EP1 vs EPL: Which Sensor is Right for You?

Not sure which Everything Presence sensor to choose? This guide compares the Everything Presence One (EP1) and Everything Presence Lite (EPL) to help you decide.

Quick Comparison

Feature	EP1	EPL
Primary Strength	Static presence detection	Real-time tracking & zones
Best At	Detecting very still people	Knowing where people are
Max Range	25m	6m
Zone Support	No	Yes (rectangles & polygons)
Multi-target Tracking	No	Yes (up to 3 targets)
PIR Sensor	Yes	No
Temperature & Humidity	Yes	No
Light Sensor	Yes	Yes
CO2 Module (optional)	Yes	Yes
SmartThings Support	Yes	No
Homey Support	Yes	Yes
Home Assistant Support	Yes	Yes
Zone Configurator Support	Yes (visualization)	Yes (full features)

Detection Approach

EP1: Static Presence Detection

The EP1 is optimized for detecting stationary people over long periods. Its mmWave sensor combined with PIR excels at knowing someone is in a room, even when they're barely moving—reading a book, working at a desk, or sleeping.

Key strengths:

Detects very still people for extended periods (hours)
Long-range detection up to 25 meters
Combines PIR (motion) and mmWave (presence) for reliable occupancy
Built-in temperature, humidity, and light sensors

EPL: Real-Time Tracking & Zones

The EPL tracks where people are in real-time, not just whether they're present. It reports X/Y coordinates, distance, speed, and angle for up to 3 people simultaneously.

Key strengths:

Precise location tracking within a room
Create detection zones (rectangles or custom polygons)
Entry/exit zones for directional triggers
Visual zone setup with the Zone Configurator
Multi-person tracking (up to 3 targets)

Zone Configurator

The Zone Configurator is a Home Assistant add-on that works with both devices:

Feature	EP1	EPL
Live Dashboard	✓ Environmental monitoring	✓ Real-time tracking
Room Builder	✓	✓
Zone Editor	✗	✓
Entry/Exit Zones	✗	✓
Heatmap	✗	✓
Trail Recording	✗	✓
Comfort Index	✓	✗
Daily Statistics	✓	✓

When to Choose EP1

You need to detect very still people reliably (sleeping, reading, meditating)
You need long-range detection (up to 25m)
You want temperature and humidity monitoring built-in
You need SmartThings compatibility
You want PIR + mmWave combined for maximum reliability
You just need to know "is someone in this room?" — not where exactly

When to Choose EPL

You need to know where someone is, not just that they're present
You want to create specific zones within a room (desk area, couch, doorway)
You need multi-person tracking (up to 3 targets)
You want to trigger different automations based on which part of a room someone is in
You need entry/exit detection for directional triggers

Common Use Cases

Use Case	Recommended	Why
Bathroom occupancy	EP1	Detects still person, longer range
Bedroom/sleep detection	EP1	Best at detecting very still presence
Office with multiple desk zones	EPL	Zone support for different areas
Living room couch vs TV area	EPL	Separate zones for different spots
Long hallway	EP1	25m range
Room entry/exit counting	EPL	Entry zone detection
Temperature-based HVAC control	EP1	Built-in temp sensor
Simple lights on/off	Either	Both detect presence reliably

Still Unsure?

Choose EP1 if detecting very still people reliably is your priority
Choose EPL if knowing where someone is in the room matters

Both sensors integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant and can be tuned to your specific environment. Use the Zone Configurator to visualize sensor data and (for EPL) configure detection zones.