Your Complete Smart Home Guide

What Are Smart Homes?

Smart homes include WiFi-connected devices that are controlled using a mobile app or even a voice assistant like Alexa. Common smart home devices include smart lights, smart thermostats, smart locks, and more. Smart homes are becoming popular due to the convenience and money-saving benefits they offer.

Of course, no home is completely automated, but the industry is getting closer and closer to this point. With a diverse array of devices ranging from smart security systems to smart smoke detectors, there’s very few devices you can’t get an IoT version of.

Smart Home Connectivity

IoT devices can connect to the Internet in a few different ways, with Wi-Fi being the most common. Cellular backup and landline backup is typically used with smart security cameras and systems, while Z-Wave, ZigBee and Bluetooth are less commonly used.

Wi-Fi

Sometimes spelled Wi-Fi, WiFi is a wireless technology that allows IoT devices to connect to the web with super-fast speeds. Using radiofrequency technology, most connected devices use some form of WiFi to connect to your app. However, if it’s an important device like a security motion sensor, you may want to add in cellular or landline backup in case the WiFi is faulty, which we also discuss below.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth: it’s what you use to connect your AirPods or your smart speaker to your car’s radio. A wireless technology, Bluetooth works by using short-wavelength radio waves. It’s most commonly used with car stereo systems, hands-free headsets, mouses, keyboards, printers, and gaming consoles, and it’s less common in smart home security.

Z-Wave

Z-Wave is the name of a wireless communications protocol that lets devices connect with each other and the app using low-energy radio waves. In 2019, there were over 26,000 products that worked with Z-Wave, making it an increasingly popular connectivity option.

Zigbee

Another communications protocol is Zigbee, which actually creates networks via digital radios. Cheaper than WiFi and Bluetooth, Zigbee’s only requirement is a data transfer with a short range, meaning it uses less power. Plus, those concerned with privacy will be happy to know that Zigbee is one of the more secure options out there, as all of its networks are symmetrically encrypted.

Cellular Backup

Your phone uses data, so why can’t your security system? In order to keep everything on if the power goes out, some security companies offer cellular data as a backup. This usually costs a monthly or yearly fee, but sometimes it’s built into the alarm panel or base station through a cellular communicator.

Landline Backup

If you still have a landline in your home, another way to keep your system on in a power outage is through landline backup, meaning it’s connected to communication wires or cables. The big advantage of landline over cellular backup is that if you call the police, they’ll know your location instantly, which isn’t always the case for mobile devices with less than perfect GPS. Although they may seem unnecessary in this smartphone world, having a landline is a great way to make your home more secure.

Home Automation

A smart home is only more convenient if it controls itself. After all, having to go into a million different apps all day just to turn on your lamps might get annoying, which is where home automation comes in. Whether it’s by putting your devices on schedules or by having them trigger each other, you can set up your smart home so it works for you, not against you. For example, you might have your garage door controller trigger your smart lock so that the door to your home inside your garage unlocks automatically whenever the garage door is opened.

Another idea is to have your fan turn on at the same time every day so that you return to a cool, airy bedroom. With such automation, IoT devices can be the “set it and forget it” types that make smart homes so convenient.

IFTTT

If This Then That is a free platform that lets IoT devices from different companies trigger with each other. If a device works with IFTTT, that means that it works with any other IFTTT-compatible device, allowing for a ton of cross-brand pollination.

Smart Assistants

Voice commands are only possible because of voice assistants, which developers integrate into IoT products. The two most popular voice assistants are Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Google Assistant, with Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana running far behind. No matter which voice assistant you use, you’ll be able to turn your connected devices on and off using your voice alone, as well as make other adjustments, whether that’s dimming lights, setting the temperature down five degrees or what have you. Let’s talk a little bit more about each voice assistant.

Alexa

If you have an Echo speaker or Show display, Alexa will be your voice assistant. With more than 100,000 skills as of 20211, Alexa has the most capabilities of any voice assistants and is integrated in the greatest number of IoT devices.

Google Assistant

Google Assistant comes with any Google Home Hub, Nest Hub or Nest Mini speaker. Just say “Ok Google” or “Hey Google” to activate the voice assistant, which is second in popularity to Alexa with over 4,200 actions as of 20192.

