Every article we've published, researched and ranked by our editorial team.
Kasa works with Apple HomeKit only on specific models. If you want a Kasa plug in the Apple Home app, buy the energy monitoring KP125 or EP25 and skip older Wi-Fi mini plugs such as the HS105.
Your 1st or 2nd gen Nest still heats and cools from the wall, so replace it only if you need remote control, notifications or voice commands. The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is a strong swap if you want Alexa or Apple Home.
A good schedule is simple: pick quiet times when nobody is home, clear the floor, and let the app do the rest. The iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ is a solid example of a model with easy in-app scheduling.
Yes, ecobee thermostats work without a subscription. Scheduling, app control, voice assistants, and energy reports do not require a monthly plan. Paid plans apply to optional extras such as ecobee's camera and security services, not the thermostat.
Ring and Google Home do not offer the tight pairing Ring has with Alexa. Expect limited voice control at best and no reliable live video on Google displays. If Google is your main platform, a Nest Doorbell is the easier fit.
Automating lights with Google Home takes a few minutes once your bulbs are linked. A Philips Hue starter kit is a dependable, well-supported choice, and the Google Home app handles schedules, sunrise and sunset triggers, and voice commands for free.
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is a solid doorbell to pair with Alexa. Setup takes a few minutes through the Ring and Alexa apps, and an Echo Show can show live video when someone rings.
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is the easiest starting point for an Alexa smart home. It gets you voice control and the Alexa app in a small, affordable package, and you can add devices one room at a time.
The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is the better pick for most homes thanks to its self-emptying dock and built-in mopping, while the Dyson 360 Vis Nav suits shoppers who put suction power and edge cleaning first.
Choose the Ring Wired Doorbell Plus if you already have doorbell wiring, since it never needs charging and stays ready around the clock. Choose the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus if you rent or have no wiring, and accept an occasional recharge.
The Level Lock+ is the better pick if you want a smart lock that looks like an ordinary deadbolt and supports Apple Home Key. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) wins for renters and anyone who wants to keep their existing hardware and get built-in Wi-Fi.
The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is the better pick for most people thanks to its rotating screen, built-in Zigbee and Thread support, and active Alexa updates, while the Google Nest Hub Max suits Google Home households that value Nest camera views and a simpler, less pushy interface.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is the better pick if you want sensors and a premium display, while the Google Nest Thermostat is the smarter buy for simple, low-cost savings.
Ring Alarm is the better pick for Alexa households that want a broad ecosystem of cameras, doorbells, and add-ons at a friendly entry cost, while SimpliSafe is the stronger choice if you want a polished, no-contract system with professional monitoring that doesn't depend on a Wi-Fi-only connection.
Hue vs WiZ smart bulbs is really a choice between a premium, hub-based ecosystem and an affordable, hub-free starter setup. The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 is the better long-term pick if you want smooth dimming, accurate color, and a deep catalog of switches and sensors. The WiZ Color A19 is the smarter buy if you want color-changing bulbs for a few rooms without a bridge and without spending much.
For most people, the Kasa Smart Plug Mini is the better all-around pick. It adds a polished app, broad voice assistant support, and a model with energy monitoring (the EP25). The Wyze Plug is the better fit if you already run Wyze cameras or sensors and want everything in one app at a budget-friendly cost.
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is the better pick for most people because it adds a built-in smart home hub and stronger bass, while the Google Nest Audio wins if you prefer clear vocals and the way Google Assistant handles natural questions.
Choose the Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen) if your home already has doorbell wiring, since it never needs charging and records more reliably. Choose the Nest Doorbell (Battery) if you have no wiring or want the simplest install, accepting a recharge every few months.
The Roborock S8 is the better all-rounder for most homes thanks to stronger suction and built-in mopping, while the Roomba j7 is the safer pick if pets and floor clutter are your main worry.
