Amazon links are affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Links to makers' own stores and other retailers are plain links that earn me nothing.
Quick verdict
The ZWA-2 is Nabu Casa's first-party Z-Wave 800 controller, built by the same team behind Z-Wave JS. The tuned antenna and Z-Wave Long Range support make it a strong, future-proof choice, and setup and migration in Home Assistant are about as smooth as Z-Wave gets. It is Z-Wave only, so pair it with the ZBT-2 if you also need Zigbee or Thread.
Standout: First-party Z-Wave 800 series controller designed by the Z-Wave JS and Home Assistant team, with a tuned antenna and Z-Wave Long Range support.
Notes last checked Sep 1, 2026.
Compatibility snapshot
Home AssistantexcellentFull local control, no cloud needed. Native Home Assistant integration or a local protocol.
Apple HomenoneNo official support on this platform.
Google HomenoneNo official support on this platform.
AlexanoneNo official support on this platform.
Works offlineyes
Setupeasy
Extra hub neededno
PowerUSB radio dongle
Local control facts
Home Assistant: zwave_js integration, Local Push (home-assistant.io, checked Oct 10, 2026)
Z-Wave JS: in the device database, listed as Nabu Casa NC-ZWA-9734 (Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2) (github.com, checked Oct 22, 2026)
Why it stands out
first-party Z-Wave 800 (Silicon Labs ZG23) controller with a precisely tuned antenna for range
designed by the Z-Wave JS and Home Assistant team for smooth setup and migration
supports both Z-Wave mesh and Z-Wave Long Range
Reasons to hesitate
Z-Wave only, no Zigbee or Thread (use the ZBT-2 for those)
placement still matters: stand it upright on the included 1.5 m USB cable, clear of radio-blocking obstructions
a controller alone cannot fix a poorly planned mesh
Best for
Home Assistant users building or migrating a local-first Z-Wave network
anyone wanting a first-party Z-Wave 800 controller with strong range
Avoid if
you need Zigbee or Thread, which this does not provide
you want an Ethernet-attached controller rather than USB
Privacy and local-control notes
First-party Nabu Casa Z-Wave controller. All control happens locally through Z-Wave JS inside Home Assistant, with no vendor cloud in the control path.
Home Assistant support: supported · integration path: Z-Wave JS.
Buying reality check
Price notes: First-party Z-Wave 800 controller. Designed by the team behind Z-Wave JS. MSRP $69 USD / 59 EUR on the Home Assistant product page (verified 2026-09-01). The Amazon buy box read $79 the same day, so that listing carries a retailer markup; ameriDroid ($68.95) and Apollo Automation ($68.99) sell at about MSRP. Quote $69 as the price and name the Amazon gap separately - do NOT write $79 as the list price.
Verified price reads: lowest seen $79, latest $79 on Oct 29, 2026.
Smart lock picks judged on local behavior and Home Assistant reality, sorted by radio: Z-Wave, Matter over Thread, Zigbee, and Wi-Fi locks that only look local.
The Aqara Wireless Mini Switch is the button I run and the one to buy first, plus Third Reality on Zigbee, Zooz ZEN34 on Z-Wave and IKEA BILRESA on Thread.
