Comparison · Hubs & platforms
Z-Wave smart home devices in 2026: still worth a hub?
Long-range, locks, and the devices Matter has not replaced yet.
Our pick: Keep Z-Wave for locks and range; do not start a new house on it alone
Z-Wave smart home devices did not get the 2026 keynote. They got something better: devices that still report lock state from the far bathroom. If you already own a Z-Wave stick, do not throw it away. If you are starting from zero, do not build the whole house on it.
Where Z-Wave still wins
- Certain US locks and garage/barrier devices with a long install base
- Long Range battery sensors across a big lot
- A mesh that is not sharing 2.4 GHz with the kid’s homework
Where to stop buying
New lighting and plugs should be Matter/Thread unless you are matching an existing Z-Wave switch gang. Zooz and similar remain fine for in-wall if the rest of the house is already Z-Wave.
Hub reality
Home Assistant plus a 800-series stick, or a Hubitat, is the 2026 Z-Wave brain. SmartThings still speaks it; treat that as a transition, not a destination.
Questions we get
Is Z-Wave obsolete now that Matter exists?
No. Z-Wave Long Range and a pile of US locks and repeaters still work when Wi-Fi Matter plugs flake. It is a mature mesh, not a growth story. New builds should be Matter/Thread first with Z-Wave as a specialist radio.