KNX smart home overview

BelgiumChecked 11 November 2026

KNX is an open standard for home and building control, owned and maintained by the KNX Association, a non-profit based in Diegem (Brussels), Belgium. It is not a single product or hub: certified devices from many manufacturers share one standard and are configured with the KNX Association's ETS software, normally by a trained installer.

Visit KNX Association website Back to all brands

Works with full table

  • MatterYes
  • Home AssistantNo

Where KNX Association fits in a smart home

A KNX installation is built from certified devices on a wired twisted-pair bus, on radio (KNX RF) or over IP, and each device is given its function in ETS. Smart home apps, voice assistants and other platforms are not part of KNX itself: they sit on top through an IP interface or router, or through a gateway such as the KNX-to-Matter gateways that several manufacturers make.

That suits new builds and renovations where lighting, shading and heating should work from one multi-vendor wired system that keeps running on its own. It is weaker for quick, low-effort setups: devices and ETS licences cost money, projects are normally planned and programmed by a certified installer, and the KNX pages we read say little about how third-party platforms such as Home Assistant or Homey connect.

Runs on
Certified KNX devices on a bus, radio or IP; configured with ETS6 on Windows 10/11
Radios and protocols
Twisted pair (TP), KNX RF at 868 MHz, KNX IP (KNXnet/IP), KNX IoT (IPv6)
Matter
Via KNX-to-Matter gateways from several manufacturers
Integrations / apps
Not stated as a list on KNX pages; project examples with openHAB and Home Assistant

What can be connected

Source: KNX: Technology explained

Apps

ETS6 (Engineering Tool Software)

The KNX Association's Windows desktop software for planning, configuring and commissioning KNX installations. Sold through the MyKNX shop; version 6.4.1 was listed there on the page we read. A free trial limited to 5 devices is described on a KNX support page. There is no ETS mobile app in the pages we read.

MyKNX ETS shop What is ETS?

KNX Virtual

A free Windows simulator that behaves like a KNX installation so ETS can be practised without hardware. It runs locally, needs a MyKNX account to download, and does not use a cloud service according to the KNX page.

KNX Virtual

ETS Apps

Add-on tools for ETS, covering documentation, commissioning, diagnostics and similar tasks, sold in the MyKNX shop.

ETS Apps shop

Compatibility, platform by platform

Official supported by the brand Community built by someone else Not found searched, nothing found Unconfirmed sources conflict or could not be opened

