Automation
Self-host Zigbee2MQTT on a VPS
Free your Zigbee devices from vendor hubs.
Bridge Zigbee devices to MQTT without a proprietary gateway, with support for thousands of devices.
Why self-host Zigbee2MQTT?
Zigbee2MQTT removes the vendor hub and cloud, giving you local control of your Zigbee devices.
How to install Zigbee2MQTT
- 1
Provision a VPS
Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.
- 2
Install the stack
Install Node.js + Zigbee adapter.
- 3
Deploy the application
Follow the project’s official install guide for your distribution.
- 4
Enable HTTPS
Serve it on your own domain behind a reverse proxy with a certificate.
- 5
Back it up
Schedule a database dump plus a copy of any uploaded files to an off-box location.
Practical tips
- Give Zigbee2MQTT its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
- Reverse-proxy Zigbee2MQTT and terminate TLS at the proxy so certificates are managed in one place.
- Take a VPS snapshot before major upgrades so you can roll back cleanly.
- Keep Zigbee2MQTT patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.
Frequently asked questions
- How much RAM does Zigbee2MQTT need?
- Plan on 1 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.
- What stack does Zigbee2MQTT run on?
- Node.js + Zigbee adapter.
- Can I run other things on the same VPS?
- Yes — size the plan so Zigbee2MQTT plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.
Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include ZHA (Home Assistant), deCONZ, Vendor hubs — browse all app guides.