Zigbee

Pros
  • Very low energy use
  • Secure transmission
  • Common protocol for smart home devices
Cons
  • Requires a central hub
  • More vulnerable to hackers because it is open protocol

Zigbee is the runner-up in the protocol world. It’s a popular choice, but not quite as big as Z-Wave. Dedicated smart home hubs like Samsung SmartThings often work with both Z-Wave and Zigbee, which gives you the ultimate flexibility in choosing your devices.

Like Z-Wave, Zigbee uses radio waves to link your devices together and let them talk to each other. Zigbee also has the advantage of being a power-saving pro. It doesn’t take much power to run Zigbee devices, so you don’t have to worry about constantly changing batteries.

Zigbee Alliance logo

As for security systems, it’s usually one or the other. It’s pretty rare to see both Z-Wave and Zigbee functionality in the same system, but you can find it. Both Abode and Scout Alarm (two DIY home security systems) work with both Z-Wave and Zigbee.