Zigbee for battery-powered sensors and wide device support. Z-Wave for reliability with fewer interference issues. Wi-Fi for standalone plugs and cameras. Thread/Matter for future-proofing. Most Home Assistant users start with Zigbee.

For Zigbee and Z-Wave devices, yes. A coordinator (like a SONOFF Zigbee dongle) plugs into your Home Assistant server. Wi-Fi devices connect directly to your router. Thread devices need a Thread border router.

A Zigbee coordinator, two door/window sensors, a motion sensor, and a smart plug. That setup covers presence detection, security alerts, and basic automation. Total cost is usually under $50 with the devices we carry.