Z-Wave Chip Generation

800-series controllers (Silicon Labs EFR32ZG23) are the current generation, with better range, lower power and native Long Range. 700-series hubs still work well with every certified device, but an 800-series radio is the safer long-term buy.

Z-Wave Long Range

LR devices talk directly to the hub in a star topology over far longer distances than mesh hops, which is ideal for a detached garage, mailbox sensor or well pump. Both the hub and the device must support LR.

Local vs Cloud Control

Hubitat, Homey Pro, Ezlo and Home Assistant run automations on the hub itself, so locks and lights keep working when the internet drops. Cloud-dependent hubs like Homey Bridge stop running automations until the connection returns.

Hub or USB Stick?

A standalone hub includes the software and app. A USB stick is just the radio and needs Home Assistant, HomeSeer or similar running on an always-on computer. Sticks are cheaper and more flexible; hubs are simpler.

S2 Security and SmartStart

S2 encrypts traffic to locks and garage controllers, and SmartStart lets you add devices by scanning a QR code. Every hub in this guide supports S2; make sure your software exposes SmartStart if you plan to add many devices.

The Aeotec Smart Home Hub is the official successor to Samsung’s own SmartThings hubs, and the simplest way to get Z-Wave into the SmartThings app. Aeotec rates it for up to 100 Z-Wave and 100 Zigbee devices with S2 security, and it doubles as a Matter controller and Thread border router. Setup happens entirely in the SmartThings app on Android or iOS, and many automations now run locally on the hub through SmartThings Edge drivers, with Alexa and Google Home integration out of the box. Owners of a Samsung v2 or v3 hub can transfer devices directly. One important detail from the Amazon listing: Z-Wave Plus support is specific to the V3 model, so confirm the variant before you check out.

Home Assistant Green is not a Z-Wave hub out of the box; it is the official plug-and-play Home Assistant computer, and it becomes the most capable Z-Wave controller in this guide the moment you plug in a radio such as the ZWA-2 (pick #5) or a Zooz stick (pick #6). Home Assistant’s Z-Wave JS integration is one of the most complete Z-Wave stacks available: SmartStart QR inclusion, S2, OTA firmware updates for devices, network health maps and Long Range support on 800-series radios. Because HA also talks to Zigbee, Matter, ESPHome and thousands of cloud and LAN integrations, a Green plus a Z-Wave stick replaces several hubs at once, entirely locally.

The Connect ZWA-2 is Home Assistant’s own Z-Wave radio, designed by the team behind Home Assistant and Z-Wave JS. Inside is a certified 800-series chipset with Long Range, and instead of a bare USB stick you get an antenna and base precisely tuned to Z-Wave’s sub-GHz wavelength, which lets you place it on a cable away from the USB noise of your server. Setup in Home Assistant is close to automatic, and Nabu Casa says migrating from most other Z-Wave adapters takes a couple of clicks thanks to Z-Wave JS’s network backup and restore. It only works with a Home Assistant system, which is the point: it is the most integrated way to run Z-Wave on HA.

The Zooz ZST39 LR is the go-to 800-series stick for DIY users who want modern Z-Wave without paying for a full hub. It adds Z-Wave Plus and Z-Wave Long Range to Home Assistant (through Z-Wave JS) or HomeSeer, supports OTA updates of its own firmware, and comes from a brand that makes many of the most popular Z-Wave switches and sensors. Zooz is upfront that this stick is for advanced users: you need a dedicated, always-on computer and some comfort with Z-Wave software. Tip from experience: plug it into a short USB extension cable rather than straight into a Raspberry Pi or mini PC, because USB 3.0 ports radiate noise that can hurt range.

The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro puts two Silicon Labs radios in one slim USB stick: an 800-series EFR32ZG23 for Z-Wave with Long Range and an EFR32MG21 for Zigbee 3.0. For a Home Assistant user starting from scratch, that means one USB port covers both mesh protocols, with Z-Wave JS on one side and ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT on the other. Aeotec quotes more than 70 m indoor range for the US Z-Wave mesh and over 100 m indoors on Long Range, and the slim body leaves neighbouring USB ports free. Buy the US version (ZWA060-A, 908.42 MHz) for North American devices.

