FHEM 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?
FHEM
Perl-based server for home automation tasks
VS
Zwave-JS Server
Small server wrapping the Z-Wave JS driver over WebSocket
| Feature | FHEM | Zwave-JS Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Perl | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 22 | ★ 162 |
| First released | 2005 | 2021 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is FHEM or Zwave-JS Server better?
Zwave-JS Server is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider FHEM if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are FHEM and Zwave-JS Server free and open-source?
Yes. FHEM is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Zwave-JS Server under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FHEM and Zwave-JS Server with Docker?
FHEM: yes. Zwave-JS Server: yes.