Jeedom 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.
Jeedom
Flexible open-source home automation platform
VS
Zwave-JS Server
Small server wrapping the Z-Wave JS driver over WebSocket
| Feature | Jeedom | Zwave-JS Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 78 · Good | 74 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 415 | ★ 164 |
| First released | 2013 | 2021 |
| Replaces | SmartThings, Hubitat | SmartThings |
What are Jeedom and Zwave-JS Server?
Jeedom
Jeedom is an open-source home automation platform that runs locally and supports many protocols through plugins. It offers scenario design, mobile apps, and dashboards for controlling smart devices.
- Plugin-based protocol support
- Scenario designer
- Mobile apps and dashboards
- Runs fully locally
Zwave-JS Server
Z-Wave JS Server is a small server that exposes the Z-Wave JS driver over a WebSocket API. It allows multiple clients, such as Home Assistant, to control a Z-Wave network simultaneously.
- WebSocket Z-Wave API
- Multi-client support
- Built on Z-Wave JS
- Lightweight server
Jeedom vs Zwave-JS Server: key differences
Jeedom is written in PHP, while Zwave-JS Server is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Jeedom versus Apache-2.0 for Zwave-JS Server. Zwave-JS Server is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Jeedom. Jeedom is the more established project (first released 2013), while Zwave-JS Server arrived in 2021. Jeedom has the considerably larger community, at 415 GitHub stars versus 164.
Why pick each one
Choose Jeedom if…
- Flexible and extensible
- Strong in the French community
Watch out for
- Some plugins are paid
- Interface has a learning curve
Choose Zwave-JS Server if…
- Decouples driver from clients
- Reliable
Watch out for
- Headless, no UI
- Z-Wave only
Frequently asked questions
Is Jeedom or Zwave-JS Server better?
Neither is universally better. Jeedom has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Jeedom and Zwave-JS Server free and open-source?
Yes. Jeedom 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 Jeedom and Zwave-JS Server with Docker?
Jeedom: yes. Zwave-JS Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Jeedom or Zwave-JS Server?
Zwave-JS Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Jeedom. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.