The eufyCam 3 (S330) is the better pick for most homeowners because it records 4K video to local storage with no required monthly fee, while the Arlo Pro 5S is the stronger choice if you want a polished app, broad smart home support, and are fine paying for a cloud plan.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the better pick for most households thanks to built-in voice control, an air quality sensor, and broad smart home support, while the Honeywell Home T9 is a good fit if you want a simple touchscreen and room sensors at a gentler learning curve.
The Schlage Encode Plus is the better pick if you want the highest published security rating and built-in Wi-Fi with Apple Home Key. The Yale Assure Lock 2 is the better pick if you want a modular lock with swappable connectivity modules and a wider choice of finishes and keypad styles.
For most people, a Kasa smart plug is the safer buy. Kasa's cloud, Alexa, and Google Home support are still active, while Wemo ended support for most of its products on January 31, 2026. Wemo's Thread-based plug is only worth considering if you live entirely in Apple Home.
The Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) is the better pick for most households thanks to its larger screen, fuller sound, sharper camera, and built-in Zigbee and Thread support, while the Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) is the smarter buy for a nightstand, desk, or small kitchen where size and cost matter most.
Govee vs Nanoleaf light strips comes down to value versus polish. The Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light M1 is the better pick for most people, with Matter support, multi-color zones, and a huge feature set at a friendlier cost. The Nanoleaf Essentials Matter Light Strip is worth a look if you already use Nanoleaf panels or want a simple, Thread-based strip that fits cleanly into Apple Home.
The Blink Outdoor 4 is the better pick for most people, thanks to a battery rated for up to two years on AA lithium cells and a lower cost of ownership. The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is worth it if you want Ring's deeper app, flexible indoor/outdoor mounting, and a rechargeable pack you can swap or top up with a solar panel.
The eufy Omni C20 is the better pick if you want a dock that empties, washes, and dries the mop pads for you, while the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 suits buyers who want multi-pass cleaning and a self-emptying base without paying for a full all-in-one station.
The Eufy Video Doorbell E340 is the better buy for most households because it stores video locally with no required monthly fee and adds a second camera for packages, while the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus wins if you want the most polished app and the deepest Alexa and Ring ecosystem support.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat is the better pick for most households that want a thermostat that builds its own schedule, while the Honeywell Home T9 wins if you want a familiar touchscreen and smart room sensors that prioritize the rooms you actually use.
Yale and August solve the smart lock question from opposite directions. The Yale Assure Lock 2 is the stronger pick if you own your home and want a full deadbolt replacement with modular connectivity and a longer battery life, while the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) is the better call if you rent, want to keep your existing exterior keyhole, or prioritize hands-free Bluetooth unlocking over a keypad.
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is the better all-around buy thanks to fuller sound, a built-in temperature sensor, and eero Wi-Fi extending, while the Echo Pop is the smarter pick if you mainly want an inexpensive Alexa speaker for a small room and don't mind giving up some audio quality and sensor features.
LIFX vs Philips Hue smart bulbs comes down to whether you want vivid color out of the box with no extra hardware, or a more refined whole-home ecosystem built on a hub. The LIFX Color A19 is the better pick if you want saturated color and built-in lighting effects without buying a bridge. The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 is the stronger long-term pick if you want a stable Zigbee mesh, precise dimming, and a deep accessory catalog of switches and sensors.
The Wyze Battery Cam Pro is the better pick if sharper video and color night vision matter most to you, since it outresolves Blink's 1080p feed and adds a built-in spotlight and siren. The Blink Outdoor 4 is the smarter buy if you'd rather not think about charging, thanks to a battery that's rated to last up to two years on a pair of AA lithium batteries.
The Roborock Saros 10 is the better pick if you want the strongest suction, the most advanced obstacle avoidance, and a dock that washes and refills itself, while the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is the better pick if you want tighter Alexa integration and iRobot's long track record with pet-mess detection.
The Amazon Echo Show 8 is the better buy for most households thanks to its bigger, sharper screen, built-in Zigbee and Thread smart home hub, and stronger overall speaker quality, while the Google Nest Hub is the smarter pick for a bedroom or anyone who wants a camera-free display with Soli-powered sleep sensing.