Siri

Siri comes on all iOS devices, but it’s also an integral part of Apple HomeKit. There aren’t a lot of connected devices that work with Siri because of Apple’s strict integration process; it’s mainly used to map directions, play Youtube videos or do Internet searches on iPhones and iPads.

Microsoft Cortana

Finally, Microsoft Cortana is Microsoft’s voice assistant, although it’s shifted from being a voice assistant to a skill for Microsoft 365 subscribers. It’s super rare to see any IoT devices integrated with Microsoft Cortana, as it’s mostly used to access the Microsoft Office suite.

Tour Our Smart Home

Want to see a smart home in action? Tour our virtual smart home and see how its products all work together seamlessly to create a house that adjusts to your needs automatically. All of the below devices can be commanded using your voice alone through a voice assistant, either Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri or Microsoft Cortana. Here are some of our favorite smart home devices:

Smart Light Bulbs

Smart light bulbs can be set onto schedules or even synced with the GPS on your phone or the sunrise and sunset.

With dimmable, LED bulbs that you can adjust to over 16 million different colors, smart bulbs last much longer than incandescent bulbs and are a lot more fun as well. After customizing your lighting, you can create scenes, groups of bulbs that you’ve adjusted to your liking, so that you can easily access them later.

• Popular smart bulb brands: LIFX, Philips Hue, Bulbrite, Sylvania, Wyze, Cree, eufy, TP-Link
• Average cost: $32
• Product spotlight: Philips Hue White and Color Bulb

Philips Hue is probably the most recognizable lighting brand, and they have a ton of different smart lighting to offer. This white and color bulb has 16 million different color options and is also dimmable, so you can create the exact lighting you want in your home. You’ll also be able to set your lighting onto schedules, group multiple customized bulbs into scenes for easy access, and even sync your lighting with the sunrise and sunset, if you want! Or, hook it up with the GPS on your phone so your lights turn off automatically when you leave the house and vice versa.

Plus, Philips Hue works with products from Nest, Vivint, and SimpliSafe, allowing for convenient home automations. As far as voice assistants go, we controlled our Philips Hue lighting with Google Assistant, Alexa and even Siri. Note that you’ll need the Hue Hub to use the White and Color Bulb, which works using Zigbee protocol. Unlike incandescent bulbs, the Philips Hue White and Color is LED, meaning it uses much less energy. Hue has a ton of smart bulbs to choose from, like the Decorative Candle, Bloom Lamp, Bar Light and more.

Smart Plugs

If you’re just starting out with your smart home, smart plugs will be a godsend.

They can turn any appliance that uses 1,800 watts or less into a WiFi-connected device, ideal for small appliances like flat irons or space heaters. That means that you’ll be able to turn these appliances off and on using your voice as well as create schedules and scenes.

• Popular smart plug brands: iHome, TP-Link, Aukey, Amazon, Wemo, iDevices, eufy
• Average cost: $29

Smart Security Systems

Smart security systems ensure that you’ll always stay on top of your home’s security. With WiFi-connected sensors, you’ll be alerted if any of your alarms go off when your security system is armed via a mobile notification.

From there, you’ll be able to check in and livestream footage, if your system includes a camera.

• Popular smart security brands: Frontpoint, ADT, Vivint, Ring, SimpliSafe, abode
• Average cost: $400
• Product spotlight: Ring

Ring Alarm is an incredibly affordable, DIY smart home security system. The Security Kit our experts tested included a base station, keypad, contact sensor, motion detector, and range extender, which we paired with the Ring Stickup Cam Wired and the Ring Video Doorbell 2. A huge advantage of Ring is that users can pay nothing monthly and would still be able to livestream footage, receive notifications and control their devices remotely, which isn’t always the case for smart home brands. Ring offers optional 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup for only $20 a month or $200 a year, one of the lowest prices around. Their products work with both Alexa and Google Assistant plus IoT devices from Dome, Ecolink, First Alert, GE and Leviton, allowing you to customize your smart home to your liking.

