Reddit mentions of HomeSeer HS-WD200+ Z-Wave Plus Scene-Capable Smart Dimmer Switch w/RGB LED indicators | Built-in Repeater Range Extender | Works with Alexa, Google Home & IFTTT (Hub Required) | Works With SmartThings

I've used both HomeSeer and Zooz. I'll discuss the 3 flagship dimmers- Zooz ZEN27, HomeSeer HS-WD200+, and Inovelli LZW31-SN (Red Series Gen2 dimmer). Please let me know if I get anything wrong or miss something here!

Zooz ZEN27 is quite solid. Works great, despite being the cheapest at $33. No reddit/forum presence that I can see, but their email support responds super fast (I've only emailed to ask for firmware updates, they reply in under one day) and are extremely friendly.
Zooz design philosophy seems to be take a simple product and make it solid but functional without breaking the bank. They don't have bells/whistles like others, but they are responsive to firmware requests (for example, they recently added support for multi-tap scene control). ZEN27 is part of their 2nd generation switch series.

HomeSeer doesn't have much Reddit presence but they have an active forum community at their site which includes participation by HomeSeer employees. HomeSeer's subreddit isn't as active as their site's (very extensive and helpful) community forum, but /u/HomeSeerMark is an active Redditor. Product quality is very good. HomeSeer was the first to go after the tweaker tech enthusiast category, adding things like multi-tap scene control and remotely controllable LEDs, the 200 series switch is their 2nd generation of Z-Wave switch. They aim to be the 'gold standard' of Z-Wave switches, thus their relatively high price of $50.
HomeSeer design philosophy has a HomeSeer type hub in mind- where the majority of the intelligence is in the hub and there's no need to work around dumb hubs. Thus they aren't a great match for a 'dumb' hub like Wink that can't program their advanced features.


Inovelli of course has a big presence online and on reddit- /u/InovelliUSA is their head guy and they have an active forum on their website that several Inovelli employees post in on a daily basis. Inovelli is unique in that they are running their product development largely openly, with frequent status updates. I've not used their products yet but I've read good things. Info I quote here is from what I've read. Price is middle of the pack at $40 on Amazon, although it's slightly cheaper on their website ($36-$37).
Inovelli design philosophy seems to be make the switch do everything for everybody, including those with dumb hubs. Thus all their functionality can be controlled via Z-Wave, but a lot can also be done locally. A second on-switch button allows a programming mode, where tapping buttons various numbers of times will configure most functionality. As a side note, their current functionality is limited by the small amount of flash in the Z-Wave 500 series chip that runs the switch. They've mentioned the next generation will use Z-Wave 700 series chips, which have more storage and thus can handle more functionality. The Z-Wave 700 series chips weren't widely available as of the LZW31-SN's release, thus the use of 500 series chips.

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Main differences between the 3 flagship dimmers:

LEDs:
Zooz has one blue LED. It can be set to be on when load is on (status mode) or on when load is off (standby mode).
HomeSeer has 7 small round LEDs on the left side of the switch. By default they are white and light from bottom to top to indicate dimming level. Each LED can be individually controlled by z-wave command- set to 7 colors (red / green / blue / magenta / yellow / cyan / white) or turned off. Blinking is also available. Bottom LED can be set as a standby light (goes on only when load is off).
Inovelli has a translucent bar that's backlit by several LEDs. The color of the bar can be set almost infinitely, as can blink rate and total brightness, using this calculator to create the config string to send via Z-Wave. However the LEDs are NOT individually addressable, so you can't have (for example) the top LED be green and the bottom LED be red and the ones in the middle blue. White also appears not to be a supported color.
It's worth noting that the HomeSeer LEDs are pretty small and unobtrusive; the Inovelli LED strip is (from the videos I've seen) far more prominent and easier to see from across the room.

3-way capability:
Zooz uses a dumb switch as the 3-way control. This will turn the light on and off but nothing else (no dimming or scene control). The dumb switch is a standard 3-way addon switch, so it will have an on and off position that may not reflect the state of the light.
HomeSeer sells a dedicated add-on switch (HS-WA100+, it's $20). Like the main dimmer, this is a neutral paddle (sits in the middle, and can be tapped up or down). Tapping the top or bottom is the same as tapping the top or bottom of the main switch- tap for on/off, hold for dim, multi-tap for scene control.
Inovelli can be used either with a dumb switch (which gives the same limitations as Zooz) or with an add-on switch (which gives the same functionality as HomeSeer). Inovelli does not make add-on switches, but their dimmer works with the HomeSeer HS-WA100+ or with the GE add-on switch.