PlatformStatusWhat it meansSources
Hardware, editions and installation
What KNX isOfficialKNX is described on knx.org as a building automation standard, ISO/IEC 14543-3, that connects lighting, climate, shading, security and other functions and lets devices from different manufacturers work together. The KNX Association's standardisation page also lists EN 50090 and EN 13321-1/-2 (CENELEC and CEN), a Chinese standard and ANSI/ASHRAE 135.KNX Standardisation KNX: Technology explained
KNX AssociationOfficialA non-profit organisation with the legal form of a Belgian cvba, founded in May 1999 by members of EIBA, EHSA and BCI. It owns the KNX standard and the KNX trademark worldwide, and its members are mainly manufacturers. Address given on knx.org: De Kleetlaan 5, Bus 11, B 1831 Diegem (Brussels), Belgium. A General Assembly elects an Executive Board for 5 years, supported by a Technical Board and a Marketing Board.Our legacy, mission and objectives Contact Privacy policy
Size and reachUnconfirmedOne KNX history page (the #KNXis35 article, undated on the page we read) states over 500 manufacturer members, more than 8,000 certified products, over 135,000 certified installers (KNX Partners), 45 National Groups, 26 Userclubs and 500 Training Centres in 71 countries. The Association overview page says more than 75,000 partners in more than 190 countries, and the installer page shows 140K installers and 180+ countries. The figures differ between pages and none carries a date, so they are given as shown, not reconciled.KNX history and evolution Our legacy, mission and objectives Find a certified professional
ETS6 licencesOfficialETS6 is the Windows software used to design, configure and commission KNX projects. The MyKNX shop lists, as of the page we read (version 6.4.1, prices in euros excluding VAT and shipping): ETS6 Home 350 (one project, up to 64 devices, cloud licence only), ETS6 Lite 200 (up to 20 devices per project, cloud only) and ETS6 Professional 1,000 (cloud by default, optional USB dongle for 80). A KNX support page describes Professional as unlimited projects and devices. Another KNX page names licence tiers only generally. We could not find an official page naming 'ETS Inspired', so it is not described here.MyKNX ETS shop What is ETS? What is ETS? (knx.org)
Cloud or dongle licenceUnconfirmedA KNX support page says cloud licences work through a MyKNX account, need a permanent internet connection, and can later be converted to a dongle; dongle licences work offline. The shop page says the dongle must be added when ordering and cannot be added afterwards. The two pages disagree on conversion, so check the current terms before buying.License types: dongle or cloud MyKNX ETS shop
KNX VirtualOfficialFree simulator on Windows for practising ETS without hardware; needs a MyKNX account and runs locally. An older KNX article (18 September 2021) says it simulates more than 20 device types on one TP line and needs ETS6 Professional. The current page says a demo version of ETS is enough, so requirements may have changed. KNX Virtual is not a cloud service, and we found no product called KNX Cloud on KNX pages.KNX Virtual ETS6 and KNX Virtual (2021)
Installer-programmed or DIYUnconfirmedKNX pages we read present KNX as a professional route: certified installers (KNX Partners), certified training centres and free ETS eCampus training. An ETS6 Home licence is described for homeowners with one project of up to 64 devices. We found no KNX page that describes a DIY setup path.Find a certified professional What is ETS?
Protocols and ecosystems
Twisted pair (KNX TP)OfficialDescribed as the most established and widely deployed KNX medium, using a dedicated twisted-pair bus cable. An older article gives 9600 bit/s, up to 64 devices per line, 15 lines per area and 15 areas.KNX Technology KNX: Technology explained (2013)
KNX RF (radio)OfficialWireless KNX in the 868 MHz band, aimed at retrofits and battery-powered or battery-less devices, configured in ETS like other devices and connected to a TP line through a media coupler. KNX RF devices can support KNX Data Secure.KNX RF wireless solutions (30 Jul 2026) Why use KNX RF is growing (2018)
KNX IP (KNXnet/IP)OfficialKNX IP routers link TP sections over IP as a backbone and KNX IP interfaces connect an IPv4 network to a KNX installation with tunnelling. ETS support pages give 3671 as the default port.KNX Technology Interfaces (ETS)
KNX SecureOfficialIntroduced in 2015 with two mechanisms: KNX IP Secure (fully encrypted telegrams on KNX IP) and KNX Data Secure (encrypts user data, works on any KNX medium). Uses AES-128 CCM. KNX IP Secure was recognised as EN ISO 22510 (published November 2019, per an article of 25 February 2020). Secure devices carry a certificate with a Factory Default Setup Key used in ETS.KNX Secure devices KNX IP Secure ISO standard
