Matter vs Zigbee vs Z-Wave: which smart home protocol should you choose?

Matter, Zigbee, and Z-Wave each have strengths, but Matter is the future.

Matter

Open standard, backed by major tech companies, works over Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ethernet.

Zigbee and Z-Wave

Established protocols with many devices. However, they require hubs and lack cross-brand compatibility.

Which to Choose

For new installations, choose Matter. Existing Zigbee/Z-Wave setups can migrate gradually.