Zigbee
Last updated: January 2, 2026
Zigbee is the veteran mesh networking protocol that's been quietly running smart homes for over a decade. It connects low-power devices like sensors, bulbs, and switches through a self-healing mesh network - and unlike Wi-Fi gadgets, your Zigbee motion sensor won't need new batteries every month.
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Before Matter promised universal compatibility and Thread brought modern networking, there was Zigbee - the protocol that proved mesh networking actually works for smart homes. Developed by the Zigbee Alliance (now the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the same folks behind Matter), it's been the backbone of ecosystems like Philips Hue, IKEA TRÅDFRI, and SmartThings since the mid-2000s.
Here's why Zigbee stuck around: it's incredibly efficient. Running on the 2.4 GHz band, Zigbee devices sip power so gently that a coin-cell battery can last years in a door sensor. Like Thread, it creates a mesh network where mains-powered devices (bulbs, plugs) act as routers, extending range and adding redundancy. Your signal hops from device to device until it reaches your coordinator - typically a hub like a Hue Bridge, Aqara Hub, or a USB stick plugged into Home Assistant.
The honest reality: Zigbee has baggage. Different manufacturers implemented it... creatively, leading to the infamous "Zigbee profiles" fragmentation. A Zigbee 3.0 certification helped, but you'll still occasionally find devices that don't play nice together. It also doesn't speak native IP, so you always need a coordinator to translate between Zigbee and your network. Thread fixed both of these issues (it uses Zigbee's radio tech but with proper IP networking), which is why new devices increasingly favor Matter-over-Thread.
Should you still use Zigbee? Absolutely - especially if you're already invested. The ecosystem is massive, devices are affordable, and platforms like Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) in Home Assistant give you excellent local control without vendor lock-in. Just don't expect Zigbee and Thread devices to talk directly to each other - they're cousins, not siblings.
Related Terms
Home Assistant
Home Assistant is the fast-moving heart of the open-source smart home movement. With 2 million active installations and 21,000+ contributors, it's become the de facto standard for local-first home automation - the platform that made "your data stays home" a mainstream expectation.
Matter
Matter is the smart home industry's attempt to finally get everyone to play nice together. It's an open connectivity standard that lets devices from different brands (Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, you name it) actually work with each other without the usual compatibility headaches.
MQTT
MQTT is the messaging backbone of DIY smart homes. It's a lightweight protocol that lets your devices talk to each other by publishing and subscribing to topics - think of it as a super-efficient postal system where devices can broadcast messages and others can choose to listen in.
Thread
Thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol that lets smart home devices talk to each other without a central hub. Think of it as the invisible web that Matter devices use to communicate - each device strengthens the network, and if one goes down, the others pick up the slack.
Z-Wave
Z-Wave is the "it just works" mesh protocol for smart homes. Every device is certified for compatibility before it hits the market, and the sub-GHz radio cuts through walls that would stop Zigbee dead. You'll pay more, but you'll troubleshoot less.