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is the better pick if you want the sharper, more polished app experience and don't mind paying for a subscription, while the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is the smarter buy for budget-conscious shoppers who want local storage and a cheaper subscription tier without giving up a wide head-to-toe view.
August and Schlage take opposite approaches to the smart lock problem. The Schlage Encode Plus is the stronger pick if you want the highest security rating and a lock built from the ground up to be smart, while the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) is the better call if you rent, want to keep your existing exterior hardware, or just want the simplest possible install.
Philips Hue vs Govee smart lights comes down to how much you value a polished, whole-home ecosystem versus a lower cost per bulb. The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 is the stronger long-term pick if you want reliable Zigbee mesh networking, precise color, and deep Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant support. The Govee Smart Light Bulb A19 is the better call if you want vivid color and music sync on a tighter budget without buying a separate hub.
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is the better buy for most households thanks to fuller sound, a built-in Zigbee and Thread hub, and the deepest smart home device support on the market, while the Google Nest Mini is the smarter pick if your home already runs on Google Assistant, Nest cameras, or Chromecast.
The Arlo Pro 5S is the better pick if you want the sharpest video and the most flexibility across smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit, while the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus is the smarter buy for Alexa households that want lower upfront and subscription costs without giving up core features like color night vision and a built-in siren.
Kasa and TP-Link are not rival companies, because Kasa is a TP-Link brand. Pick the Kasa Smart Plug KP125M if you want energy monitoring, and the Tapo P125M if you only need a simple Matter on/off plug that works with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home.
The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is the better pick if you want the most reliable obstacle avoidance and a fully hands-off Auto-Fill mopping dock, while the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 wins for buyers who want strong self-emptying and mopping features without paying Roomba's premium price.
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the better pick if you want built-in room sensing and air quality tracking out of the box, while the Google Nest Learning Thermostat wins for households that want a thermostat that quietly builds its own schedule and fits a Google Home setup.
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is the better pick for most households thanks to its taller head-to-toe video, longer battery life, and cheaper cloud plan, while the Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) pulls ahead for Google Home households that want free person, package, and vehicle detection with three hours of local event history.
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is our top pick for large homes in 2026, with a 220-minute runtime, 4-floor mapping, and 10,000 Pa suction that hold up across big, multi-room layouts.
The Schlage Encode Plus is our top pick for a smart home smart lock. It pairs built-in Wi-Fi with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Home support, so it slots into almost any existing setup without an extra hub.
The Kasa Smart Plug Mini KP115 is our top smart plug for a space heater, pairing a full 15A/1800W rating with real-time energy monitoring and dependable Alexa and Google Home support.
The Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen) is our top pick for most nightstands, since it pairs a genuinely useful LED display with full Alexa support and a low cost of entry, while the Echo Spot and Echo Show 5 give you a nicer display for the rare shopper who wants to spend more.
The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 is our top pick for most bedrooms, since it combines the smoothest low-end dimming and the widest range of warm-to-cool color temperatures with the deepest scheduling options for a real wind-down routine.
The Google Nest Cam (Battery) is our top pick for most front doors, since it combines sharp video, reliable person alerts, and the deepest Google Home integration of any camera here.
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is our top pick for large homes, since it supports the most remote sensors of any major brand and pairs that with a built-in air quality monitor and voice assistant.
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is our top pick for a robot vacuum and mop combo in 2026, pairing 10,000Pa suction with a dock that washes its own mop pads in hot water and can refill and drain itself.
The Kwikset Halo Touch is our top fingerprint smart lock for 2026, pairing a fast, accurate scanner with built-in Wi-Fi and a strong security rating that most other biometric locks can't match.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is our top video doorbell with head to toe view for most homes, its 1536p HD+ frame and 3D Motion Detection show a visitor's full body and any package at their feet, and wired power means no battery to recharge.
The TP-Link Kasa KP400 is our top pick for the best smart plug for outdoor use, its weatherproof housing, dual outlets, and no-hub setup cover what most households need for holiday lights, fountains, and patio gear.