Everything will be easily accessible via the Ring— Always Home app, highly-rated by both iPhone and Android users alike. Installation is easy DIY, making Ring super affordable from setup to everyday usage. They also make a number of indoor and outdoor cameras and video doorbells which will easily integrate with Ring’s sensors, making Ring a one-stop shop for smart home security.

Smart Security Cameras

How useful are security cameras if you can’t actually see their footage? With smart security cameras, you’ll be able to check in and livestream footage anytime, anywhere from your mobile application. You can also show your footage on a smart display, Chromecast, Fire TV, or Apple TV, depending on its make, and review cloud storage as well. Some smart security cameras even have person detection so you’ll only be notified when it detects a person, but more advanced cameras have facial recognition, allowing you to name faces it’s seen multiple times for even more specific notifications.

• Popular smart security camera brands: Ring, Nest, Wyze, Blink
• Average cost: $155
• Product spotlight: Wyze Cam

At only $29.99, the Wyze Cam is an incredible little device that doesn’t sacrifice quality for its shockingly low price. It has the industry standard of 1080p HD, making for a super clear shot, plus we were able to zoom in eight times to capture those tiny details. The camera also has excellent infrared night vision, two-way audio which let us speak to whoever we were livestreaming, plus integrations with Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT. Storage is done through a micro-SD card, sold separately, plus Wyze gave us 14 days of cloud storage on the house! Cloud storage is usually an additional monthly cost, but not with Wyze. The camera even recognized our existing smoke and CO alarms so we got mobile notifications when they went off. Overall, this plug-in indoor camera is high-quality, low price, and an excellent addition to our smart home. The company also makes security sensors, smart plugs, smart bulbs, and more, making it a robust smart home hub.

Smart Thermostats

Aside from being able to control your home’s temperature remotely and set it onto schedules, many smart thermostats also have sensing for movement and occupancy, meaning they’ll adjust based on your location and even if you’re awake or asleep.

You can also set up geofencing with some smart thermostats, meaning they’ll adjust based on your location by using the GPS in your mobile device. Many smart thermostats can save you money on heating and cooling costs compared to regular thermostats.

• Popular smart thermostat brands: Nest, Honeywell, Kono
• Average cost: $160

Smart Smoke and CO Sensors

If your smoke alarm goes off and no one is home to hear it, is it really that useful? With smart smoke and CO detectors, you’ll always get notified if there were any huge increases in temperature, or if dangerous levels of smoke and/or CO are detected. If you already have existing smoke and CO detectors that aren’t connected to the Internet, there are also smoke and CO listeners that’ll alert you if any of your alarms go off, a cost-effective solution to get smart environmental monitoring.

• Popular smoke and CO detector brands: Nest, First Alert, Kidde, Samsung SmartThings
• Average cost: $44

Smart Flood Sensors

Floods can cause thousands of dollars worth of damages to your home, which is why it’s best to catch them early with a flood or water leak sensor. Placed near anywhere that water could leak, like near a dishwasher or washing machine, you’ll get a notification if the sensor detects water so you can fix the problem early.

• Popular flood sensor brands: Ring, Honeywell, Samsung SmartThings, Kangaroo, First Alert
• Average cost: $20

Smart Freeze Sensors

If your pipes freeze it could cause them to burst, resulting in, you guessed it, a flood. Fortunately for you, there are WiFi-connected freeze sensors that will alert you if temperatures reach a certain level.

• Popular freeze sensor brands: SimpliSafe, Ring
• Average cost: $40

Smart Speakers

If you’ve ever wanted to hit pause without getting out your phone, smart speakers are for you. You’ll be able to play music, audiobooks, and podcasts using your voice alone. Plus, smart speakers let you control other connected devices hands-free. Some even double as a timer or clock.

• Popular smart speaker brands: Amazon, Google Nest
• Average cost: $109

Smart Locks

Smart locks are super useful. Aside from being able to control them remotely, users will also be able to create passcodes for specific periods of time to let people in when they’re not home. This is particularly handy if you have a dog walker, house sitter or babysitter that needs to be let in in a way much safer than hiding a key under the mat. You’ll be able to see your lock’s activity and some locks can even be opened with voice commands!

