In short: the controller (or hub) is the brain of a smart home. Every sensor, switch and thermostat talks to it, so it shapes everything else. Pick it first, then choose devices that work with it.
Who this guide is for
- You're starting a smart home and don't know which hub to buy.
- You have an older hub and are wondering whether to upgrade.
- You're an installer choosing a platform for a client.
What a controller does
Z-Wave and Zigbee devices don't connect to your Wi-Fi. They form their own low-power wireless network, and the controller runs it. It adds devices, stores your automations ("when the hall sensor sees motion after sunset, turn on the hall light at 30%") and connects everything to apps and voice assistants.
Three things matter most when choosing one:
- Which radios it has. Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread and Matter are different technologies. A hub can only talk to devices that use a radio it has built in, or one you add with a USB stick.
- Where automations run. A local controller runs them in your home, so they react instantly and keep working when the internet is down. A cloud controller relies on a remote server for some features.
- How hands-on you want to be. Some platforms are set up entirely in a phone app. Others take more setting up and give you far more control in return.
The best smart home hubs compared
These are the five controllers we recommend. All are actively developed and work with a wide range of Z-Wave or Zigbee devices.
Hubitat ElevationFast local automations, with Z-Wave and Zigbee built in
Homey ProAlmost every radio built in, run from one app
Home AssistantOpen-source software. Add Z-Wave and Zigbee with a USB stick
Fibaro Home CenterAn installer-grade Z-Wave controller
Aeotec Smart Home HubThe simplest start, using the SmartThings app
| Controller | Works with | Automations run | Set-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hubitat Elevation | Z-Wave, Zigbee, Matter (no Thread radio: Thread devices need a separate border router) | Locally | Web dashboard and app |
| Homey Pro | Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread, Matter, 433 MHz, infrared | Locally | Phone app |
| Home Assistant | Whatever you add: Z-Wave and Zigbee by USB stick, Matter, and hundreds of brands over your network | Locally | Most involved |
| Fibaro Home Center | Z-Wave on all models, Zigbee on Home Center 3, plus other systems through plugins | Locally | Web interface and app |
| Aeotec Smart Home Hub (SmartThings) | Zigbee, Thread, Matter. Z-Wave only on the earlier model | Mostly locally; some features use the SmartThings cloud | Phone app |
Radios change between hub generations. Check the product page for the model you are buying.
Hubitat Elevation
A compact hub that runs everything locally. It has Z-Wave and Zigbee 3.0 radios built in, each with its own external antenna, and it can control Matter devices. Automations are fast and keep working without the internet. Set-up is through a web dashboard, which suits people who like detail.
Homey Pro
The most polished all-in-one option. Homey Pro has Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 433 MHz and infrared built in, with an easy app and a visual automation builder called Flow. Automations run locally. Support for each brand of device is added by installing an app for it.
Home Assistant
Free, open-source software that runs on a small dedicated computer in your home. It supports more brands and integrations than anything else, but it needs more setting up and looking after. Z-Wave and Zigbee are added with a USB stick, using Z-Wave JS for Z-Wave and ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT for Zigbee.
See Z-Wave controllers and USB sticks · See Zigbee controllers and USB sticks
Fibaro Home Center
A long-established Z-Wave controller with a polished, wizard-led interface and dedicated panels for heating, alarms and irrigation. Automations run locally and can be built with visual blocks or written in Lua. It is a natural fit if you use Fibaro devices, and it is popular with installers. Some models also work with Nice devices, so check the product page.
Aeotec Smart Home Hub (SmartThings)
The simplest place to start. It works with the SmartThings app, which many people already have on Samsung phones and TVs. The current hub has Zigbee, Thread and Matter built in, but no Z-Wave. The earlier Aeotec Smart Home Hub includes Z-Wave. If you want Z-Wave devices, check which model you are buying or choose one of the others.
Which smart home hub should I choose?
Home Assistant
Choose it if you enjoy tinkering and want the widest choice of devices and integrations.
Homey Pro
Choose it if you want everything in one polished app, with almost every radio built in.
Hubitat Elevation
Choose it if you want fast local automations and like detailed control.
Fibaro Home Center
Choose it if you want an installer-grade Z-Wave system, especially with Fibaro devices.
Aeotec Smart Home Hub
Choose it if you want the simplest start, or already use SmartThings. Check for Z-Wave first.
If you plan to use Z-Wave devices, choose Hubitat, Homey Pro, Home Assistant or Fibaro Home Center.
Will it work without the internet?
Hubitat, Homey Pro, Home Assistant and Fibaro Home Center run automations on the hub itself. If your broadband goes down, lights still respond to motion and the heating still follows its schedule. What you lose is anything that needs the outside world: remote access from your phone, voice assistants and cloud-only brands.
The Aeotec hub runs many routines locally too, but some features depend on the SmartThings cloud.
If privacy or reliability matters most to you, choose a local controller and favour Z-Wave, Zigbee and Thread devices over ones that only work through a manufacturer's cloud.
Do I need a hub if I already have Alexa or Google Home?
A smart speaker is a good way to talk to a smart home, but it's a limited way to run one. Speakers handle simple routines well. They struggle with rules that have conditions, such as "turn the lights on at dusk, but only if nobody is home and the alarm is set". They also can't talk to Z-Wave devices at all.
The usual answer is both: a controller to run the home, linked to a voice assistant. All five options above work with Alexa and Google Assistant. Siri and Apple Home support varies, so check the platform.
Three things people get wrong
- Buying devices first. Choose the controller first, then check each device works with it. See Will it work with my system?
- Mixing regions. Z-Wave uses different frequencies in different parts of the world. In the UK and Europe you need 868 MHz devices and an 868 MHz controller. A US device (908 MHz) won't pair with a UK controller.
- Forgetting the mesh. Mains-powered devices (plugs, in-wall modules) relay signals and strengthen the network; battery sensors don't. If your home is large or has thick walls, plan a few mains devices or a range extender.
Already have a controller?
An older hub may still work well. Upgrading is worth it if you want Matter and Thread, a newer Z-Wave radio with better range, or faster local automations. Some platforms have a migration or backup tool, but what it carries over varies. Check what it moves before you start.
One thing to check before you move: if you have Z-Wave devices, make sure the new hub has a Z-Wave radio. See Upgrading or moving to a new hub.
What you'll need
- Smart home controllers
- USB sticks for Home Assistant
- Z-Wave devices and Zigbee devices to go with it
