Find My Device 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?
Find My Device
Server for saving location data send by FMD
VS
Zigbee2MQTT
Bridge Zigbee devices to MQTT without vendor hubs
| Feature | Find My Device | Zigbee2MQTT |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 70 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | — | ★ 15,477 |
| First released | 2024 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Googles FindMyDevice | SmartThings |
Why pick each one
Choose Find My Device if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0-or-later license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Tiny footprint — runs in 70 MB RAM
Choose Zigbee2MQTT if…
- Frees devices from vendor hubs
- Wide device support
- Local control
Frequently asked questions
Is Find My Device or Zigbee2MQTT better?
Neither is universally better. Zigbee2MQTT has the larger community, while Find My Device is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Find My Device and Zigbee2MQTT free and open-source?
Yes. Find My Device is licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later and Zigbee2MQTT under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Find My Device and Zigbee2MQTT with Docker?
Find My Device: check the project docs for container support. Zigbee2MQTT: yes.