OpenHAB Cloud 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.
| Feature | OpenHAB Cloud | Zwave-JS Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 75 · Good | 74 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | EPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 306 | ★ 164 |
| First released | 2014 | 2021 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are OpenHAB Cloud and Zwave-JS Server?
OpenHAB Cloud
openHAB Cloud is the self-hostable companion service that provides remote access, notifications, and integrations for openHAB installations. It bridges local openHAB instances to external services securely.
- Remote openHAB access
- Push notifications
- IFTTT and voice integrations
- Self-hostable backend
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
OpenHAB Cloud vs Zwave-JS Server: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — EPL-2.0 for OpenHAB Cloud versus Apache-2.0 for Zwave-JS Server. Zwave-JS Server is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenHAB Cloud. OpenHAB Cloud is the more established project (first released 2014), while Zwave-JS Server arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
Choose OpenHAB Cloud if…
- Keeps data under your control
- Enables remote control
Watch out for
- Requires MongoDB
- Setup is involved
Choose Zwave-JS Server if…
- Decouples driver from clients
- Reliable
Watch out for
- Headless, no UI
- Z-Wave only
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenHAB Cloud or Zwave-JS Server better?
Neither is universally better. OpenHAB Cloud has the larger community, while Zwave-JS Server is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are OpenHAB Cloud and Zwave-JS Server free and open-source?
Yes. OpenHAB Cloud is licensed under EPL-2.0 and Zwave-JS Server under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenHAB Cloud and Zwave-JS Server with Docker?
OpenHAB Cloud: yes. Zwave-JS Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, OpenHAB Cloud or Zwave-JS Server?
Zwave-JS Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for OpenHAB Cloud. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.