Z-Wave JS UI 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.
Z-Wave JS UI
Full-featured Z-Wave control panel and MQTT gateway
VS
Zwave-JS Server
Small server wrapping the Z-Wave JS driver over WebSocket
| Feature | Z-Wave JS UI | Zwave-JS Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 74 · Good |
| Category | Home Automation | Home Automation |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Vue | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,239 | ★ 164 |
| First released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Replaces | SmartThings | SmartThings |
What are Z-Wave JS UI and Zwave-JS Server?
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
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
Z-Wave JS UI vs Zwave-JS Server: key differences
Z-Wave JS UI is written in Vue, while Zwave-JS Server is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Z-Wave JS UI 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 Z-Wave JS UI. Z-Wave JS UI is the more established project (first released 2018), while Zwave-JS Server arrived in 2021. Z-Wave JS UI has the considerably larger community, at 1,239 GitHub stars versus 164.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Zwave-JS Server if…
- Decouples driver from clients
- Reliable
Watch out for
- Headless, no UI
- Z-Wave only
Frequently asked questions
Is Z-Wave JS UI or Zwave-JS Server better?
Neither is universally better. Z-Wave JS UI has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Z-Wave JS UI and Zwave-JS Server free and open-source?
Yes. Z-Wave JS UI is licensed under MIT and Zwave-JS Server under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Z-Wave JS UI and Zwave-JS Server with Docker?
Z-Wave JS UI: yes. Zwave-JS Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Z-Wave JS UI or Zwave-JS Server?
Zwave-JS Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Z-Wave JS UI. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.