Zigbee2MQTT 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.
Zigbee2MQTT
Bridge Zigbee devices to MQTT without vendor hubs
VS
Zwave-JS Server
Small server wrapping the Z-Wave JS driver over WebSocket
| Feature | Zigbee2MQTT | Zwave-JS Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 95 · Excellent | 74 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 15,661 | ★ 164 |
| First released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are Zigbee2MQTT and Zwave-JS Server?
Zigbee2MQTT
Zigbee2MQTT bridges Zigbee devices to MQTT, allowing them to be used without proprietary vendor hubs or bridges. It targets smart home users wanting vendor-neutral Zigbee control. It is deployed via Docker.
- Supports thousands of Zigbee devices
- No vendor hub required
- MQTT integration
- Web-based control panel
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
Zigbee2MQTT vs Zwave-JS Server: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Zigbee2MQTT 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 Zigbee2MQTT. Zigbee2MQTT is the more established project (first released 2018), while Zwave-JS Server arrived in 2021. Zigbee2MQTT has the considerably larger community, at 15,661 GitHub stars versus 164.
Why pick each one
Choose Zigbee2MQTT if…
- Frees devices from vendor hubs
- Wide device support
- Local control
Watch out for
- Needs a Zigbee coordinator
- Pairing can be finicky
Choose Zwave-JS Server if…
- Decouples driver from clients
- Reliable
Watch out for
- Headless, no UI
- Z-Wave only
Frequently asked questions
Is Zigbee2MQTT or Zwave-JS Server better?
Neither is universally better. Zigbee2MQTT has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Zigbee2MQTT and Zwave-JS Server free and open-source?
Yes. Zigbee2MQTT is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Zwave-JS Server under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Zigbee2MQTT and Zwave-JS Server with Docker?
Zigbee2MQTT: yes. Zwave-JS Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Zigbee2MQTT or Zwave-JS Server?
Zwave-JS Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Zigbee2MQTT. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.