The short version: These are both serious Bluetooth lighting control platforms built on different philosophies. Casambi prioritizes ecosystem breadth, design flexibility, and commissioning ease — it's a great fit for hospitality, retail, and projects where UX and fixture choice matter most. Silvair/TruBlu prioritizes open standards, enterprise integration, and compliance — the right call for commercial buildings with a BMS, specifiers requiring DLC NLC5, or projects where HVAC integration matters. Neither is universally better; knowing which conversation you're in determines which story to tell.
1Company Overview
| Silvair (TruBlu™) | Casambi | |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Kraków, Poland | Helsinki, Finland |
| Founded | 2016 | 2012 |
| Business model | B2B firmware/platform licensor; white-label friendly (TruBlu™ is an example) | Ecosystem platform; sells to specifiers, installers, and manufacturers |
| Market position | Commercial/enterprise focused; open Bluetooth NLC standards; BMS integration; DLC compliance | Broad (residential to large commercial); UX-first; ecosystem depth; design flexibility |
| Installed base | ~1 million devices managed (April 2026) | 8 million+ products sold; 250,000+ projects |
| Partner manufacturers | ~30+ listed on silvair.com/products | Hundreds of luminaire & component manufacturers |
Takeaway: Casambi wins on scale — more hardware partners, more projects, more name recognition in design circles. Silvair/TruBlu wins on depth — open standards compliance, BMS-grade integration, HVAC linkage, and DLC rebate eligibility that enterprise commercial projects require. Both are capable platforms; the right choice depends on the project type.
2Core Technology: Mesh Protocol
This is the single most important technical differentiator between the two platforms.
| Silvair (TruBlu™) | Casambi | |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Bluetooth Mesh — Bluetooth SIG open standard (NLC profile) | Proprietary Casambi Mesh — built on BLE but NOT standard Bluetooth Mesh |
| Standards body | Bluetooth SIG — NLC is a ratified standard | No external standard; Casambi controls the protocol spec entirely |
| Interoperability | Any Bluetooth NLC-certified device is interoperable | Only "Casambi Ready" devices work; requires Casambi firmware in every node |
| Mesh routing | Managed flooding — Bluetooth Mesh model | Proprietary "high-throughput flooding protocol" — self-adapting algorithm |
| No single point of failure | Yes — distributed mesh | Yes — distributed mesh |
| Self-healing | Yes | Yes |
| Offline operation | Yes — mesh runs autonomously without internet | Yes — WPAN, no internet required |
Vendor lock-in risk with Casambi: Every node — luminaire, sensor, switch — must contain Casambi firmware. No third-party Bluetooth Mesh controller can join a Casambi network. Silvair NLC is an open Bluetooth SIG standard, allowing genuine multi-vendor flexibility.
3BMS / BACnet Integration
For projects with a building management system (BMS), this is a genuine differentiator. But it's only relevant in that context — don't lead with BACnet for hospitality or design-led projects.
| Silvair — TruBlu™ BACnet Gateway | Casambi — Lithernet (3rd party) | |
|---|---|---|
| BACnet/IP gateway | Yes — SGW-104 (Minew G1-E), Silvair's own hardware | Partial — Lithernet by Licht Manufaktur Berlin GmbH; a 3rd-party partner accessory, not a Casambi product |
| BTL certification | Yes — BTL-certified (BACnet Testing Laboratories) | No — not listed in BTL product database |
| BACnet implementation depth | Full BACnet device with 224 objects (AI, AO, BI, MSI, MSO, SV, DEV), published PICS | ASCII-based UDP bridge — BACnet/IP is one of ~6 protocols (also ArtNet, MQTT, HelvarNet); no published PICS |
| Change of Value (CoV) | Yes — real-time event-driven BMS updates | Not documented |
| Cloud dependency for BMS | None — fully on-premise | None for basic control; Casambi's cloud API is internet-routed |
| Priority array | Yes — 16-level BACnet priority array (P1–P16) | Not documented |
| Max devices per gateway | 200 devices / 100 zones | Not specified |
| North American availability | Yes — distributed by mwConnect/TruBlu | Unclear — Berlin-based manufacturer; no US distributor listed |
The Lithernet is a legitimate product that does provide some BACnet/IP connectivity for Casambi networks. However, it is a third-party European accessory without BTL certification and without a full BACnet object model or PICS statement. Enterprise procurement typically requires BTL certification — this remains a meaningful differentiator for TruBlu.
When BMS integration comes up: "Our TruBlu BACnet Gateway is BTL-certified and exposes a full BACnet object model — 224 objects that your Tridium, Siemens, JCI, or Schneider BMS can natively read and write. Casambi's only option is a third-party European device that isn't BTL-certified and doesn't publish a PICS statement. For any enterprise facility team that speaks BACnet, that difference matters."
