IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Zigbee Alliance vs Crestron
Zigbee Alliance
IoT & Smart Home
Low-power wireless standard for IoT and smart home
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Crestron
IoT & Smart Home
Enterprise-grade control and automation technology
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zigbee Alliance has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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.; 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.
- They diverge on capability: Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Crestron covers Enterprise Control.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zigbee Alliance and Crestron actually diverge.
| Attribute | Zigbee Alliance | Crestron |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | open-source | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms | Control systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screens |
| Founded | 2002 | 1971 |
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 Zigbee Alliance
- Low Power
- Mesh Networking
- Self-Healing
- Scalable
- Smart home devices
- Hubs
- Controllers
- Integration platforms
Only in Crestron
- Enterprise Control
- Powerful Programming
- Extensive Integration
- Reliability
- 5000+ devices
- Custom protocols
- Web/Mobile apps
- Touch panels
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot Crestron
- Sensor networksnot Crestron
- Home automationnot Crestron
- Industrial monitoringnot Crestron
Crestron
- Conference room automationnot Zigbee Alliance
- Building managementnot Zigbee Alliance
- Campus-wide controlnot Zigbee Alliance
- Corporate AVnot Zigbee Alliance
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
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.
Pricing, plan by plan
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
Crestron
On request- Professional$1000/month
- Programming tools
- Device control
- Advanced features
- Enterprise$10000/month
- Large deployments
- Custom solutions
- Enterprise support
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Crestron if
- You need enterprise control.
- You work on Control systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screens.
- You also want powerful programming.
Questions people ask
- Is Zigbee Alliance or Crestron better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zigbee Alliance starts at Free and Crestron at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Zigbee Alliance or Crestron?
- Zigbee Alliance has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Zigbee Alliance and On request for Crestron.
- Does Zigbee Alliance or Crestron run on more platforms?
- Zigbee Alliance runs on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms. Crestron runs on Control systems, Mobile apps, Web interfaces, Touch screens.
- 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 Zigbee Alliance best used for?
- Zigbee Alliance is most often used for smart lighting, sensor networks, home automation, industrial monitoring. Of those, smart lighting and sensor networks are not what Crestron is typically brought in for.
- What can Zigbee Alliance do that Crestron cannot?
- Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable. Crestron covers Enterprise Control, Powerful Programming, Extensive Integration, Reliability.