The SONOFF Dongle Max MZG23 solves a real problem: your Home Assistant server lives in a closet or basement, but your Z-Wave devices are spread around the house. This 800-series Z-Wave radio connects over Ethernet with PoE, Wi-Fi or USB, so you can mount it in the middle of the house on a single network cable and point Z-Wave JS at it over the LAN. It supports S2 and Long Range, uses two adjustable external antennas, and runs a local web console for status, settings and firmware updates. SONOFF lists Home Assistant, openHAB and Z-Wave JS as supported platforms, and the aluminium case is built for damp basements. It is newer than the other sticks here, so expect firmware to keep evolving.

The Homey Pro (Early 2023) has the same radio line-up as the 2026 model, including built-in Z-Wave Plus and Zigbee, and runs the same app, Flow automations and Matter Bridge app. What you give up is the newer model’s doubled RAM, which mostly matters if you plan to run a very large number of devices and Homey apps. As the previous generation it is often the cheaper way into Homey, so compare its live price against the 2026 model before you choose.

Ezlo is the company that took over the long-running Vera platform, and the Ezlo Plus is its current consumer hub. It has a Z-Wave 700-series radio with S2 and SmartStart, Zigbee 3.0, Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi, and runs automations (called MeshBots) locally first, so they keep working offline. The MiOS app handles setup and remote access, and Alexa and Google Assistant integrations are built in, with no monthly fees for core features. It is a sensible upgrade path for former VeraPlus owners. Compared with Hubitat it uses an older Z-Wave generation and has a smaller community, so we rank it lower for new buyers.

The Homey Bridge is the lowest-cost hub here with a built-in Z-Wave radio, alongside Zigbee, Bluetooth, infrared and Wi-Fi (433 MHz is switched off in the US). Paired with the free Homey Cloud service it gives you the friendly Homey app and Flow automations, with Homey quoting roughly 240 Z-Wave and 50 Zigbee devices. Read the fine print, though: Homey Cloud needs a Homey Premium subscription beyond five devices (three months are included), and because the Bridge depends on the cloud, Flows stop when your internet goes down. Its second job is more interesting for this guide: it adds Z-Wave to a Homey Pro mini, which has no Z-Wave radio of its own.

The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 Plus is a proven 700-series USB controller that turns a Raspberry Pi, mini PC or NAS into a Z-Wave hub with Home Assistant, Indigo or other Z-Wave software. It supports S2 security and SmartStart, and Aeotec claims up to 250% more open-air range than its previous Gen5 stick. No software is included, and there is no Long Range or Zigbee, which is why the Zooz ZST39 or Aeotec’s own Z-Stick 10 Pro are better buys for a brand-new network. It still makes sense as a well-documented replacement for an existing 700-series setup.

Want a reliable, local hub?

Get the Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro. 800-series Z-Wave with Long Range, local automations and no subscription.

Want the easiest app?

The Homey Pro (2026), or the Early 2023 model if it is cheaper. Every radio, friendliest setup.

Already use SmartThings?

The Aeotec Smart Home Hub is the official SmartThings hardware. Check you are getting the V3 Z-Wave model.

Building on Home Assistant?

Home Assistant Green plus a ZWA-2, or a Zooz ZST39 if you already run HA on a mini PC.

Need Z-Wave and Zigbee on one port?

The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro packs both radios, with 800-series Z-Wave and Long Range.

Server far from your devices?

Mount a SONOFF Dongle Max MZG23 centrally on one PoE cable and connect Z-Wave JS over the network.

Do I need a hub for Z-Wave devices?

Yes. Z-Wave devices cannot join Wi-Fi directly, and phones, routers and smart speakers like Echo or Nest do not contain a Z-Wave radio. Every Z-Wave network needs exactly one primary controller: a standalone hub such as Hubitat, Homey Pro or a SmartThings hub, or a USB stick running under Home Assistant or similar software. That controller then connects your Z-Wave devices to apps and voice assistants.

What is Z-Wave Long Range, and do I need an 800-series hub?

