The right hub makes Zigbee and Z-Wave devices work reliably without cloud dependency. We tested the top contenders — from the broadly compatible Aeotec SmartThings Hub to the privacy-focused Hubitat C-8 and the premium multi-protocol Homey Pro — to find the best hub for every smart home setup.
Wi-Fi is great for streaming, but it's a shaky foundation for a smart home. When your lights, locks, and sensors all fight for bandwidth, things get flaky. That's where Zigbee and Z-Wave come in — they're dedicated low-power mesh protocols that keep working even when your internet goes down.1
Modern smart home hubs bridge these radios with newer standards like Matter and Thread, giving you one place to control everything. Here are the best hubs for Zigbee and Z-Wave right now.
| Pick | Protocols | Processing | Ease of Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeotec Smart Home Hub | Zigbee 3.0, Z-Wave LR, Matter | Cloud + Local | ★★★★★ |
| Hubitat Elevation C-8 | Zigbee 3.0, Z-Wave Plus, Matter | 100% Local | ★★★☆☆ |
| Homey Pro | Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, 433 MHz, IR | Local + Cloud | ★★★★☆ |
| Aqara Hub M1S | Zigbee 3.0 | Local (for automations) | ★★★★★ |
If you want one hub that works with everything, this is it. The Aeotec Smart Home Hub (formerly SmartThings) supports Zigbee 3.0, Z-Wave Long Range, and Matter out of the box.1 It pairs with hundreds of devices from brands like Samsung, Philips Hue, and Yale without fuss.
Setup takes minutes through the SmartThings app, and the hub handles both cloud automations and local processing for basic routines. It's the closest thing to "plug-and-play" in the hub world.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants broad compatibility without tinkering.
Trade-off: Some advanced automations still depend on cloud connectivity.
The Hubitat C-8 Pro runs 100% of automations locally — no cloud, no subscription, no data leaving your home.1 It supports Zigbee 3.0 and Z-Wave Plus, with Matter support added via a firmware update.
The trade-off is a steeper learning curve. You configure automations through a web dashboard rather than a polished mobile app. But once it's set up, it's rock-solid and works even if your ISP goes down.
Who it's for: Privacy-conscious users and tinkerers who want total control.
Trade-off: Not as beginner-friendly; setup requires patience.
The Homey Pro is a Swiss Army knife for smart homes. It supports Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, 433 MHz, infrared, and more — all in one box.2 It can even learn IR commands from your existing remotes.
The app-based setup is smoother than Hubitat, and the "Flows" automation engine is powerful without being overwhelming. Homey also has an app store with community-made integrations for niche devices.
Who it's for: Enthusiasts with a mix of older and newer devices across multiple standards.
Trade-off: Premium price tag; some advanced features require a subscription.
If you're mostly using Aqara sensors (temperature, motion, door/window) and want a hub that just works, the M1S is a solid choice. It runs Zigbee 3.0 and doubles as a nightlight and alarm siren.2
It integrates with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Alexa, and automations run locally on the hub itself. At a fraction of the cost of the others, it's an easy entry point.
Who it's for: Budget-conscious users, especially in the Apple HomeKit ecosystem.
Trade-off: No Z-Wave support; limited to Aqara and compatible Zigbee devices.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, AskBuy earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't affect our recommendations — we only recommend what we'd buy ourselves.
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