Scene Control:
Zooz has only recently added multi-tap scene control with a firmware update. Multi-taps also trigger the default functions on the switch- IE double tap of the top turns on the light to 100% (in addition to whatever scene it triggers), triple tap of the top initiates Z-Wave add/remove mode, etc. However all taps (single or multi) and tap/hold/release are reported as central scene commands and thus can be used to trigger other actions, as long as you don't mind the switch also reacting.
HomeSeer has extensive multi-tap capability. Up to 5 taps of the top and bottom of the paddle, plus holding the top and bottom. Single tap WILL always turn the load on/off. Tap/hold WILL always dim the load, although the dimming function can be restricted.
Inovelli has the most extensive scene control. Up to 5 taps of top and bottom of paddle (I've heard 6 taps in some places, so not sure of this), plus tap/hold/release. The config button can also be single-pressed as another scene trigger.
Unique to Inovelli- the internal relay control can be disabled, so single tap / tap+hold doesn't turn the attached light on/off/dim. This essentially makes the switch a scene controller and a separate light controller, so any command to turn the attached load on/off MUST come from the hub. This is useful for smart bulbs where you never want the power shut off, or situations where you want to force the lights to be on or off without local control.

Power Control / Dimming:
Zooz has smooth dimming with no detectable flicker. However the 1% seems to be decently bright.
HomeSeer seems to dim much more deeply, but with flicker. Note that I have this on a different type of LED than the Zooz so the flicker could be a bulb problem. It's worth noting that many LEDs will flicker or not start at super low dim levels no matter what dimmer feeds them.
I've not used or heard anything about Inovelli dimmers in this regard.

Unique features:
Inovelli has two unique features- first they don't require a neutral wire. Second, the switch includes load monitoring, so you can monitor the consumed wattage of your lights. However the load monitoring only works if the switch is wired with a neutral wire connected.

Hope that helps!

//edit1: fixed Homeseer design philosophy saying Inovelli, added /u/HomeSeerMark, added Amazon links, clarified why Inovelli uses Z-Wave 500 chips in their dimmer.

In the process of building a new home but here is what we are doing for most of the switches.

Most lights will be on GE motion zwave dimmer. Plan to use the motion as part of home alarm system as well as other triggers.

GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Lighting Control Motion Sensor Dimmer Switch, In-Wall, Vacancy/Occupancy Sensor, 26933
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071Y38FX5

Lights in multi gang boxes that already have a motion zwave will get the Homeseer 200 smart switch. The fans will be controlled by the Homeseer 200 fan switches. I plan to take advantage of their multi tap features to control other switches or automations and the leds to indicate current situations.

HomeSeer HS-WD200+ Z-Wave Plus Scene-Capable Wall Dimmer Switch w/RGB LED indicators
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079F38TPF

https://shop.homeseer.com/products/homeseer-hs-fc200-z-wave-plus-fan-controller

From my research these are the best/ most versatile zwave switches you can get.


I’d avoid smart bulbs for reasons mentioned already. I’d want everything to work without smarts if needed.

Personally, I've had good luck with these: https://www.amazon.com/Enerwave-ZW15RM-PLUS-App-Controlled-Automation-Interchangeable/dp/B07FKW42P6/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=z-wave+outlet&qid=1562176329&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

As far as switches, I've got one of these (I figure the lights on the side help guests understand the functionality since it's not a standard on/off rocker switch): https://www.amazon.com/HomeSeer-HS-WD200-Z-Wave-Scene-Capable-Dimmer/dp/B079F38TPF/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?keywords=z-wave+switch&qid=1562176362&s=gateway&sr=8-19-spons&psc=1

That said, I've not yet installed the switch, so I can't vouch for it. Those outlets have been great with HA, though!

Since you already have SmartThings, why don’t you just get a zwave switch? Such as this one here
Honeywell Z-Wave Plus Smart Light Dimmer Switch, In-Wall Paddle, Interchangeable White & Almond | Built-In Repeater & Range Extender | ZWave Hub Required - SmartThings, Wink, Alexa Compatible, 39351 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B3LXZJ9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JDdADb3VYWN4Z

Zwave is far more reliable than Wi-Fi, I haven’t tested Lutron but I assume Lutron uses wi-if. Z-wave is a low power frequency making the device smoother.

And if you want extra functionality choose this:


HomeSeer HS-WD200+ Z-Wave Plus Scene-Capable Smart Dimmer Switch w/RGB LED indicators | Built-in Repeater Range Extender | Works with Alexa, Google Home & IFTTT (Hub Required) | Works With SmartThings https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079F38TPF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bGdADbZH2YNTP


This switch can use of its leds to show the status of a door, light, garage door, lock etc.