• Popular smart lock brands: Kwikset, Yale, Schlage, August
• Average cost: $150

Video Doorbells

Video doorbells are essentially cameras designed specifically for your doors, allowing you to see your guests and speak to them through two-way audio. The most effective video doorbells have person detection, leading to super helpful notifications and preventing false notifications from cars, animals, and other moving objects. Some video doorbells require an existing doorbell and chime setup, while others are totally wireless with no installation requirements.

• Popular video doorbell brands: eufy, Arlo, Ring, Nest, SimpliSafe, Vivint, SkyBell
• Average cost: $190
• Product spotlight: eufy Security Video Doorbell

The eufy Security Video Doorbell has the highest video quality of any video doorbell we’ve reviewed, 2K HDR with distortion correction. Requiring an existing doorbell setup, this camera has person detection, so it only notified us when it detected a person and ignored movement from cars, animals, and other inanimate moving objects. In fact, it even sent us a screenshot of the person it detected so we didn’t have to livestream the footage and check. Aside from that, the eufy Security Video Doorbell works with both Alexa and Google Assistant, has infrared night vision, two-way audio, plus 4 GB of local storage, and a wide, 160-degree field of view. Plus, at $159.99, it’s slightly cheaper than the industry average.

Smart Displays

Finally, smart displays are tablets that connect all of your IoT devices and can also play TV shows, movies, and the like. Amazon’s version of the smart display is their Echo Show devices, while Google’s version is their Nest Hubs.

• Popular smart display brands: Lenovo, Amazon, Google
• Average cost: $184
• Product Spotlight: Amazon Echo Show 8

The Echo Show 8, which has Alexa built-in, is an eight-in touch screen display with two-inch speakers and microphones. Using the Echo Show 8, we were able to access over 100,000 Alexa skills, which included everything from playing music from Amazon Music and Spotlight, watching Prime Video and Hulu, Skyping with friends and shopping on, you guessed it, Amazon. In particular, the Echo Show came in handy when we were cooking. Not only was it convenient to set up a time hands-free when we were covered in flour, but we could even tell Alexa to buy any ingredients we forgot. Plus, when all went wrong, we simply told Alexa to order food from Seamless.

To learn about more connected devices, check out our experts’ favorite smart home products.

What Can My Smart Home Do?

Now, we’re not buying smart home products just for the sake of it. Unlike regular products that aren’t connected to the Internet, smart devices have many capabilities and are all controllable through an app. Here are some of the things you can do with IoT devices:

• Remote control: The main feature of smart home technology is that you’ll be able to control your devices remotely through their respective mobile applications. This comes in handy, especially if you forgot to do something before you left home, be it to turn off your air conditioning unit, to arm your security system or to make sure your doors are locked.
• Notifications: You’ll also be notified on your mobile app of any events that happen with your smart device. This mainly applies to security cameras, systems and smart locks. You can be notified the second someone opens your front door, walks in front of your video doorbell or unlocks your basement. As you can see, notifications are especially useful when it comes to the security and safety of your home.
• Voice commands: Most smart devices work with one of the voice assistants, either the two most common, Alexa and Google Assistant, or the less common Siri or Microsoft Cortana. That means you’ll be able to command them using your voice alone, but it’s important to make sure that all the devices in your home work with the same voice assistant for consistency’s sake.

• Geofencing: Geofencing is a feature we’ve seen with smart locks, primarily. It means taking the GPS from your phone and connecting it to your device so that it turns off or on based on your location. For example, you could have your door automatically unlock when you’re within a certain distance, or have your thermostat heat up your home to a temperature when you’re near.
• Schedules: This one’s pretty obvious; many devices can be set onto schedules so that you don’t have to control them manually every day. For example, if you know that you always get up on weekdays at seven AM, you could have your bedroom lights turn on to wake you up automatically.
• Scenes: Scenes are groups of IoT devices that you’ve joined together to easily access them at once. We have different scenes for lighting, from reading to bedtime to dance parties, and since we’ve already customized the colors and brightness, we can get this setup with a touch of a button.
• Smart home integrations: Aside from working with voice assistants, many smart home devices also work with devices from other brands. For example, Nest Secure, a security system from Google Nest that is no longer sold on Nest’s website, works with smart bulbs from LIFX and Philips Hue, meaning we can have our lights turn on once our system is disarmed, meaning we’re home. This kind of action is sometimes referred to as an automated trigger or simply as home automation. If the product works with If Then Then That (IFTTT), that means it works with any other product that’s integrated with IFTTT, which makes integrating devices from different brands more simple than ever.

