IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Zigbee Alliance vs Losant
Zigbee Alliance
IoT & Smart Home
Low-power wireless standard for IoT and smart home
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Losant
IoT & Smart Home
Cloud-based IoT platform with visualization and workflow automation
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- 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.; Losant no pricing is published at any tier, and the pricing page is a survey form rather than a rate card
- They diverge on capability: Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Losant covers Device Connectivity.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zigbee Alliance and Losant actually diverge.
| Attribute | Zigbee Alliance | Losant |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Platforms | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms | Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration |
| Founded | 2002 | 2014 |
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 Zigbee Alliance
- Low Power
- Mesh Networking
- Self-Healing
- Scalable
- Smart home devices
- Hubs
- Controllers
- Integration platforms
Only in Losant
- Device Connectivity
- Data Visualization
- Workflow Engine
- REST API
- Mobile app
- Dashboard builder
- Alert system
- Data export
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot Losant
- Sensor networksnot Losant
- Home automationnot Losant
- Industrial monitoringnot Losant
Losant
- Building IoT applications with device management and visual workflowsnot Zigbee Alliance
- Collecting and acting on telemetry from connected equipmentnot 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.
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
Losant
Free- SandboxFree
- Limited devices
- Basic features
- Community support
- Enterprise$500/month
- Unlimited devices
- Advanced analytics
- Premium 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 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.
Questions people ask
- Is Zigbee Alliance or Losant better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zigbee Alliance starts at Free and Losant at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Zigbee Alliance or Losant?
- Zigbee Alliance starts at Free and Losant at Free.
- Does Zigbee Alliance or Losant run on more platforms?
- Zigbee Alliance runs on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms. Losant runs on Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard, Device integration.
- Can I use Zigbee Alliance for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Losant is typically brought in for.
- What can Zigbee Alliance do that Losant cannot?
- Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable. Losant covers Device Connectivity, Data Visualization, Workflow Engine, REST API.