Home Assistant vs Z-Wave JS UI
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?
Home Assistant
Open-source home automation that puts privacy first
VS
Z-Wave JS UI
Full-featured Z-Wave control panel and MQTT gateway
| Feature | Home Assistant | Z-Wave JS UI |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, one-click | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 89,795 | ★ 1,234 |
| First released | 2013 | 2018 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Google Home | SmartThings |
Why pick each one
Choose Home Assistant if…
- Huge device support
- Local control and privacy
- Very active community
Frequently asked questions
Is Home Assistant or Z-Wave JS UI better?
Neither is universally better. Home Assistant has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Home Assistant and Z-Wave JS UI free and open-source?
Yes. Home Assistant is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Z-Wave JS UI under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Home Assistant and Z-Wave JS UI with Docker?
Home Assistant: yes. Z-Wave JS UI: yes.
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