$300 – $700
Premium Z-Wave motorized shades with Somfy motors and Costco availability
Use SmartThings or Hubitat
Full Z-Wave integration support
Need many windows automated
Control up to 24 shades with one remote
Shop at Costco
Available through Costco with special pricing
Use Z-Wave smart home hub
Native Z-Wave with Somfy motors
Use Apple HomeKit
No HomeKit support (Z-Wave only)
Want Matter compatibility
No Matter - Z-Wave protocol only
Want direct WiFi connection
Z-Wave only, requires hub
On tight budget
Premium custom pricing ($300-700+)
Shades may appear as both blind and garage door in HA - need to configure properly
HA CommunityRequires Z-Wave hub like SmartThings or Wink for voice control - not direct
Bali documentationLimited to 7 shades per Bali Gateway device
Bali specsBattery powered option requires 8AA lithium batteries per shade
Product manualNo HomeKit
commonCause: Z-Wave protocol
Hub required
commonCause: Z-Wave needs hub for smart features
Premium pricing
commonCause: Custom made-to-order
Gateway shade limit
occasionalCause: 7 shades per gateway max
Not having Z-Wave hub
Cannot use smart home features, only remote
Tip: Get SmartThings, Hubitat, or Bali Gateway
Expecting direct WiFi connection
Need hub for any smart features
Tip: Budget for Z-Wave hub with shades
Ordering too many shades for one gateway
Need multiple gateways, 7 shades per gateway limit
Tip: Plan gateway needs before ordering
Bali app remote access, scheduling sync
Z-Wave local control via hub, remote control, local scheduling
Position, schedules via Bali app
Z-Wave operates locally with SmartThings/Hubitat. Bali gateway enables cloud app. Can work fully local with Z-Wave hub and Home Assistant.
Tested with up to 24 devices
Z-Wave 65ft range. Somfy 12V motors. 24 shades per remote. 7 shades per gateway. Battery or wired power. Custom sizes. SmartThings/Hubitat/HA native.
No HomeKit/Matter. Hub required. 7 shades per gateway. Premium pricing. Z-Wave only. Battery changes. No direct WiFi.
Graber Virtual Cord
If: Want similar Z-Wave alternative
Lutron Serena
If: Need HomeKit support
Yoolax Matter Blinds
If: Want Matter/HomeKit support
Use Z-Wave hub (SmartThings/Hubitat)
Reliable Z-Wave, Somfy quality
Have Costco membership
Good pricing and support through Costco
Use Apple HomeKit
No HomeKit - get Lutron Serena
Want simple direct WiFi setup
Z-Wave requires hub - consider WiFi shades
Both use Somfy Z-Wave motors with similar specs. Main difference is dealer network and styling options. Bali available at Costco, Graber through dealer network. Choose based on availability and style.
Source: ComparisonUp to 24 shades with one remote. The Bali Gateway supports up to 7 shades per device. For more than 7 shades with app control, you need multiple gateways.
Source: Bali specsYes, Bali has a special relationship with Costco. You can order custom Bali motorized shades through Costco with competitive pricing and their return policy.
Source: Costco/BaliYes, via Z-Wave integration. Shades work well with Home Assistant through Z-Wave. Some users report shades appearing as both blind and garage door initially - just configure the correct entity.
Source: HA CommunityNo, Bali AutoView shades use Z-Wave protocol which is not compatible with Apple HomeKit. For HomeKit, consider Lutron Serena or Matter-enabled shades.
Source: Product specs