What is Shelly?
Shelly is the smart home brand of Allterco Robotics (distributed as "Shelly Europe"). Shelly became famous for extremely compact in-wall modules that fit into a standard switch box and work directly over your WLAN without an extra hub. Instead of a forced cloud, Shelly relies on local control: via the Shelly app, a built-in web interface or open protocols (MQTT, Home Assistant, Matter) you control everything without a manufacturer account.
What began as small relays has become a complete range: dimmers, smart plugs, sensors, energy meters, wall displays and – for commercial use and the distribution board – the Pro series for the DIN rail.
Gen3 and Gen4 – what is the difference?
"Gen" refers to the device generation. All variants serve the same purpose (switching, measuring, dimming) but differ in wireless technology:
| Generation | Wireless standards | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Gen1 (Classic) | Wi-Fi | The original series, inexpensive, pure WLAN |
| Gen3 | Wi-Fi + BLE | Bluetooth setup, local control, value for money |
| Gen4 | Wi-Fi 6 + BLE + Zigbee + Matter | Fastest WLAN, Zigbee/Matter, best ecosystem integration |
The Gen4 range is the most future-proof choice: it talks to Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings and can also act as a Zigbee or Matter gateway for your network.
Wi-Fi, Z-Wave or BLU – which standard fits?
| Standard | Range | Typical devices | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi (Gen3/Gen4) | WLAN coverage | 1/1PM/2PM, Plug, Dimmer | Standard home with good WLAN |
| Z-Wave (Wave) | very large (mesh, Long Range) | Wave 1PM, Wave Plug, Wave Pro | large areas, basements, garages |
| Bluetooth (BLU) | short (approx. 10–30 m) | BLU Button, BLU H&T, BLU Motion | tiny battery sensors & buttons |
| LAN (Pro) | cable | Pro 1PM/2PM/4PM, Pro 3EM | DIN rail, distribution board, commercial |
Important for BLU: Bluetooth sensors and buttons need a bridge – the Shelly BLU Gateway (USB) or a nearby Wi-Fi Shelly device with Bluetooth. Without a bridge the BLU devices cannot reach the network.
The model families at a glance
| Family | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 / 1PM | 1 channel; "PM" = with power monitoring | Shelly 1PM Gen4 |
| 2PM / 2.5 | 2 channels or shutter/blind | Shelly 2PM Gen3 |
| Mini | especially compact for tight boxes (8 A) | Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 |
| 1L / 2L | work without a neutral wire, bypass required | Shelly 1L Gen3 |
| Plus | previous generation of Gen3 with BLE | Shelly Plus 1PM |
| Pro | DIN rail, LAN port | Shelly Pro 4PM |
| Wave | Z-Wave instead of WLAN | Shelly Wave 2PM |
| BLU | Bluetooth battery devices | Shelly BLU H&T |
Installation & safety
Shelly in-wall modules are wired directly in the switch or junction box – work on 230 V installations must only be carried out by a qualified electrician or in accordance with local regulations. For boxes without a neutral wire there is the L series (1L/2L); for boxes with too little space the Mini range. The Pro series is mounted on the DIN rail in the distribution board.
For maximum range outdoors or across several floors, the Wave series with Z-Wave Long Range is recommended; for the distribution board, the wired Pro series.