tablets, computers, and watches.
Z-Wave and Zigbee are mesh systems – which is generally a wonderful thing. What that means is each device hooked up is a relay for all commands. That’s very different from Wifi, where every device has to be in range of a central “hub” – your Wifi Router.
In other words, the more Z-Wave devices in your home, the more reliable your Z-Wave. Ditto for Zigbee.
Z-Wave is perhaps the stronger standard between the two “Z’s”. I believe it originated long ago for the home environment. It likely originated with security products – smart locks, alarms, and also outlets, and is still especially strong there. But today, there are Z-Wave devices in almost all aspects of home automation. Z-Wave, if I understand this correctly, is a “controlled” standard (licensed from the founding company.), rather than an open standard such as Zigbee (or Wifi…), ruled by independent standards committees. There are positives and negatives to each approach, in this regard. Z-Wave is known for tight standards, while Zigbee reminds me a bit of the Android operating system, which is open (even if Google controlled), in that a phone manufacturer can modify the Android code to meet their needs and features, but that also means a higher likelihood that some devices will have features or capabilities that others can’t support, preventing proper operation.
Zigbee has the advantage of being open, which means members of the Zigbee alliance (hundreds of companies), can add to the standard (through standards committees I assume). Open standards are more flexible, tend to evolve faster. This advantage is, I suspect partially offset by a higher likelihood of some devices not working with others, because some will have enhancements the other decided not to support. Hey, nothing’s perfect, right?
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No matter, the bigger differences is in how they work, and even more importantly, what you can do with each. So let’s start with Z-Wave, primarily because I have far more Z-Wave devices in use in our dream home, and can therefore pontificate better.
Art's been reviewing high tech products and editing their reviews for 15 years. He launched his first website presenting solutions.com (sold in 2003) in early 1995 when there were only a few thousand .coms. He launched ProjectorReviews.com in 2000, and started planning Smarterhomeautomation.com back in 2011.
Art's goal is to provide in-depth reviews on the latest and hottest products that fit into the Smart Home, aka Home Automation, as well as insightful articles to educate people into what's available, what makes the most sense, and where the market is going, so people can better plan, and implement their goals for energy efficient, convenient, and downright "cool" capabilities.
Ancient history: Born in Allentown PA, Graduated 1972. Sold and managed stereo stores (and did a little surfing) in the early, mid-70's before getting into computers and more AV. Managed the first computers store in Pa, starting in 1979 (not the first manager). Moved to selling computers to major accounts. Then moved west to SF area, for a four year stint with Epson starting in 1982, then left for one of the early large venture backed start-ups in the Silicon Valley - Presentation Technologies. Left there to start up Presenting Solutions, which became the first projector focused reseller on the internet (Jan 1995). Married Lori in 1990, and have been enjoying our daughter Lisa, since 1992! Presently living, and working in San Clemente, CA.
