Smart home technology might seem intimidating at first, but at the entry-level, it’s designed for a relatively easy introduction. You can go all-out with IFTTT programming and remote video storage servers, but you certainly don’t have to do anything complicated to develop your own smart home.
Take the smart home security ecosystem as an example. Safety at home is probably the most universal reason to get into smart devices. It makes sense that plenty of people find remote video monitoring and real-time privacy updates attractive. And smart security cameras are one field with tons of user-friendly yet powerful options to choose from.
We’ve dug up the best Google Assistant– and Amazon Alexa-compatible smart devices that even a rank novice will appreciate (some event support Apple HomeKit). The broad selection of devices in our roundup can turn your lights, lock doors, set the thermostat, and monitor your home without lifting a finger. Best of all, you don’t need to jump in and buy everything all at once. Some of the best smart devices on the market are built to work perfectly alone or as part of a larger, more complex network.
As a smart home beginner, you may not be looking for new smart devices as much as you’re looking to spruce up your current devices, particularly if you’re on a budget. That’s where smart plugs come in handy, as they’ll enable you to control everything from lamps to Christmas lights with your smart home setup. And when it comes to smart plugs, you can’t get much better for the price than the TP-Link KASA EP10 Smart Plug. It’s small enough that you won’t lose outlets when installed, and it provides the reliable functionality you’d expect out of a smart home device.
The only downsides are the somewhat complicated setup process and that it makes a loud clicking noise upon activation. This is a common feature of most smart plugs, so it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. The low price is arguably the most attractive aspect of this smart plug, as it allows you quickly get your smart home setup without too much of an investment.
- Integrations: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT
- Price: $10
- Dedicated app required: No
- Built-in surge protection: None
- Easy to use app with pictuers
- Doesn’t block outlets
- Very responsive to voice commands
- Loud click upon activation
- Circuitous Wi-Fi set up
TP-Link KASA EP10 Smart Plug
If you’re setting up a smart home (and not a smart apartment), having a connected doorbell can make it infinitely easier for visitors, delivery people, and everyone in between. The Ring Doorbell 4 is easily your best option here, as the company has become synonymous with the device and has four iterations of its flagship product under its belt. This device records your front step in 1080p HD video, allows for remote communication between you and your potential visitor, and provides motion sensor tech so you always know what’s going on in front of your home.
The downside is that it’s pretty expensive. However, the upgrade is pretty substantial from a standard doorbell, particularly considering how easy this Ring Doorbell is to install. Rather than wired to the building, as some older iterations were, the newest Ring Doorbell comes with a Quick-Release Battery Pack, so you won’t have to hire an electrician to get it installed. Plus, all the security features make it easily worth the cost.
- Video Resolution: 1080p HD
- Field of View: 160° horizontal, 84° vertical
- Power Source: Quick-Release Battery Pack (included)
- Brand: Ring
- Hub Required: No
- Integrations: Alexa and Google Assistant
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Battery-powered for easy installation
- Seamless integration with Alexa deviecs
- Quick Reply functionality built-in
- Some features limited with Google Home
- A bit expensive
There may not have been many breakthroughs in the security camera field in the last couple of years, but the Kasa KC420WS outdoor camera represents a handful of the most helpful refinements we’ve seen. Its significantly upgraded sensor captures low-light video better than its predecessors and a pair of small spotlights that enable full-color vision when it’s completely dark out. It does a good job of sending motion-detection notifications immediately, and the two-way audio hardware lets you communicate with visitors or anyone else who might be outside your home.
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant
- Night Vision: Yes
- Power Source: Wired
- Field of view: 110°
- Above-average resolution
- Supports cloud and microSD card storage
- No battery-powered version
If you’re getting started with your smart home, you have to start with smart lights, and there’s none better than Philips Hue. These high-quality bulbs are famously reliable, providing bright light consistently when you need them. Their incredibly responsive to voice commands from Google Assistant and Alexa and come with a comprehensive app that allows for simple changes, cool scenes, and helpful automations, so you never need to flip a switch ever again if you don’t want to.
The Philips Hue Starter Kit is definitely the way to go if you’re just starting out too. It may be a bit expensive, but it comes with four lights, either white or multicolored depending on your preference. It also comes with a hub that connects to your router, which is not entirely necessary but enables a wide range of additional features, like dimming, scene selection, and automations. With all these features, the added cost is definitely worth it. It also makes it easy to add one of the many smart lights available from Philips Hue. Overall, your smart home will not be complete without this helpful addition.