4Commissioning Tools
| Silvair (TruBlu™) | Casambi | |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app | Silvair App (iOS + Android) — provisioning, configuration, scheduling, scenes, daylight harvesting, occupancy tuning | Casambi App (iOS + Android) — free; full lighting control from day one; gesture-based UX |
| Web portal | Yes — platform.silvair.com; web-based commissioning, project config, energy/occupancy dashboards (requires internet) | No dedicated web-based commissioning portal |
| Professional planning tool | Silvair web portal (browser-based; online only) | Casambi Pro — Windows PC + iPad; fully offline; pre-commissioning offsite, then upload via BLE |
| Gallery / floor plan | Not available | Yes — upload space photos, mark luminaire positions, control visually |
| Pre-commissioning offsite | Limited — web portal requires connectivity | Yes — complete project offline before arriving on-site |
| Firmware OTA updates | Yes — OTA via app or cloud | Yes — OTA via cloud/app |
Assessment: Casambi Pro's fully offline pre-commissioning workflow is a real advantage on job sites with poor connectivity or for large repetitive-layout projects. Silvair's web portal is solid but requires internet. This is worth acknowledging in competitive proposals — it affects on-site labor time.
5Features & Control Capabilities
| Capability | Silvair (TruBlu™) | Casambi |
|---|---|---|
| Zone dimming (group-level) | Yes | Yes |
| Individual luminaire dimming | Yes (via app) | Yes |
| Color temperature (tunable white) | Yes | Yes |
| RGB color control | Yes | Yes |
| Scenes (preset lighting states) | Yes (4 via BACnet; more via app) | Yes (unlimited) |
| Animations / dynamic scenes | No | Yes — fade between scenes, set tempo, duration, cycles |
| Occupancy sensor integration | Yes | Yes |
| Daylight harvesting | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduling (time-based) | Yes (mesh-resident schedules) | Yes (calendar, timer, sunrise/sunset) |
| Sunrise/sunset auto-scheduling | Not documented | Yes — calculates from timezone/location |
| Circadian / human-centric lighting | Via scheduling, not built-in | Yes — native tunable white circadian profiles |
| Emergency lighting testing | Yes — UL 924 compliance (SN-226) | Yes — wireless emergency lighting |
| Energy monitoring | Yes — zone energy (Wh), BACnet AI objects, API | Yes — in-app; D4i data via Salvador |
| Occupancy analytics/history | Yes — via Silvair API | Yes — via Cloud API |
| BACnet BMS integration | Yes — native gateway, BTL-certified | 3rd-party only, not BTL-certified |
| REST API for 3rd party integration | Yes — SN-221 Silvair API (REST + WebSocket) | Yes — Casambi Cloud API (beta) |
| HVAC Integration (NLC profile) | Yes — first qualified Bluetooth NLC HVAC (2025) | No |
| DLC NLC5 compliance | Yes — multiple listed products | Not documented |
| Matter protocol support | Not documented | Participant member (in development) |
6Hardware Ecosystem
| Silvair (TruBlu™) | Casambi | |
|---|---|---|
| Luminaire manufacturers | ~30+ listed (Boke, Danlers, Fulham, Linmore, Maxlite, MeanWell, Sunricher, Hynall, Aleo…) | Hundreds of global manufacturers — broadest ecosystem |
| USA-market products | Aleo, Fulham, Maxlite, Linmore — all DLC NLC5 listed | Wide US presence; fewer explicit DLC NLC5 products |
| Retrofit friendliness | Good — Zhaga Book20 retrofit controls | Excellent — CBU modules convert any wired luminaire; no additional wiring |
| Wired control options | DALI/D4i products | DALI, DALI-2, D4i, 1-10V, PWM, phase-cut |
| BACnet gateway | SGW-104 (Minew G1-E) — BTL-certified hardware | Lithernet (3rd party, not BTL-certified) |
| Bluetooth standard | Bluetooth 5+ (NLC profile) | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Ecosystem gap: Casambi's ecosystem is far larger by product count and manufacturer diversity — specifiers have more fixture choice. Silvair's ecosystem is smaller but focused on the commercial North American market with DLC NLC5-listed products, which matter for rebates.
7Connected Services & Pricing Model
| Silvair (TruBlu™) | Casambi | |
|---|---|---|
| Software licensing | Subscription-based connected services (annual; 2026.1 USD pricing) | App is free to download; core features appear free |
| Connected services | Energy monitoring, occupancy analytics, API access — subscription-tiered | Cloud API (beta) — terms unclear |
| API access | Included in connected services subscription | Cloud API (beta) — access terms not published |
| Training | Silvair commissioning certification | Free training (online + classroom); 4C assessment |
Note for sales: Silvair's subscription model for Connected Services creates ongoing revenue but can be a perceived cost barrier vs. Casambi's free basic platform. Be prepared to articulate the ROI — energy savings, rebate eligibility, BMS integration value — in proposals.
8Standards & Certifications
| Standard / Certification | Silvair (TruBlu™) | Casambi |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth NLC (Networked Lighting Control) | ✅ Yes — foundational product | No — uses proprietary Casambi Mesh |
| BTL (BACnet Testing Laboratories) | ✅ Yes — SGW-104 certified | No (Lithernet 3rd-party gateway is not BTL-certified) |
| DLC NLC5 (DesignLights Consortium) | ✅ Yes — multiple listed products | Not documented |
| DALI / DALI-2 / D4i | Yes | Yes — full support + Salvador series |
| UL 924 Emergency Lighting | ✅ Yes — SN-226 qualified | Wireless emergency lighting supported |
| EnOcean | Yes | Yes |
| Phase-cut dimming | Not documented | Yes |
| Bluetooth 5.x | Yes (5+) | Yes (5.3) |
| Matter | Not documented | Participant member (in development) |
| HVAC BLE NLC Profile | ✅ Yes — first qualified solution (2025) | No |
| ISO/ASHRAE BACnet standard | Yes (via BTL certification) | No |
Standards story: Silvair's commitment to Bluetooth SIG open standards (NLC) and BTL-certified BACnet is a genuine enterprise differentiator. Many large-building owners and specification consultants require open, interchangeable standards — Silvair delivers this; Casambi's proprietary mesh does not.
9Target Market Fit
| Market Segment | Best Fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise commercial offices with BMS | Silvair / TruBlu™ | BTL-certified BACnet gateway is the deciding factor |
| Healthcare / life-safety facilities | Silvair / TruBlu™ | BTL certification, UL 924, no cloud dependency |
| Logistics / warehouses (DLC rebates) | Silvair / TruBlu™ | DLC NLC5 products + energy monitoring |
| Education campuses (BMS required) | Silvair / TruBlu™ | BACnet integration + DLC compliance |
| Hospitality / hotels / restaurants | Casambi | Richer scenes, animations, tunable white, simpler UX |
| Retail / showrooms / museums | Casambi | Color control, animations, gallery feature, easy retrofits |
| Residential / high-end residential | Casambi | Consumer-friendly app, Matter roadmap |
| Specifier-led commercial projects | Silvair / TruBlu™ | Open standard, BACnet, DLC — easier to specify via standards compliance |
| HVAC integration (occupancy-based setpoints) | Silvair / TruBlu™ | Only qualified Bluetooth NLC HVAC profile |
10Integration with TruBlu™ Edge Platform
The TruBlu Edge architecture (deployed at McWong HQ) demonstrates a multi-layer capability Casambi cannot match:
Silvair Bluetooth NLC Mesh
↓
TruBlu Cloud Platform (WebSocket / CapnProto)
↓
TruBlu Edge — Raspberry Pi
↓ ↓
Modbus TCP → WiFi Thermostats
BACnet Gateway → BMS
↓
mwLink REST API + Dashboard
This combination — occupancy data from the Silvair mesh, edge computing for HVAC setpoint logic, BTL-certified BACnet for BMS, and mwLink REST API for cloud dashboards — is a complete, differentiated building automation solution. Casambi has no equivalent multi-layer architecture, no BTL-certified BACnet gateway, and no HVAC NLC profile.
11Weaknesses of Silvair / TruBlu™ vs. Casambi
Being honest about where Casambi is stronger helps the sales team prepare for objections:
- Ecosystem size: Casambi has 8M+ products vs. Silvair's ~1M devices. More luminaire manufacturers carry Casambi-ready products, giving specifiers more fixture choice.
- Commissioning UX: Casambi Pro (Windows + iPad) enables complete offline project configuration, floor plan uploads, drag-and-drop placement, and bulk configuration — all without internet.
- Consumer/Hospitality appeal: Casambi's animations, color palettes, gallery feature, gesture-based app, and circadian profiles are richer for design-focused applications.
- Pricing transparency: Casambi's free app lowers perceived cost-of-entry. Silvair's subscription model requires justification in proposals.
- Matter roadmap: Casambi is a CSA Matter alliance participant. Silvair's Matter positioning is unclear — relevant for residential-adjacent or smart home projects.
- Pre-commissioning / offsite planning: Casambi Pro allows most programming fully offline. Silvair's web portal requires internet. On job sites with poor connectivity, this is a real advantage for Casambi.
- DALI as a standalone wired solution: Casambi's Salvador Series enables a pure wired DALI system without any wireless component — a hybrid play Silvair doesn't match.
