Protocol
Z-Wave
Z-Wave is a low-power mesh protocol popular in North America. It runs on sub-GHz frequencies that avoid Wi-Fi congestion and offers strong range, with strict device certification that makes interoperability reliable.
Brands on this protocol
Setup guides
Z-Wave operates on sub-GHz frequencies (908 MHz in the US, 868 MHz in Europe), well clear of the crowded 2.4 GHz band used by Wi-Fi and Zigbee. A Z-Wave controller (USB stick or dedicated hub) talks to your devices and bridges them to Home Assistant.
Strengths
- No 2.4 GHz interference. Z-Wave coexists peacefully with busy Wi-Fi networks.
- Strict certification. Every Z-Wave device passes interoperability testing, so cross-brand pairing tends to work without quirks.
- Strong range, especially with the newer 800-series Long Range chipset, which reaches farther on a single hop.
- Local control through the controller, no cloud required.
Trade-offs
- Slower than Zigbee for high-frequency reporting, though more than fast enough for sensors, locks, and lighting.
- Smaller ecosystem than Zigbee in raw device count.
- Region-locked frequencies, so devices bought abroad may not be legal or functional on local hubs.
Integration on Z-Wave
Home Assistant runs Z-Wave through the Z-Wave JS integration, which talks to a USB controller stick (such as a Zooz ZST10 or HUSBZB-1). Selora installations standardize on Z-Wave JS for all Z-Wave hardware.
