J1-J6Technologies
Five protocols. One task.
The protocol decides the range, the battery life and the cost of every unit. Tell us about your device and we'll recommend one - or compare the protocols yourself.
Which protocol?
A few questions. A clear recommendation.
The answers don't have to be exact. They just show which way the task leans.
How far does the link have to reach?
The answers don't have to be exact. They just show which way the task leans.
Show the recommendationThe protocols
Each protocol on its own
- NFC & RFID13.56 MHzPhone taps, access cards and authenticity tags - at 13.56 MHz, over a few centimetres.
- Bluetooth Low Energy2.4 GHzSensors that run for years on a battery, and a link to the phone - Bluetooth LE 5 at 2.4 GHz.
- LoRaWAN868 MHzSensors kilometres from the gateway, running for years on a battery - for fields, buildings and cities.
- Wi-Fi & ESP322.4 GHzDevices on the network you already have: a local web interface, MQTT and over-the-air updates.
- Matter, Thread & Zigbee802.15.4Smart-home devices on a mesh network, designed for Matter - the standard behind Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa.
Comparison
Every protocol in one table
Typical values from the standards. Real range depends on the antenna, the walls and the terrain.
| Protocol | Range | Rate | Power | Topology | Phone | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFC | up to ~4 cm | 106-424 kbit/s | Tags need no battery | Point to point | Yes, built-in reader | Access, authenticity, tap to configure |
| Bluetooth LE | 10-100 m | 1-2 Mbit/s | Battery for years | Star, broadcast, mesh | Yes, directly | Sensors, wearables, apps |
| LoRaWAN | 2-15 km | 0.25-50 kbit/s | Battery for years | Star of gateways | Not directly | Buildings, farming, cities |
| Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) | 30-50 m indoors | up to 150 Mbit/s | Usually mains | Star | Over the network | Web interfaces, displays, gateways |
| Thread / Zigbee | 10-100 m per hop | 250 kbit/s | Battery for years | Mesh | Through a hub, Matter | Smart home, lighting, sensors |
Questions about protocols
What is the best protocol for IoT?
There is no best one, only the right one: it depends on range, power and data. That is why every project of ours starts with those three questions.
Can one device have several protocols?
Yes, and it is often sensible: Bluetooth LE for setup from the phone, and Wi-Fi or LoRaWAN for the data. ESP32, for example, has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE in one chip.
Which protocol is cheapest?
The unit cost depends more on the radio module, the antenna and certification than on the protocol itself. We work it out for your quantities.
What is Matter, and do I need it?
Matter is a common smart-home standard. You need it if the device will live in a home or office with Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa.