HomeKit vs. Z-Wave – quick comparison
What’s the difference between those two standards, HomeKit and Z-Wave? Well, the answer is not so simple and straightforward. Both those technologies have their cons and pros and it is important that the choice should be tailored for the prospective user. The philosophy behind each of those protocols is completely different and no chart will be able to truly able to present it. Future articles will tackle some differences more thoroughly and they will narrow down the area of comparison. For now, however, please check out the table below which highlights the most prominent characteristics of HomeKit and Z-Wave.
| Protocol | HomeKit | Z-Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Controller / Gateway | Apple TV 4K
Apple TV (4th gen) Apple iPad (iOS 10+) Apple HomePod |
e.g. Fibaro Home Center 2*
Vera Control VeraEdge Fibaro Home Center Lite |
| Communication technology | Wi-Fi
Bluetooth |
Z-Wave |
| Automations | Yes (called automations and scenes) | Yes (called scenes) |
| Voice commands | via Siri | can be integrated with:
Alexa Google Assistant |
| Ease of use | fairly easy | fairly complicated |
| Access via PC or Mac | no | yes (via web browser) |
| Devices | hundreds | thousands |
*when it comes to the Z-Wave controllers, there are tens of them so I’ve chosen the most popular ones as an example
If you have any questions about HomeKit or Z-Wave feel free to ask!
