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Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA: how should you choose?

Two solid local approaches for operating a Zigbee network with Home Assistant.

Reading time: 7 min

ZHA: direct integration

ZHA is built into Home Assistant. It suits users who want a direct setup, one interface and fewer components to maintain.

Zigbee2MQTT: an independent service

Zigbee2MQTT runs as a separate service and publishes devices through MQTT. It is valued for its device catalogue, advanced settings and independence from the smart-home interface.

The right deciding factor

Choose according to the devices you need and the required level of control. Back up the configuration before migrating and never run two services on the same coordinator.

  • ZHA for central administration in Home Assistant
  • Zigbee2MQTT for more settings and a decoupled service
  • check device compatibility before migrating