Matter vs. Zigbee: Do You Need to Replace Anything?

If you’ve been exploring smart home devices for a while, chances are you’ve come across Zigbee many times. It’s one of the most popular smart home technologies ever made — powering everything from motion sensors to light bulbs and smart plugs.

Now, a newer standard called Matter is everywhere. It promises simplicity, compatibility, and a future where all smart home devices can finally speak the same language. However, it does not include Zigbee and relies on Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet instead. 

For many people, this raises a worrying question: Does Matter make Zigbee obsolete?
And even more importantly: Should you start replacing your Zigbee devices?

The short answer is no. And with Homey Pro, the story gets even better, because both Matter and Zigbee work beautifully together. This article explains the differences, the strengths of each technology, and why the combination — not the competition — is what makes your smart home truly shine.

Zigbee: A Proven, Reliable Workhorse

Zigbee has been a backbone of smart homes for more than a decade. It’s a low-power, mesh-based wireless protocol ideal for motion sensors, switches, light bulbs, LED strips and many other devices. What makes Zigbee so loved is its simplicity, maturity, and wide acceptance.

• It forms a strong mesh network where devices help relay each other’s signals.
• It’s efficient enough for battery-powered devices to last months or years.
• It’s incredibly stable, even when your Wi-Fi is overloaded.

Zigbee is also deeply embedded in the smart home world. Many of the most reliable sensors and switches — products homeowners trust every day — run on Zigbee. And with Homey Pro’s built-in Zigbee support, it remains a first-class citizen in your home.

Matter: The New Universal Standard

Matter isn’t here to replace Zigbee. Instead, it’s here to solve a different problem. Where Zigbee focuses on device communication, Matter focuses on compatibility and interoperability. In other words, Matter aims to simplify the smart home for everyone.

• Devices become easier to set up, thanks to simple QR pairing.
• Families can use different smart ecosystems at the same time — Homey, Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa.
• Everything runs locally, so devices respond fast and without delays.
• Brands follow the same rules, so features and behaviour are consistent.

Imagine buying a smart plug like the Eve Energy and knowing it will work seamlessly with Homey today, and any other ecosystem you might use tomorrow. When a device is Matter-certified, you can rest assured that it will work with any smart home controller you choose.

So What’s the Real Difference?

Here’s the easiest way to think about it.

Zigbee is a communication protocol.
It defines how devices send signals through your home using a mesh network. Zigbee devices talk to a Zigbee smart home hub, like Homey Bridge, Homey Pro or Homey Pro mini.

Matter is a universal standard.
It tells devices how to behave, how to pair, how to interact, and how to stay compatible across ecosystems. Matter devices talk to a Matter controller, like Homey Pro or Homey Pro mini.

And because Homey Pro supports both, you don’t have to choose. You can use both Zigbee and Matter-certified devices in your smart home without having to pick or settle for only one. 

Will Zigbee Devices Ever Become Matter Devices?

Zigbee is not part of the Matter specification. Meaning, a Zigbee device will not be able to talk over Matter directly. Some manufacturers may eventually update certain Zigbee products to support Thread, the underlying mesh protocol for Matter, but for most devices, this won’t happen. They are built differently at the hardware level and won’t simply “convert.”

This is where Matter bridging comes into play. Homey has a dedicated Matter Bridge app that allows you to share and export your Zigbee devices from Homey to other third-party Matter controllers as Matter devices. With the Matter Bridge app, you can simply share a Zigbee smart plug as a Matter device to Apple Home and it will get recognized as a Matter smart plug. 

Using Zigbee and Matter Together With Homey

This is where everything comes together beautifully. With Homey Pro, you can seamlessly mix technologies—like having a new Matter bulb respond instantly to a Zigbee motion sensor you’ve owned for years.

You can combine Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Matter devices in the same automation Flow, and even share your Homey devices with other ecosystems via Matter Bridge. You don't need to replace your current setup to start using Matter; your smart home doesn’t have to match, because Homey already speaks every language.

Which Should You Choose for New Devices?

If you're buying new gear, Matter is the future-proof choice. It guarantees compatibility, ensuring your devices will work seamlessly with any major platform without any guesswork. It eliminates the need to figure out if a device is supported in your smart home.

However, Zigbee remains a fantastic option. It is affordable, offers a massive variety of available devices, and is incredibly stable. If you already have Zigbee sensors or bulbs, buying more Zigbee devices is a smart move. This is because every mains-powered Zigbee device acts as a repeater, so adding more actually makes your existing network stronger and more reliable.

The ideal smart home mixes both, and thanks to Homey, you never have to choose between them.

Conclusion

Matter and Zigbee may sound like competing technologies, but they’re not rivals at all. Zigbee remains a rock-solid, reliable network for sensors and switches. Matter brings a new layer of simplicity and ecosystem freedom. Together, especially with Homey Pro tying them into one seamless experience, they make your smart home stronger, smarter, and far more flexible.

Thinking about upgrading your home? Start by adding one new Matter device while keeping your Zigbee setup as is. With Homey at the center, both technologies can shine in your smart home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Matter replace Zigbee?

No. Matter is a compatibility standard, not a replacement for Zigbee.

Can Zigbee devices work with Matter?

Not directly. Most Zigbee devices need to be bridged via a smart hub like Homey to become Matter devices. 

Do I need to replace my Zigbee devices with Matter?

Not at all. Zigbee remains reliable and fully supported by Homey.

Are Matter devices better than Zigbee devices?

Not necessarily. Matter offers compatibility benefits, while Zigbee excels at low-power mesh networking.

Can I use Zigbee and Matter devices together?

Yes. Homey Pro lets both technologies work side-by-side in the same Flows.

Is Thread the same as Zigbee?

No. While they use the same radio hardware, they speak different languages. Thread is IP-based (like Wi-Fi), whereas Zigbee is a separate standard.

Does Homey Pro support both Zigbee and Matter?

Yes. It supports Zigbee, Matter, Thread, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 433 MHz and IR.

Will Zigbee disappear as Matter grows?

Unlikely. Zigbee remains widely used in modern smart homes and professional systems.

Are Zigbee devices more affordable than Matter devices?

Often yes, especially for simple sensors and switches.

What’s the best choice for new devices — Zigbee or Matter?

Choose Matter for maximum interoperability and future-proofing. Choose Zigbee if you want to expand an existing, stable mesh network. Since Homey supports both, you can mix them freely.