IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Losant vs Zigbee Alliance
Losant
IoT & Smart Home
Cloud-based IoT platform with visualization and workflow automation
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Zigbee Alliance
IoT & Smart Home
Low-power wireless standard for IoT and smart home
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Losant no pricing is published at any tier, and the pricing page is a survey form rather than a rate card; 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: Losant covers Device Connectivity, Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Losant and Zigbee Alliance actually diverge.
| Attribute | Losant | Zigbee Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | open-source |
| Platforms | Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms |
| Founded | 2014 | 2002 |
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 Losant
- Device Connectivity
- Data Visualization
- Workflow Engine
- REST API
- Mobile app
- Dashboard builder
- Alert system
- Data export
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.
Losant
- Building IoT applications with device management and visual workflowsnot Zigbee Alliance
- Collecting and acting on telemetry from connected equipmentnot Zigbee Alliance
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot Losant
- Sensor networksnot Losant
- Home automationnot Losant
- Industrial monitoringnot Losant
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Losant
- No pricing is published at any tier, and the pricing page is a survey form rather than a rate card
- Device counts, data retention and payload allowances are all quoted rather than listed
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
Losant
Free- SandboxFree
- Limited devices
- Basic features
- Community support
- Enterprise$500/month
- Unlimited devices
- Advanced analytics
- Premium support
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
Which should you pick?
Choose Losant if
- You need device connectivity.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration.
- You also want data visualization.
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 Losant or Zigbee Alliance better?
- Neither clearly leads. Losant starts at Free and Zigbee Alliance at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Losant or Zigbee Alliance?
- Losant starts at Free and Zigbee Alliance at Free.
- Does Losant or Zigbee Alliance run on more platforms?
- Losant runs on Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration. Zigbee Alliance runs on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- Can I use Losant for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Losant best used for?
- Losant is most often used for building iot applications with device management and visual workflows, collecting and acting on telemetry from connected equipment. Of those, building iot applications with device management and visual workflows and collecting and acting on telemetry from connected equipment are not what Zigbee Alliance is typically brought in for.
- What can Losant do that Zigbee Alliance cannot?
- Losant covers Device Connectivity, Data Visualization, Workflow Engine, REST API. Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable.