Caséta vs RA2 Select vs RadioRA 3 vs HomeWorks: Full Lutron Comparison

Lutron does not sell one wireless system. It sells a ladder of them, and picking the wrong rung means re-speccing hardware or hitting a device ceiling partway through a job. This is the contractor-level comparison of the four names you will run into: Caséta, RA2 Select, RadioRA 3, and HomeWorks QSX. Every number below comes from Lutron's own documentation.

The short version

System Best for Max scale Who programs it
Caséta Small smart-home, DIY-friendly Up to 75 devices Homeowner or pro
RA2 Select Prior-generation pro system Up to 100 devices Pro-oriented
RadioRA 3 Current pro-grade whole-home 200 Type X + 190 Type A Certified installer only
HomeWorks QSX Luxury, largest projects Up to 10,000 zones Lutron Pro installer only

Caséta

Caséta is Lutron's entry into smart-home control and the one a homeowner can install without a certification. It runs on Lutron's Clear Connect Type A radio and needs a Smart Hub, connected to the router by Ethernet, for app control and automation. Lutron rates a Caséta system at up to 75 devices with one hub and one repeater. For a house that needs a couple dozen dimmers, some Pico remotes, and shade control, Caséta is the right tool. It becomes the wrong tool the moment the device list or the programming complexity outgrows what the app can manage.

RA2 Select

RA2 Select is Lutron's prior-generation professional system. Its Main Repeater supports up to 100 wireless devices and can extend range with up to four wireless repeaters, running on Lutron's Clear Connect RF. It filled the gap between Caséta and the high-end systems for years, but it is the previous generation. Lutron's current residential system guidance no longer lists RA2 Select alongside its active systems, and the company publishes formal migration paths to move an existing RA2 Select install up to RadioRA 3. If you are starting a new project today, RadioRA 3 is the system Lutron points you toward. RA2 Select mainly matters now for servicing and upgrading systems already in the field.

RadioRA 3

RadioRA 3 is the current professional-grade system for whole-home control, and it is where most new mid-to-large jobs land. Per processor, Lutron rates it at 100 Clear Connect Type X devices plus 95 Clear Connect Type A devices. A maximized system reaches 200 Type X and 190 Type A devices, and while up to four processors can be installed to extend range, total device capacity equals two processors' worth. Type A carries the in-line dimmers, switches, Picos, shades, and sensors. Type X carries the newer Sunnata keypads and hybrid devices. It can only be programmed by a qualified installer, using the Lutron Designer tool, and it requires an RR-PROC3 processor as the system brain. A key selling point is backward compatibility: RadioRA 3 supports up to 190 RA2 and RA2 Select-era Type A devices and shades, which is exactly why it became the upgrade destination for older systems. We cover the processor in depth in the RR-PROC3 processor guide and the boxed starter kit in the RR-PROC3-KIT explainer.

HomeWorks QSX

HomeWorks QSX is Lutron's top residential system, positioned for luxury homes and the largest, most complex projects. Lutron rates it at up to 10,000 zones. It combines a wired QS device link with Clear Connect Type A wireless, and adds Clear Connect Type X through a separate Type X Gateway that works with the QSX processor. Up to five processors can be daisy-chained, with each QS link supporting 99 devices. HomeWorks requires installation and programming by a qualified Lutron Pro installer using the HomeWorks designer software. It is the system for the project where RadioRA 3 would run out of headroom or where a wired backbone is part of the design.

What happened to RadioRA 2 and RA2 Select

Both RadioRA 2 and RA2 Select are the generation before RadioRA 3. Lutron's current system guidance lists Caséta, RadioRA 3, and HomeWorks QSX as its residential lineup and does not include RA2 or RA2 Select, and the only documentation Lutron publishes for them now is how to upgrade to RadioRA 3. If you inherit one of these systems, it still works and can still be serviced from existing stock, but plan new work around RadioRA 3, which was designed to absorb the older Type A devices. For the migration details, see our RadioRA 3 vs RadioRA 2 comparison.

How to choose

Sort by two questions: how big is the project, and who is programming it. If the homeowner wants to set it up themselves and the count is small, Caséta. If it is a professional whole-home job in the current generation, RadioRA 3, programmed by a certified installer. If it is a luxury home or a project that needs a wired backbone and thousands of zones, HomeWorks QSX. RA2 Select only enters the conversation when you are extending or servicing a system that already exists. Still deciding between the entry and pro tiers? The RadioRA 3 vs Caséta breakdown weighs those two directly, and Caséta vs Maestro covers the step below Caséta.

Buy Lutron systems from Rock

Rock Lighting & Electric is an authorized Lutron dealer stocking the full line, from Caséta to RadioRA 3, across our Lutron inventory, at contractor pricing with nationwide shipping. Speccing a whole-home or luxury system? Create a contractor account or send us your plans and we will build the package to the right system tier.

FAQ

What is the difference between Caséta and RadioRA 3?
Caséta is Lutron's entry smart-home system, rated for up to 75 devices, that a homeowner can install and program through the app. RadioRA 3 is the current professional-grade system, rated for up to 200 Clear Connect Type X plus 190 Type A devices across up to four processors, that can only be programmed by a certified installer. Choose Caséta for small DIY-friendly jobs and RadioRA 3 for larger professional installs.
Is RA2 Select still current?
No. RA2 Select is Lutron's prior-generation professional system. Lutron's current residential guidance lists Caséta, RadioRA 3, and HomeWorks QSX, and the company now publishes migration paths from RA2 Select to RadioRA 3. It still works and can be serviced, but new projects should be designed around RadioRA 3.
How many devices does each Lutron system support?
Per Lutron: Caséta supports up to 75 devices, RA2 Select up to 100 wireless devices on its Main Repeater, RadioRA 3 up to 200 Clear Connect Type X plus 190 Clear Connect Type A devices across up to four processors (100 Type X and 95 Type A per processor), and HomeWorks QSX up to 10,000 zones.
Can RadioRA 3 use older RadioRA 2 devices?
Yes, within limits. RadioRA 3 supports up to 190 RadioRA 2 and RA2 Select-era Clear Connect Type A devices and shades, which is why Lutron positions it as the upgrade path for those systems. Some specific legacy devices are not compatible, so check Lutron's device list.
Which Lutron systems require a professional installer?
RadioRA 3 can only be programmed by a qualified installer, and HomeWorks QSX requires a qualified Lutron Pro installer. Caséta can be installed and programmed by a homeowner or a pro. RA2 Select is a pro-oriented system.
What is HomeWorks QSX for?
HomeWorks QSX is Lutron's top residential system for luxury homes and the largest projects, rated for up to 10,000 zones. It uses a wired QS backbone plus Clear Connect Type A and Type X wireless, supports up to five daisy-chained processors, and must be installed and programmed by a Lutron Pro installer.

Product availability and system specifications change. Confirm current device limits and product status against Lutron's official documentation before finalizing a system design.

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