Z-Wave Controllers, Hubs & Gateways; the best of Z-Wave Plus (2024)

While Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee, and Matter are all different wireless automation standards, it's now possible to use all 3 together in the same home. If using a controller such as the SmartThings Smart Home Hub you'll be able to use Z-Wave, Zigbee, and Matter devices via SmartThings' app. Similarly, using a controller such as Hubitat will allow you to use Z-Wave Plus and Zigbee in a single setup.

If you're interested in running multiple protocols in a single setup, it's worth understanding the differences between Z-Wave and Matter and understanding that Zigbee and Matter are typically considered technically interior to Z-Wave. They're also far more limited in their application; Matter-only hubs are compatible with 37% fewer devices than the likes of the SmartThings controller, for instance.

Think of Z-Wave as a version of Wi-Fi specifically designed to allow smart home products to communicate with each other in a way that is reliable, secure, and works over a long range without interference. Z-Wave, and its advanced version Z-Wave Plus, differs from Wi-Fi (and other smart home technologies) by using low-power and long-reach signals, enabling communication between devices over a range as great as 1.5 miles without suffering from poor signals and interference caused by other wireless devices in your home.

You can learn more about Z-Wave here.

• Easy to install. Z-Wave devices communicate wirelessly, meaning you don't have to renovate your property to run cables between different Z-Wave devices. Installation is typically as easy as plugging a device into an outlet or inserting its batteries and then scanning its QR code via your hub's app.
• Huge wireless range. In direct communication mode, Z-Wave devices can communicate.
• Affordable. It's possible to create a Z-Wave automation system at a price far cheaper than other dedicated home automation technologies such as KNX. Unlike other such standards, which require a professional installer to set up, Z-Wave systems can also start small and be expanded. You can start with 2 devices automating your lights and expand, at your own pace and within your own budget, to automate hundreds of devices.
• Stable. Not only can you consider Z-Wave's wireless technology best-in-class, but you can consider it the most tested. Z-Wave has a long history of automating homes and whole buildings - version 1 of Z-Wave was released in 1999.
• Security. With its long history, Z-Wave has proven to not only be secure, it's become more secure with each version. Newer, Z-Wave Plus devices feature ‘Z-Wave Security 2' and can offer over 10 separate security and anti-hack functions. In fact, Z-Wave is so secure that 9 out of 10 of the leading security companies in the USA use Z-Wave Plus for wireless automation.

Z-Wave can work through simple communication between 2 devices. For instance, a Z-Wave light switch can directly control a Z-Wave light bulb. But most homes won't use such a simple automation network. Instead, they'll use:

1. A phone or tablet to control devices on demand, whether they're at home or away.
2. An inexpensive and secure automation gateway to create intelligent automations and monitor the system.
3. Z-Wave devices to communicate to the hub and then on to the (optional) phone or tablet for remote control and monitoring. Those devices come from dozens of different categories including safety and security, thermostats, and lighting.

Everything in the above configuration operates on a low-power and long-reach wireless frequency. In Canada and the USA that frequency is 908.4 MHz but it's a different frequency for Z-Wave in other countries.

Z-Wave Plus is an upgraded version of Z-Wave which offers better security, wireless range, and battery performance. Released in 2013, it's also come to be known as Z-Wave 500 series and Z-Wave Gen5. Z-Wave Plus offers up to the following improvements when compared to the previous generation of Z-Wave devices:

• A wireless range of 492 feet
• 50% less power use on battery on battery powered devices
• 250% more data transferable. Of course, it's still not capable of carrying videos or pictures, but that's not what Z-Wave has been designed for
• A total of 3 RF channels for improved reliability and wireless performance
• Firmware update features now available to manufacturers to release new firmware for their devices to fix any bugs

You can compare 500 series Z-Wave Plus to 300 series Z-Wave in more depth.

An upgrade to both Z-Wave Plus and Z-Wave, version two of Z-Wave Plus features in 700 series and 800 series Z-Wave devices. Z-Wave Plus V2 offers up to the following improvements when compared to the previous generations of Z-Wave devices:

• A wireless range of 656 feet in mesh mode and 1.5 miles in long range mode
• Even lower battery use with some devices able to run for up to 10 years on a single coin cell battery
• Easier installation with Z-Wave's SmartStart QR code scanning and Network-Wide-Include now mandatory in all devices
• Improved security with Security 2 now standard and an optional security vault available to manufacturers
• Firmware update features now mandatory in all devices

You can compare 800 series Z-Wave Plus v2 to older versions of Z-Wave in more depth.