SHSelfHostIndex

Zigbee2MQTT Frontend vs Zigbee2MQTT

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted home automation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
ZI Zigbee2MQTT Frontend Open Zigbee coordinator firmware for many adapters VS ZI Zigbee2MQTT Bridge Zigbee devices to MQTT without vendor hubs
FeatureZigbee2MQTT FrontendZigbee2MQTT
CategoryHome AutomationHome Automation
LicenseMITGPL-3.0
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScript
Setup difficultyHardMedium
Min. RAM128 MB256 MB
Deploymentsource, dockerdocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 561★ 15,477
First released20182018
ReplacesPhilips Hue BridgeSmartThings

Why pick each one

Choose Zigbee2MQTT Frontend if…

  • Foundation of an open Zigbee stack
  • Broad hardware support
Zigbee2MQTT Frontend details

Choose Zigbee2MQTT if…

  • Frees devices from vendor hubs
  • Wide device support
  • Local control
Zigbee2MQTT details

Frequently asked questions

Is Zigbee2MQTT Frontend or Zigbee2MQTT better?

Zigbee2MQTT is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Zigbee2MQTT Frontend if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Zigbee2MQTT Frontend and Zigbee2MQTT free and open-source?

Yes. Zigbee2MQTT Frontend is licensed under MIT and Zigbee2MQTT under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Zigbee2MQTT Frontend and Zigbee2MQTT with Docker?

Zigbee2MQTT Frontend: yes. Zigbee2MQTT: yes.

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