- Integrations: Google Assistant, Alexa, Apple HomeKit
- Hub Required: Yes, Included
- Environment: Indoor/Outdoor
- Wattage: 75W
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- All-in-one smart light kit
- Simple setup with easy-to-use mobile app
- White and multicolored options
- Expensive
- Hub setup can be complicated
The most common place to find smart locks is on rental properties, mainly because it is easy to let someone in without setting up some key drop-off situation. However, there are plenty of other reasons to invest in a good smart lock, from security to peace of mind, and the August Wi-Fi smart lock is one of the best you can find. The simple setup doesn’t require you to get a whole new lock array, so you can just install it on your current door. Plus, it offers a bunch of advanced features like Auto-Lock, which locks your door right when you get home, and DoorSense, which lets you check on the status of your door.
Security is built right into this smart lock as well. The accompanying mobile app employs two-factor authentication and biometric login, so you know your home is secure. Plus, it offers a lost device feature, which will allow you to disable all keys remotely to prevent anyone from accessing your home. The August Smart Lock is notably expensive, and the AA batteries drain pretty fast when connected to Wi-Fi. So, the investment is a bit costly over time, but you can’t put a price on protecting your home.
- Brand: August
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Integrations: Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit
- Battery: Two 3V CR123 lithium batteries
- Keypad: No
- Hub Required: No
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit
- Simple setup with current deadbolt
- Quite expensive
- Batteries drain fast
Smart lighting is one of the most notable additions to a developing smart home, but the premium lighting ecosystems require quite the buy-in. So instead, consider the relatively straightforward Wyze Bulb Color, available in two- and four-packs at a generally reasonable cost. You can choose from 16 million color gradients in addition to custom-temperature white, and they’re both brighter and have more reliable connectivity than most of the competition. Make sure to get the Wi-Fi version, though, as the Bluetooth variant tends to be less dependable.
- Protocol: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
- Hub Required: No
- Multicolor Capable: Yes
- Voice Compatibility : Alexa, Google Assistant
Not to be confused with the long-discontinued Google Nest Protect security system, this battery-powered smoke and carbon monoxide detector is universally considered the best one available. The Google Nest Protect detector senses slow- and fast-burning fires and odorless carbon monoxide, and it’s as easy to use as a non-smart detector. It tests itself, it’s simple to mute, plus it runs on a battery so you won’t have to cut into your ceiling and run electrical wires. Not only does this device offer the convenience of most smart devices, but it also delivers peace of mind and safety to your family and home.
- Integrated mesh wireless connectivity
- Built-in motion sensor
- Extremely easy to use
- Uses the less versatile Google Nest app
Google Nest Protect Carbon Monoxide Detector
Smart speakers aren’t generally built to provide room-shaking sound. Quite the opposite, in fact. They’re meant to be unassuming, easily tucked away, readily availabler to hear wake words, and capable of communicating with your Wi-Fi and smart devices quickly. The Google Nest Audio is those things, in addition to sounding far better than its surprisingly slim body has any right to sound. If yours is a Google Assistant-based household and you want to stop constantly using your phone to control your smart home, the Nest Audio smart speaker is an easy choice.
At first glance, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is a pretty expensive device if you’re just getting into home automation. Indeed, it’s nearly twice as costly as the Ecobee Lite, but delving into the details makes it easy to see why it’s a good investment. While the Lite is basically just a wireless thermostat with some scheduling and programming abilities, the Premium boasts a wide range of advanced features to help you get the most out of your smart home, especially as you get better at using it. The Premium includes a separate sensor for monitoring another room, radar-based occupancy detection to limit energy waste, an integrated Alexa smart speaker, and support for one- and two-wire HVAC accessories. While a few other smart thermostats are floating around, Ecobee’s smart thermostat lineup remains the most full-featured and best for most people.
- Brand: Ecobee
- Integrations: Alexa, Google, HomeKit, SmartThings
- Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Weight: 1.19 lbs
- Dimensions: 4.09 x 2.9 x 4.09″
- C-Wire or adapter required: Yes
- Vast feature set
- Advanced occupancy detection
- Real-time weather monitoring
A smart home doesn’t just mean the inside. There are some pretty great ways to spruce up your home’s exterior too! Whether you’re looking to remotely turn on your patio lights or just want to illuminate a path, outdoor smart plugs can be very helpful, and the Wyze Plug Outdoor is likely your best bet. This device is a literal deal, as you’re getting two plugs on a single device, so you can diversify your outdoor lighting options without sacrificing any smart features. And with a weatherproof rating of IP64, you won’t have to worry about that next storm ruining your setup.
