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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Amazon Alexa vs Z-Wave Alliance

Amazon Alexa logo

Amazon Alexa

IoT & Smart Home

Amazon's voice-controlled smart home ecosystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Z-Wave Alliance logo

Z-Wave Alliance

IoT & Smart Home

Wireless communication protocol for smart home devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Alexa amazon Alexa is a free consumer app (per Apple App Store listing under AMZN Mobile LLC) with no subscription required for core voice assistant functionality; premium content and some skills route through separate Amazon subscriptions such as Prime and Amazon Music; Z-Wave Alliance manufacturers must hold a Manufacturer ID, which costs $7,500 per year for two MIDs and a further $7,500 per year for each additional MID
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, Z-Wave Alliance covers Mesh Networking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Alexa and Z-Wave Alliance actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Alexa and Z-Wave Alliance differ
AttributeAmazon AlexaZ-Wave Alliance
Pricing modelfreeopen-source
PlatformsEcho devices, Fire TV, Android, IOSZ-Wave devices, Hubs, Controllers, Wireless mesh
Founded19942001

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Amazon Alexa

  • Voice Control
  • Skills Library
  • Routines
  • Multi-Room Audio
  • 100,000+ skills
  • Ring
  • Blink
  • Fire TV

Only in Z-Wave Alliance

  • Mesh Networking
  • AES-128 Security
  • Low Power
  • Interoperable
  • Smart home hubs
  • Home automation
  • Device integration
  • Standards compliant

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amazon Alexa

  • Voice-controlled homenot Z-Wave Alliance
  • Smart shoppingnot Z-Wave Alliance
  • Entertainmentnot Z-Wave Alliance
  • Home securitynot Z-Wave Alliance

Z-Wave Alliance

  • Sub-GHz mesh networking for smart home locks, sensors and lightingnot Amazon Alexa
  • Long range low power device control in residential and commercial buildingsnot Amazon Alexa
  • Building interoperable certified smart home productsnot Amazon Alexa

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amazon Alexa

  • Amazon Alexa is a free consumer app (per Apple App Store listing under AMZN Mobile LLC) with no subscription required for core voice assistant functionality; premium content and some skills route through separate Amazon subscriptions such as Prime and Amazon Music

Z-Wave Alliance

  • Manufacturers must hold a Manufacturer ID, which costs $7,500 per year for two MIDs and a further $7,500 per year for each additional MID
  • The MID fee is waived only in year 3 for Accelerator members and applies in full from year 4
  • Certifying products and using the Z-Wave certification requires Z-Wave Alliance membership
  • Participation in specific working groups and committees depends on membership level
  • At most two Contributor Member representatives may sit on the Board, for one-year terms voted by the existing Board

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Alexa

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Voice control
    • Skills
    • Smart home control
  • Alexa Guard Plus$4.99/month
    • Emergency response
    • Hands-free calling
    • Enhanced alerts

Z-Wave Alliance

Free
  • Open ProtocolFree
    • Mesh networking
    • Security
    • Interoperability

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Alexa if

  • You need voice control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Echo devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS.
  • You also want skills library.
Amazon Alexa review

Choose Z-Wave Alliance if

  • You need mesh networking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Z-Wave devices, Hubs, Controllers, Wireless mesh.
  • You also want aes-128 security.
Z-Wave Alliance review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Alexa or Z-Wave Alliance better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Alexa starts at Free and Z-Wave Alliance at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Alexa or Z-Wave Alliance?
Amazon Alexa starts at Free and Z-Wave Alliance at Free.
Does Amazon Alexa or Z-Wave Alliance run on more platforms?
Amazon Alexa runs on Echo devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS. Z-Wave Alliance runs on Z-Wave devices, Hubs, Controllers, Wireless mesh.
Can I use Amazon Alexa for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Amazon Alexa best used for?
Amazon Alexa is most often used for voice-controlled home, smart shopping, entertainment, home security. Of those, voice-controlled home and smart shopping are not what Z-Wave Alliance is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Alexa do that Z-Wave Alliance cannot?
Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, Skills Library, Routines, Multi-Room Audio. Z-Wave Alliance covers Mesh Networking, AES-128 Security, Low Power, Interoperable.
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