The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is our top pick for video calls, thanks to a motorized base that rotates to keep you framed as you move around the room, something no other display on this list can match.
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is our top pick for most Alexa households, since it delivers genuinely improved sound over older Dots, full smart home hub features, and an easy entry point into the Echo ecosystem at a low cost.
The Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 is our top pick for most homes, since it turns eaves, patios, and rooflines into color-changing accent lighting without the recurring cost of holiday-only string lights.
The Arlo Pro 5S 2-Camera Kit is our top pick for most homes, since it pairs sharp 2K color night vision and reliable AI detection with the widest smart home compatibility of any system here.
The Google Nest Thermostat (2020) is our top pick for homes without a C-wire, since its power-stealing design works on most 24V systems without an adapter kit at the furnace.
The iRobot Roomba j7+ (7550) is our top pick for a self-emptying robot vacuum in 2026, pairing a 60-day self-empty base with obstacle avoidance that keeps it running unattended for weeks.
The Yale Assure Lock 2 with Wi-Fi is our top smart lock for Airbnb in 2026, thanks to native Airbnb integration that auto-generates and deletes guest codes around each reservation without any manual work from the host.
The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is our top pick for cold weather, its always-on power supply sidesteps the battery drain that leaves wireless doorbells offline on the coldest days of winter.
The TP-Link Tapo P100 is our top budget smart plug pick, it's consistently among the cheapest reliable options on the market and covers the basics almost every household needs.
The Amazon Echo Show 15 is our top pick for most kitchens, thanks to its wall-mountable size, customizable widgets, and built-in Fire TV that turns it into a genuine family command center.
The Sonos Era 100 is our top pick for most shoppers chasing sound quality, pairing two angled tweeters and Trueplay room tuning with Alexa, Sonos Voice Control and AirPlay 2 support.
The Govee Envisual TV LED Backlight T2 is our top pick for most TVs, since its dual cameras track on-screen color across the whole width of the picture without requiring a separate HDMI sync box.
The eufy Security Indoor Cam E30 is our top pick for most pet owners, since it pairs 360-degree pan-tilt tracking and AI pet detection with local storage, so you're not stuck paying a subscription just to check on your dog.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) is our top pick for Google Home households, since it's built by Google itself and pairs with the Google Home app and Assistant with no workarounds needed.
The Roborock Saros 10R is our top robot vacuum for hardwood floors, pairing an ultra-thin body that reaches under furniture with hot-water mop washing that leaves floors streak-free.
The Schlage Encode Plus is our top smart lock with a keypad in 2026, pairing a reliable touchscreen with built-in Wi-Fi and a strong security rating that most other keypad locks can't match.
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is our top video doorbell for apartments in 2026, it mounts without drilling into anything, runs on a removable battery, and packs in Alexa support most renters already use.
The Kasa Smart Plug Mini KP115 is our top smart plug for energy monitoring, pairing accurate per-device wattage tracking with a low price and rock-solid Alexa and Google Home support.
The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 is the top pick for most Google Home households, thanks to deep automation options and broad ecosystem support, with or without the Bridge.
The Ring Spotlight Cam Plus is our top pick for most homes, since it pairs proven motion detection and a built-in siren with the widest ecosystem of any camera on this list.
The Google Nest Thermostat (2020) is our top pick for renters, since it installs without tools, works on most 24V systems, and lets you swap the old thermostat back in when your lease ends.
The iRobot Roomba j7+ is our top robot vacuum for pet hair in 2026, thanks to obstacle avoidance that steers around pet messes and a 60-day self-emptying base.
The Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch is our top smart lock for a front door in 2026, thanks to wide smart home support, a reliable keypad, and Matter compatibility.
The Kasa EP25 is our top smart plug for Alexa in 2026, fast, tiny, and a strong value in a multipack.
The Eufy Video Doorbell E340 is our top video doorbell without a subscription in 2026, dual cameras, 8GB of free built-in storage, and zero monthly fees.