KNX IoTOfficialIPv6-based extension of KNX. Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Thread are listed as supported media, an open-source KNX IoT stack is offered, and a KNX IoT API Server exposes the KNX Information Model (exported by ETS6) to third parties. KNX IoT routers bridge TP, RF or IPv4 devices to KNX IoT devices. A KNX history page dates KNX Standard 3.0 with KNX IoT to 2022-2023 and the open-source stack and first devices to 2023.KNX Technology KNX history and evolution KNX IoT: the future lies in IP (Feb 2022)
MatterOfficialKNX pages position Matter as an addition to KNX, not a replacement. A KNX Association position paper (19 March 2024) calls KNX the backbone and Matter suited to consumer devices, and says Matter itself is not an EN or ISO standard. A KNX article (12 December 2024) says KNX-to-Matter gateways exist, naming 1Home, Elsner, Atios and ABB as makers. The KNX history page says the first KNX-to-Matter gateways launched in 2024. We did not find a KNX page describing how KNX IoT and Matter relate.KNX and Matter: Position Paper KNX and Matter: whatever the customer wants
Wi-Fi and ThreadNot mentionedWi-Fi and Thread appear on KNX pages only as media for KNX IoT devices. Classic KNX (TP, RF, IP) does not use them in the pages we read.KNX Technology
Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, infrared, MQTTNot foundNo mention found in the KNX pages we read.Searched, no source
Google Home, Alexa, Apple Home, SmartThings, HueUnconfirmedNo KNX Association page we read states how these connect. The KNX project database has entries whose titles mention Alexa and Google Home voice control, but their content was not opened, so no claim is made.Searched, no source
Apps, integrations and developer access
Home AssistantNot mentionedA KNX project database entry (iCASA smarthome, Switzerland, 2023) describes a KNX twisted-pair installation with Home Assistant as the open-source software at its core, set up by the integrator Bruhin Engineering. This is a project example, not an official KNX integration statement. A knx.org page whose URL contains 'home-assistant' did not mention Home Assistant in its text.KNX project: iCASA smarthome
openHABNot mentionedA KNX project database entry (Bad Krozingen, Germany, 2014) describes KNX over twisted pair and IP with openHAB running on top for advanced features and remote access via VPN. A project example, not an official statement of support.KNX project: KNX meets OpenSource (openHAB)
Homey, Loxone, Gira, other platformsUnconfirmedWe searched KNX official pages and found no page describing a Homey or Loxone connection. Gira is a KNX manufacturer and founding member of the 1990 EIBA, per the KNX history page, and its KNX RF Multi system is mentioned in a KNX article, but no platform integration is described.KNX history and evolution KNX RF wireless solutions
ETS and ETS AppsOfficialETS imports manufacturer product data, sets group addresses and parameters, downloads to devices, tests with bus and group monitors, documents and backs up projects. The ETS6.4 update is described as adding automatic project backups, faster downloads via serial number and built-in panel diagnostics.What is ETS? KNX Software
Developer and open specificationsOfficialKNX IoT has an open-source stack and a KNX IoT Third Party API, approved as a standard according to a February 2022 article, with the KNX Information Model approved as EN 50090-6-2.KNX IoT: the future lies in IP KNX Technology
CertificationOfficialCertification grants the right to use the KNX trademark, and certified KNX IoT API Servers are tested against the KNX specifications. The KNX history page states over 8,000 certified products from over 500 manufacturers (undated on the page we read).KNX Technology KNX history and evolution

Checked 11 November 2026 against the brand's own pages, app store listings and each project's own page. “Not found” means we searched and found nothing, not that it is impossible. Compatibility changes often. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix it.

Common questions about KNX Association

Does KNX Association support Matter?

Yes, officially. KNX pages position Matter as an addition to KNX, not a replacement. A KNX Association position paper (19 March 2024) calls KNX the backbone and Matter suited to consumer devices, and says Matter itself is not an EN or ISO standard. A KNX article (12 December 2024) says KNX-to-Matter gateways exist, naming 1Home, Elsner, Atios and ABB as makers. The KNX history page says the first KNX-to-Matter gateways launched in 2024. We did not find a KNX page describing how KNX IoT and Matter relate.

Does KNX Association work with Home Assistant?

Not that we could find. A KNX project database entry (iCASA smarthome, Switzerland, 2023) describes a KNX twisted-pair installation with Home Assistant as the open-source software at its core, set up by the integrator Bruhin Engineering. This is a project example, not an official KNX integration statement. A knx.org page whose URL contains 'home-assistant' did not mention Home Assistant in its text.

Answers come from the sourced table above. See how KNX Association compares with all brands on the smart home brand statistics page.