IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Hubitat Elevation vs Zigbee Alliance
Hubitat Elevation
IoT & Smart Home
Local home automation hub for advanced users
- From
- $189.95/one-time
- 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: Hubitat Elevation limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms; 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: Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hubitat Elevation and Zigbee Alliance actually diverge.
| Attribute | Hubitat Elevation | Zigbee Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $189.95/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android) | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms |
| Founded | 2016 | 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 Hubitat Elevation
- Local Processing
- Rule Machine
- Z-Wave Plus
- Zigbee 3.0
- Dashboard
- Voice assistants
- Custom apps
- MQTT
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.
Hubitat Elevation
- Advanced automationnot Zigbee Alliance
- Local controlnot Zigbee Alliance
- Complex rulesnot Zigbee Alliance
- Multi-protocol integrationnot Zigbee Alliance
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot Hubitat Elevation
- Sensor networksnot Hubitat Elevation
- Home automationnot Hubitat Elevation
- Industrial monitoringnot Hubitat Elevation
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hubitat Elevation
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms
- Requires purchase of hub hardware; no free tier
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
Hubitat Elevation
$189.95/one-time- Hub Hardware$189.95/one-time
- Z-Wave Plus 800 and Zigbee 3.0
- Matter 1.5 support
- Local automation engine
- Cloud Backup (optional)$30/year
- Cloud backup of automations
- Automatic backups
- Remote Admin (optional)$36/year
- Remote access via cloud
- Mobile app remote control
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
Which should you pick?
Choose Hubitat Elevation if
- You need local processing.
- You work on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android).
- You also want rule machine.
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 Hubitat Elevation or Zigbee Alliance better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time and Zigbee Alliance at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hubitat Elevation or Zigbee Alliance?
- Zigbee Alliance has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $189.95/one-time for Hubitat Elevation and Free for Zigbee Alliance.
- Does Hubitat Elevation or Zigbee Alliance run on more platforms?
- Hubitat Elevation runs on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android). 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. Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time.
- What is Hubitat Elevation best used for?
- Hubitat Elevation is most often used for advanced automation, local control, complex rules, multi-protocol integration. Of those, advanced automation and local control are not what Zigbee Alliance is typically brought in for.
- What can Hubitat Elevation do that Zigbee Alliance cannot?
- Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, Rule Machine, Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee 3.0. Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Hubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat require a cloud connection or subscription?
No. All automations and device control run locally without cloud dependency. Hubitat does not require subscriptions for core features; optional cloud backup ($30/year) and remote admin ($36/year) are available.
SourceHubitat Elevation: How many devices can Hubitat control?
The Hubitat Elevation Model C-8 supports 1,000+ devices across 100+ brands through Zigbee, Z-Wave 800 Long Range, Matter 1.5, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi protocols.
SourceHubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit?
Yes. Hubitat integrates with Alexa and Google Home for voice control, and also supports Apple HomeKit via direct integration for HomeKit devices.
SourceHubitat Elevation: What is the difference between the C-7 and C-8 models?
The C-8 ($189.95) features Z-Wave Plus 800, Zigbee 3.0, and expanded memory for handling complex automation. The C-7 is an older model with fewer protocol options and lower performance.
SourceHubitat Elevation: Can I access my hub remotely?
Yes. Local area network (LAN) access is always available. Remote access via the Hubitat mobile app and cloud services requires an optional subscription ($36/year for remote admin).
Source