12Key Sales Objections & Responses
| Objection | Response |
|---|---|
| "Casambi has way more products available." | True — but for commercial buildings requiring BMS integration, the BACnet gateway quality matters more than ecosystem size. Our TruBlu gateway is BTL-certified with 224 BACnet objects. Casambi's option is a third-party European accessory without BTL certification. |
| "Casambi has a BACnet gateway too — the Lithernet." | The Lithernet is made by a German company (Licht Manufaktur Berlin), not Casambi. It is not BTL-certified. It uses ASCII-based UDP packets — not a full BACnet device/object model with a PICS statement. Enterprise BMS integrators typically require BTL certification; ours has it, theirs doesn't. |
| "Casambi's app is free to download and easy to use." | For small projects that don't need BMS, Casambi's UX is excellent. For commercial facilities teams running a Siemens/Johnson/Tridium BMS dashboard, BTL-certified BACnet is the standard they require. |
| "Casambi is an open ecosystem." | Casambi uses a proprietary mesh protocol — every device must contain Casambi firmware. Our Silvair NLC platform uses a Bluetooth SIG-ratified open standard. Genuine interoperability requires an open standard, not an open brand. |
| "We've heard Casambi is more widely specified." | Casambi is popular in hospitality and residential. For DLC-rebate-eligible commercial buildings with BMS, Silvair/TruBlu has the certifications (BTL, DLC NLC5) that Casambi lacks. |
| "Does TruBlu work with DALI fixtures?" | Yes — we support DALI/D4i, and our BACnet gateway works alongside any DALI-based Silvair node in the same project. |
| "What happens if the cloud goes down?" | Nothing. Our BACnet gateway is fully on-premise with no cloud dependency. The mesh runs autonomously without internet. |
| "Casambi has better HVAC integration." | Silvair delivered the first qualified Bluetooth NLC HVAC integration profile — it's a Bluetooth SIG standard now, with occupancy-based thermostat setpoints through the same mesh as lighting. Casambi has no equivalent. |
13Summary Scorecard
| Category | Silvair / TruBlu™ | Casambi | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth NLC open standard | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | Silvair |
| BACnet / BMS integration | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | Silvair |
| BTL certification | ★★★★★ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | Silvair Lithernet not BTL-certified |
| DLC NLC5 compliance | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | Silvair |
| HVAC integration (NLC) | ★★★★★ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | Silvair |
| Emergency lighting (UL 924) | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | Silvair |
| REST API maturity | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Silvair |
| Ecosystem / product choice | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Casambi |
| Commissioning UX | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Casambi |
| DALI / wired integration | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Casambi |
| Human-centric / circadian lighting | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Casambi |
| Animations / creative scenes | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Casambi |
| Offline / no-cloud operation | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Tie |
| Pricing transparency | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Casambi |
| Matter roadmap | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Casambi |
For enterprise commercial projects with a BMS: Silvair / TruBlu™ wins decisively.
For hospitality, retail, and design-centric projects: Casambi wins.
For mid-market commercial without a BMS: It's a closer call — lean on open standards, DLC rebates, and the HVAC story.
14Recommended Positioning
🏆 When TruBlu™ Wins — Four Differentiators to Lead With
- Open Bluetooth NLC standard — Silvair runs on a ratified Bluetooth SIG standard. Casambi runs a proprietary mesh where every node must carry Casambi firmware. For specifiers and owners who care about multi-vendor flexibility and standards compliance, this is a foundational argument.
- DLC NLC5 listed products — Multiple Silvair/TruBlu ecosystem products are DLC NLC5 listed, making them eligible for utility rebates. This directly reduces project cost and is a requirement for many commercial customers. Casambi has limited DLC NLC5 representation.
- BTL-certified BACnet gateway — When the project has a BMS (Tridium, Siemens, JCI, Schneider), TruBlu's SGW-104 is BTL-certified with 224 BACnet objects, PICS statement, CoV subscriptions, and priority array. Casambi's only BACnet option is a third-party European accessory with no BTL certification.
- HVAC integration (Bluetooth NLC HVAC profile) — Silvair delivered the first qualified Bluetooth NLC HVAC integration profile in 2025 — a Bluetooth SIG standard. Occupancy-based thermostat setpoints through the same mesh that controls lighting. Casambi has no equivalent. This is a genuine product differentiator, not just a feature.
The HVAC story is particularly powerful because it's unique: "The same sensor that dims your lights when a room empties can also tell your thermostat to set back. One mesh. One installation. One system."
⚖️ When You Might Lose to Casambi
Be realistic with the team. If the project is a boutique hotel, restaurant, museum, residential development without BMS, or a specifier-led project prioritizing UX and fixture freedom over standards — Casambi is a reasonable choice and fighting it will frustrate the customer.
Consider proposing a hybrid: Silvair/TruBlu for BMS-connected zones, with honest acknowledgment of Casambi's strengths for non-BMS spaces.