Pimatic 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 | Pimatic | Zwave-JS Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 11 · At risk | 74 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | CoffeeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 598 | ★ 164 |
| First released | 2013 | 2021 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are Pimatic and Zwave-JS Server?
Pimatic
Pimatic is an open-source home automation framework built on Node.js that runs on low-power devices such as the Raspberry Pi. Plugins add device support, and a rule engine plus a mobile-friendly web UI handle control and automation.
- Plugin-based device support
- Rule engine
- Mobile-friendly web UI
- Runs on Raspberry Pi
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
Pimatic vs Zwave-JS Server: key differences
Pimatic is written in CoffeeScript, while Zwave-JS Server is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Pimatic versus Apache-2.0 for Zwave-JS Server. Zwave-JS Server is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Pimatic. Pimatic is the more established project (first released 2013), while Zwave-JS Server arrived in 2021. Pimatic has the considerably larger community, at 598 GitHub stars versus 164. Zwave-JS Server lists first-class Docker deployment; Pimatic does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Pimatic if…
- Lightweight
- Simple rule system
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- Smaller community
Choose Zwave-JS Server if…
- Decouples driver from clients
- Reliable
Watch out for
- Headless, no UI
- Z-Wave only
Frequently asked questions
Is Pimatic or Zwave-JS Server better?
Neither is universally better. Pimatic has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Pimatic and Zwave-JS Server free and open-source?
Yes. Pimatic 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 Pimatic and Zwave-JS Server with Docker?
Pimatic: check the project docs for container support. Zwave-JS Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Pimatic or Zwave-JS Server?
Zwave-JS Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Pimatic. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.