Before You Buy Anything: Check Your Wi-Fi
Smart home devices all depend on your home Wi-Fi network. Before spending money on smart devices, make sure your Wi-Fi is reliable throughout your home.
- Walk to the locations where you plan to install smart devices (front door, back yard, bedrooms) and check the Wi-Fi signal strength on your phone
- If the signal is weak or drops out in certain areas, fix that first — a mesh Wi-Fi system or a Wi-Fi extender can solve dead zones
- A weak Wi-Fi signal is the most common reason smart devices are unreliable or go offline frequently
Tip: A good rule of thumb: if your phone struggles to load a web page in a room, a smart device in that room will struggle too. Fix the Wi-Fi before adding smart devices.
The Best First Smart Home Purchase: A Smart Speaker
If you are new to smart home technology, start with a smart speaker. Here is why.
- It is immediately useful on its own — you can ask questions, play music, set timers, and get weather forecasts without any other smart devices
- It becomes the control center for everything else you add later — lights, thermostat, locks, and cameras can all be controlled by voice
- It is easy to set up — most people have it working in under 15 minutes
- Amazon Echo (Alexa) and Google Nest are the two main options. Both are excellent. Choose Amazon Echo if you shop on Amazon frequently or use Amazon services. Choose Google Nest if you use Gmail, Google Calendar, or Android.
The Best Second Purchase: A Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is one of the few smart home devices that pays for itself through energy savings.
- The Nest Learning Thermostat and Ecobee are the two most popular options
- Both can be controlled from your phone and work with Alexa and Google Home
- Energy savings of 10 to 15 percent on heating and cooling bills are commonly reported
- Installation requires connecting a few wires — most homeowners can do it themselves, but a technician can install it in about 30 minutes if you prefer
- Check that your HVAC system is compatible before buying — both Nest and Ecobee have compatibility checkers on their websites
High Value: Smart Lighting and Video Doorbell
After a smart speaker and thermostat, these two categories offer the most practical value for most homeowners.
- Smart lighting: Start with one or two smart bulbs in the rooms where you spend the most time. Kasa Smart bulbs are affordable and reliable for beginners. Philips Hue is the premium option if you want color-changing features.
- Video doorbell: A Ring or Nest Doorbell lets you see who is at your door from your phone, even when you are not home. Particularly valuable for homeowners who receive packages or want to monitor the front of their home.
Worth Considering: Smart Locks and Security Cameras
These devices add real security value but require a bit more investment and setup.
- Smart locks: Particularly useful if you have family members who frequently forget keys, need to let service providers in while you are away, or want to monitor who comes and goes. Schlage Encode and August Smart Lock are popular choices.
- Outdoor security cameras: Useful for monitoring driveways, backyards, and entry points. Arlo and Ring make reliable outdoor cameras. Consider whether you want cloud storage (requires a subscription) or local storage.
Choosing an Ecosystem: Alexa, Google, or Apple
One of the most important decisions in smart home buying is choosing which voice assistant ecosystem to build around. Mixing ecosystems creates complexity.
- Amazon Alexa: The largest smart home ecosystem — compatible with the most devices. Best if you use Amazon services or want the widest device compatibility.
- Google Home: Excellent for Google users (Gmail, Google Calendar, Android phones). Google Assistant gives better answers to factual questions than Alexa.
- Apple HomeKit: Best for households where everyone uses iPhones and iPads. Offers the strongest privacy protections. Fewer compatible devices than Alexa or Google.
- Recommendation: Pick one ecosystem and stick with it. Buy devices that are compatible with your chosen assistant. Mixing Alexa and Google devices in the same home creates confusion and limits automation possibilities.
Tip: Most smart home devices are compatible with both Alexa and Google Home, so you have flexibility. Apple HomeKit has fewer compatible devices, so if you choose Apple, check compatibility carefully before buying.
Common Smart Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid
These are the mistakes we see most often when helping homeowners set up smart home devices.
- Buying too much at once: Start with one or two devices, get comfortable with them, then add more. Trying to set up 10 devices at once is overwhelming.
- Ignoring subscription costs: Many smart home devices require monthly subscriptions for full features (Ring Protect, Nest Aware, Arlo Secure). Factor these into your budget.
- Buying incompatible devices: Check that new devices work with your existing ecosystem before buying.
- Skipping the setup: Smart home devices are only useful if they are properly set up and configured. A device sitting in a box does nothing.
- Choosing the cheapest option: Very inexpensive smart home devices from unknown brands often have poor app support, security vulnerabilities, and stop receiving updates quickly. Stick with established brands.