IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Crestron vs Zigbee Alliance
Crestron
IoT & Smart Home
Enterprise-grade control and automation technology
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Zigbee Alliance
IoT & Smart Home
Low-power wireless standard for IoT and smart home
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zigbee Alliance has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Crestron crestron does not sell direct or publish prices; its own site's How-To-Buy navigation routes buyers only to a dealer/partner search (Elite Platinum Commercial Dealers) or an authorized representative, with no online pricing or purchase path.; Zigbee Alliance the Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.
- They diverge on capability: Crestron covers Enterprise Control, Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Crestron and Zigbee Alliance actually diverge.
| Attribute | Crestron | Zigbee Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | quote | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Control systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screens | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms |
| Founded | 1971 | 2002 |
Identical on both: 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 Crestron
- Enterprise Control
- Powerful Programming
- Extensive Integration
- Reliability
- 5000+ devices
- Custom protocols
- Web/Mobile apps
- Touch panels
Only in Zigbee Alliance
- Low Power
- Mesh Networking
- Self-Healing
- Scalable
- Smart home devices
- Hubs
- Controllers
- Integration platforms
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Crestron
- Conference room automationnot Zigbee Alliance
- Building managementnot Zigbee Alliance
- Campus-wide controlnot Zigbee Alliance
- Corporate AVnot Zigbee Alliance
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot Crestron
- Sensor networksnot Crestron
- Home automationnot Crestron
- Industrial monitoringnot Crestron
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Crestron
- Crestron does not sell direct or publish prices; its own site's How-To-Buy navigation routes buyers only to a dealer/partner search (Elite Platinum Commercial Dealers) or an authorized representative, with no online pricing or purchase path.
Zigbee Alliance
- The Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.
Pricing, plan by plan
Crestron
On request- Professional$1000/month
- Programming tools
- Device control
- Advanced features
- Enterprise$10000/month
- Large deployments
- Custom solutions
- Enterprise support
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
Which should you pick?
Choose Crestron if
- You need enterprise control.
- You work on Control systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screens.
- You also want powerful programming.
Choose Zigbee Alliance if
- You need low power.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- You also want mesh networking.
Questions people ask
- Is Crestron or Zigbee Alliance better?
- Neither clearly leads. Crestron starts at On request and Zigbee Alliance at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Crestron or Zigbee Alliance?
- Zigbee Alliance has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Crestron and Free for Zigbee Alliance.
- Does Crestron or Zigbee Alliance run on more platforms?
- Crestron runs on Control systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screens. Zigbee Alliance runs on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- Can I use Zigbee Alliance for free?
- Yes. Zigbee Alliance has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Crestron starts at On request.
- What is Crestron best used for?
- Crestron is most often used for conference room automation, building management, campus-wide control, corporate av. Of those, conference room automation and building management are not what Zigbee Alliance is typically brought in for.
- What can Crestron do that Zigbee Alliance cannot?
- Crestron covers Enterprise Control, Powerful Programming, Extensive Integration, Reliability. Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable.