ioBroker 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.
ioBroker
Integration platform for the Internet of Things
VS
Z-Wave JS UI
Full-featured Z-Wave control panel and MQTT gateway
| Feature | ioBroker | Z-Wave JS UI |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 83 · Excellent |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Shell | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,377 | ★ 1,239 |
| First released | 2014 | 2018 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Hubitat | SmartThings |
What are ioBroker and Z-Wave JS UI?
ioBroker
ioBroker is an open-source IoT integration platform that connects and automates devices across many protocols and vendors. It uses adapters to bring smart home systems together under one logic engine.
- Hundreds of adapters
- JavaScript automation engine
- Multi-protocol device support
- Flexible visualization
Z-Wave JS UI
Z-Wave JS UI is a web interface and MQTT gateway built on the Z-Wave JS driver for managing Z-Wave networks. It exposes devices to home automation platforms and provides a control panel for configuration.
- Z-Wave network management
- MQTT gateway
- Web control panel
- Firmware update support
ioBroker vs Z-Wave JS UI: key differences
IoBroker is written in Shell, while Z-Wave JS UI is built with Vue. Z-Wave JS UI is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for ioBroker. IoBroker is the more established project (first released 2014), while Z-Wave JS UI arrived in 2018.
Why pick each one
Choose ioBroker if…
- Extremely flexible
- Huge adapter ecosystem
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Setup can be complex
Choose Z-Wave JS UI if…
- Excellent Z-Wave support
- Integrates with Home Assistant
Watch out for
- Requires a Z-Wave controller
- Z-Wave only
Frequently asked questions
Is ioBroker or Z-Wave JS UI better?
Neither is universally better. ioBroker has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are ioBroker and Z-Wave JS UI free and open-source?
Yes. ioBroker is licensed under MIT and Z-Wave JS UI under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ioBroker and Z-Wave JS UI with Docker?
ioBroker: yes. Z-Wave JS UI: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ioBroker or Z-Wave JS UI?
Z-Wave JS UI has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for ioBroker. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.