WLED vs Zwave-JS Server

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?
FeatureWLEDZwave-JS Server
CategoryHome AutomationHome Automation
LicenseMITApache-2.0
LanguageC++TypeScript
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM16 MB128 MB
Deploymentbinary, sourcedocker, binary
GitHub stars★ 18,518★ 162
First released20162021
ReplacesPhilips HueSmartThings

Why pick each one

Choose WLED if…

  • Easy to flash and use
  • Vibrant effects
WLED details

Choose Zwave-JS Server if…

  • Decouples driver from clients
  • Reliable
Zwave-JS Server details

Frequently asked questions

Is WLED or Zwave-JS Server better?

WLED is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Zwave-JS Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are WLED and Zwave-JS Server free and open-source?

Yes. WLED is licensed under MIT and Zwave-JS Server under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run WLED and Zwave-JS Server with Docker?

WLED: check the project docs for container support. Zwave-JS Server: yes.

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