Z-Wave Long Range (LR) lets devices talk directly to the controller in a star topology over much longer distances than a normal mesh hop, and it raises the device limit far beyond classic Z-Wave’s 232 nodes. It is natively supported by 800-series controllers like the Hubitat C-8 Pro, ZWA-2, Zooz ZST39, Z-Stick 10 Pro and SONOFF MZG23. Your devices also need LR support, so it pays off most for new installs and for outbuildings, gates and garages at the edge of your property.

Can I use a US Z-Wave hub with European devices?

No. Z-Wave frequencies are regional: the US uses 908.42 MHz, Europe 868.42 MHz, and Australia and New Zealand 921.42 MHz, among others. A controller and its devices must be on the same frequency. Some hubs and sticks let you choose the region in software (Hubitat and SONOFF document this), but antennas are tuned per region, so buy the hub and every device for the country you live in.

Can I move my Z-Wave network to a new hub without re-pairing?

Sometimes. Within Home Assistant, Z-Wave JS can back up a Silicon Labs controller’s network memory and restore it to another stick, which is how the ZWA-2 offers near one-click migration. Hubitat offers hub-to-hub migration through its optional Hub Protect plan. Moving between different platforms, for example SmartThings to Hubitat, almost always means excluding and re-pairing each device, so plan a weekend and start with locks and dimmers.

Will my Z-Wave devices work with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home?

Through the hub, yes. Hubitat includes Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit integrations; SmartThings links to Alexa and Google; Home Assistant offers HomeKit Bridge plus Alexa and Google options; and Homey Pro can expose Z-Wave devices to all major platforms via its Matter Bridge app. The voice assistant only sees what the hub shares, so advanced settings like lock user codes or dimmer ramp rates stay in the hub’s own app. If Matter is your main goal, see our Matter bridge guide.

Chip Generation

Buy 800 series (EFR32ZG23) for any new network. 700-series sticks are fine replacements for existing builds, and 500-series Gen5 sticks only make sense if you are keeping an old network alive.

Long Range Support

Z-Wave LR needs an 800-series controller, LR-capable devices and software that enables it (Z-Wave JS and HomeSeer both do). Mesh and LR devices can share the same stick.

Antenna & Placement

The biggest real-world range gain is getting the radio away from the host. Sticks with an external antenna, an included extension cable, or a network (PoE/Wi-Fi) connection make that easy.

Migration Path

Replacing a stick should not mean re-pairing 60 devices. Check that the new stick documents a migration from your current controller through Z-Wave JS UI or HomeSeer’s plugin.

Software & Extra Radios

Every stick here speaks the standard Silicon Labs Serial API, so Home Assistant, HomeSeer and openHAB all work. Decide whether you also want Zigbee on the same device or prefer separate radios.

The Z-NET PRO is not a stick, but it solves the same job for people whose server is in the wrong place. It runs an 800-series Z-Wave network and a Zigbee 3.0 network from one box that joins your LAN over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, so you can mount it centrally while HomeSeer HS4, Home Assistant or openHAB runs elsewhere. HomeSeer highlights S2, SmartStart and network-wide inclusion, plus a built-in web interface and status LEDs for setup and troubleshooting. Compared with the SONOFF MZG23 you gain Zigbee in the same enclosure; the trade-off is a noticeably higher price than any USB stick here.

DEWENWILS is better known for smart plugs and outdoor timers, and its 800 Z-Wave Dongle is a straightforward 800-series LR stick. The listing promises standard mesh devices and Long Range devices on one controller, S2 encryption, plug-and-play setup with Home Assistant and other hubs, and a migration route from older controllers. On paper it matches the Zooz ZST39 feature for feature. The honest caveat is track record: it has only a small number of Amazon reviews so far, and the Zooz and HomeSeer sticks have years of community firmware experience behind them. Buy it if it is the best deal on the day and you are comfortable being an early adopter.