As for its features, the Wyze Plug Outdoor is pretty limited compared to other smart lights. It’s notably missing the common scene selection option. However, that’s not really a feature you need in an outdoor plug. The features it does offer, including energy consumption alerts, are quite convenient and allow you to track how green you’re being. Plus, with a 300-foot range with Wi-Fi, you can be sure you won’t have to endure connectivity issues for those lights on the edge of the property.
- Brand: Wyze
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz WiFi
- Integrations: Google, Alexa, IFTTT
- Weatherproof Rating: IP64
- Dimensions: 3.93 x 2.68 x 1.42 inches
- Weight: 8.8 oz
- Hub Required: No
- Two outlets in one device
- 300-foot range with Wi-Fi
- Plug covers are a bit loose
- No HomeKit functionality
Smart locks aren’t the only security measure you’ll want to add to your smart home. A good smart camera will give you peace of mind and an insight into what’s going on at your house when you aren’t around. Plus, you could catch some cute, crazy, or just downright funny moments, which is always a bonus. Our best pick for smart cameras is the Wyze Pan Cam V2 for several reasons.
For one, it rotates 360 degrees, which is vital for any smart camera that isn’t nestled in a corner of your home. That feature, combined with advanced AI detection, means that you won’t miss a single thing that happens near the camera. Take note, though; this camera is not weatherproof. You’re going to want to be sure to keep it inside. You can also download the recorded video directly onto your phone, and the subscription service to do so only costs $2 per device per month, or only $15 per year.
- Resolution: 1080p
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT
- Night Vision: Yes, color
- Power Source: Wired
- Hub Required: No
- Powerful AI detection settings
- Great low light performance
- MicroSD card slot for local storage
- Not weather resistant
- Only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Smart home security and privacy
Privacy has always been an important aspect of smart technology. Recently, researchers discovered a problematic lack of encryption on videos uploaded to Eufy’s cloud. For a major brand name with a large footprint in the smart security department, that’s a glaring red flag. For that matter, it’s not the first time it’s happened, either. Furthermore, after the scandal broke, Eufy was found removing privacy-oriented language from its website, further eroding consumers’ trust.
The moral of the story is security isn’t just about cameras and alarm systems with advanced features and user-friendly control. A device and its manufacturer’s ability to protect your data from other people’s prying eyes is equally important. Luckily, big-name scandals like Eufy’s recent debacle are somewhat rare, and you can count on the hardworking news editors at respected outlets like Android Police to break such stories as soon as possible.
Finally, we’ve scrubbed Eufy camera recommendations from pretty much every corner of the site because we can’t in good conscience encourage you to get a device that might upload unencrypted private video to the cloud without telling you.
Best starter smart home devices
The simplest and most affordable way to get started on a smart home is to add smart plugs, such as the TP-Link Kasa EP10, to existing appliances for remote control. The Wyze Smart Plug is a good example for outdoor electronics.
Dedicated smart lighting is another great choice to upgrade your home’s ambiance. A budget-friendly option like the Wyze Bulb Color works great for many people. Still, we highly recommend getting into the Philips Hue ecosystem for the best scene selection and programming abilities. The starter kit we’ve highlighted here includes everything you need for setup, including the required hub.
Finally, more advanced devices such as the Ring Video Doorbell can cost a decent amount, but greatly improve security and convenience whether you’re home or away. In its fourth generation, the Ring is one of the most refined video doorbells and receives almost universal praise.
Which smart home ecosystem is right for you?
You don’t need all these devices to start your smart home, but every one of these products will improve your overall experience. Whether you’re focused on convenience, security, or just downright enjoyment, these locks, cameras, lights, and plugs will turn your plain old house into a smart home before your very eyes. For beginners, your best bet is to start with smart lights and smart plugs. They present an easier introduction from a setup standpoint, making a home feel smart right out of the gate.
Remember, though; these devices will only reach their true smart potential with help from a virtual assistant. So the decision is between Alexa and Google Assistant, as nearly every smart device on the market will support these two operating systems. As for which is better, Google Assistant is widely considered the better virtual assistant. While searching for the best smart speakers, we found that Google Assistant has more comprehensive social skills and computing power. However, we also found that Alexa is a better option for smart home devices, as it offers more integrations and is more responsive to basic commands like turning on the lights. Truly, you can’t go wrong with either voice assistant, but make sure you commit to one or the other. Mixing and matching can get pretty messy for your smart home setup.
If you’re considering going the HomeKit route, let us save you the trouble and recommend that you avoid it. Unless you already rely on Siri for your smart home needs, HomeKit isn’t compatible with enough smart device brands, like Kasa, to be worth the investment. If you’re just starting, stick with Alexa or Google Assistant to easily convert your home.
