Bluetooth

Pros
  • Easy to integrate new devices
  • Does not require a central hub
  • Connects to devices that are further away
Cons
  • Extremely short range
  • Limited number of devices that can be connected

If you’ve heard of any smart home protocol, it’s probably this one. Bluetooth is popular for more than just smart home stuff. You probably own Bluetooth devices already, like headphones, speakers, or keyboards.

Just like all the other cool protocol kids, Bluetooth uses radio waves to make devices talk to each other. But it has a much more limited range than Z-Wave or Zigbee. You have to be standing in pretty close proximity to control things using a Bluetooth connection.

Bluetooth logo

Smart home stuff rarely relies on Bluetooth alone to work. But you will see it used in things like Philips Hue smart lights and smart door locks. If you don’t want to rely on a central hub to control your smart devices, then Bluetooth is an option for hub-less control.