The original Aeotec Z-Stick 7 (ZWA010) is the first-generation 700-series Aeotec stick. Aeotec’s listing quotes up to 250% more open-air range and an 18% faster CPU than its previous generation, with S2 security and SmartStart, and it works with Home Assistant, Indigo and other Z-Wave software on Raspberry Pi, Windows, Mac and Linux. No software is included. It is a solid, well-reviewed stick, but with the Z-Stick 7 Plus also on sale and 800-series sticks offering Long Range, the only strong reason to choose it today is to match an existing Z-Stick 7 install or a documented project that specifies this exact model. Compare its live price with the Plus before buying.

For years the Z-Stick Gen5 was the default way to build a DIY Z-Wave hub, and the Gen5+ (ZW090-C) is its updated “Plus” edition with S2 security, SmartStart and Raspberry Pi 4 compatibility that the original lacked. It also keeps the Gen5’s unusual party trick: a built-in rechargeable battery that lets you unplug it and include or exclude devices by pressing its button, away from the computer. The catch is the chip. It is a 500-series Gen5 radio with no Long Range and older performance, and the Amazon listing showed very limited stock when we checked. Only buy it to replace a failing Gen5 stick in a network you are not ready to migrate.

SMLIGHT’s network coordinators are popular with Zigbee2MQTT users, and the SLZB-MRW10 adds a second radio: a Texas Instruments CC2674P10 for Zigbee 3.0 and Thread, plus a Silicon Labs EFR32ZG23 800-series chip for Z-Wave, each with its own SMA antenna (2.4 GHz and 900 MHz). It runs from PoE or USB-C and draws very little power. Read the listing carefully, though: SMLIGHT describes the Z-Wave side as for evaluation only, while Zigbee works with Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA today. That makes it a fun multiradio box for makers and firmware tinkerers, but not the radio we would trust with door locks yet.

Running Home Assistant?

Get the Connect ZWA-2. Official hardware, tuned antenna and one-click migration in Z-Wave JS.

Want the safe budget pick?

The Zooz ZST39 LR, on a short USB 2.0 extension cable. Or the SONOFF PZG23 if you want an antenna in the box.

Need Zigbee too?

Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro for one USB port, or HomeSeer Z-NET PRO to put both radios on the network.

Retiring an old 500/700 stick?

The HomeSeer SmartStick G8 documents the migration, and HomeSeer users get native support.

Server in the basement?

Mount a SONOFF Dongle Max MZG23 on one PoE cable in the middle of the house.

Just replacing a dead stick?

Match it: Z-Stick 7 Plus or Z-Stick 7 for 700 networks, Gen5+ only for Gen5. Then plan an 800 upgrade.

Do I really need a USB extension cable for my Z-Wave stick?

In most setups, yes. USB 3.0 ports, SSDs and the host’s own electronics produce interference, and a stick plugged straight into the back of a mini PC or Raspberry Pi often loses a surprising amount of range. A short USB 2.0 extension of half a metre to a metre that lets the stick sit away from the case and other radios is the cheapest range upgrade you can make. The ZWA-2 and SONOFF PZG23 build this in.

Can I move my network from an old stick to an 800-series stick?

Often, yes. Z-Wave JS UI can back up a controller’s network memory and restore it to a new Silicon Labs stick, and HomeSeer documents migrations from 500- and 700-series controllers to its SmartStick G8. Always take a fresh backup first, update the old stick’s firmware if the guide asks for it, and follow the new stick maker’s migration guide exactly. Your devices keep their node IDs, but they will not gain Long Range until you re-include LR-capable devices in LR mode.

Can one stick run Z-Wave and Zigbee at the same time?

Only if it has two radios, like the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro or the HomeSeer Z-NET PRO. Each radio appears to the host separately, so Home Assistant uses Z-Wave JS for one and ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT for the other. Separate sticks give you more freedom to place each radio well, which matters because Zigbee shares the 2.4 GHz band with Wi-Fi while Z-Wave does not.

Is a network adapter better than a USB stick?

It is better when your server sits far from your devices or in a metal rack. Adapters like the SONOFF MZG23 and HomeSeer Z-NET PRO let you place the radio centrally on Ethernet or PoE. The trade-off is a dependency on your LAN: if a switch reboots, Z-Wave pauses until the connection returns. For a server already near the middle of the home, a stick on an extension cable is simpler.