• Sunrise and sunset mode: Mainly applying to smart bulbs, sunrise and sunset mode has connected devices turn on and off at the beginning and end of the day, syncing with nature. If you want to get back to a Circadian rhythm, a smart bulb with sunrise and sunset mode is a beautiful thing!
• Event log: An event log is simply a list of the IoT devices’ activity, like what times the smart locks were opened, when the lights were on, and more. This is very useful for smart locks and security systems, in particular, but may not be as necessary for bulbs and other devices.
• Energy monitoring: Finally, energy monitoring tells you exactly how much energy your IoT devices are using up. This is really useful for smart thermostats and plugs connected to appliances using 1,800 watts or less, as well as smart bulbs.

Smart homes let you customize your life by automating actions. Have your coffee ready for you in the morning and your electric blanket heated up for you at night, or simply get notified the second your kids come home. With literally thousands of devices available, the possibilities are endless.

Can Smart Home Devices Save Me Money?

So sure, smart home technology can make your life more convenient by automating actions and having hands-free commands, but good news for your wallet, it can also save you money! The top money-saving IoT devices are smart bulbs, plugs and thermostats. You’ll never forget to turn off a light or appliance, or leave your thermostat on high over a ten-day vacation. Plus, having that much more control means using energy only when it’s needed.

Nest thermostats, for example, save people an average of 10-12% on heating and 15% on cooling, an average savings of $131 to $145 per year3. Thermostats from ecobee are even more energy-efficient, saving you 23% and paying for themselves in a couple of years4. Even devices that aren’t directly connected to your home’s energy usage can bring in savings. Water leak sensors detect water as soon as it leaks, allowing homeowners to catch things early before they become a full-blown flood, potentially saving you thousands.

Not to mention smart smoke and CO detectors, which can alert you as soon as there are any huge increases in temperature before a fire even starts. After all, smoke detectors that aren’t connected to the Internet aren’t much use if you’re not home. Smart home security devices can also save you the cost of a theft, which was $2,316 according to the most recent data from the FBI5. So although you’ll have to shell out a bit of dough to get your first smart home devices, over time they could eventually pay for themselves.

Creating A Smart Home: Where Do I Start?

Last year, 24% of the United States population owned smart speakers6, and the numbers are expected to grow in 2020 as well, but how do you get in on the action? Starting a smart home can be overwhelming, which is why we recommend first getting a smart speaker or display. This is the central hub of your smart home that actually allows for voice commands, and there are many affordable options out there. Many services like Hulu and Spotify have run promotions giving their users free smart speakers, so be on the lookout for some great deals. With incredibly affordable options like the Echo Flex or Google Nest Mini, creating a smart home doesn’t need to be expensive. There are thousands of devices to choose from to satisfy your needs and the needs of your family.

Smart Home Statistics

Getting a smart home is more popular than ever, with more smart speaker owners growing by the second. Here are some statistics you should know about smart home technology in the United States:

• 76% of people are familiar with smart home technology
• 53% of people own a smart home device
• 33% of people said they will buy a smart home device in the next three years7
• 66% of consumers said that they were most likely to buy or already owned smart home products from Amazon, while 55% said Google and 32% said Apple8
• The smart home market will reach $123 billion by 2022, an increase of $67 billion from 20189
• 62.1% of smart security camera owners check their phones daily to view the camera’s footage.
• People paid an average of $276 for smart security cameras and an average of $390 for smart security systems
• The smart security brands that received the highest customer satisfaction were Arlo, Ring, SimpliSafe and Brink’s
• 63% of Americans track their health using an IoT device, with 13% using connected scales10
• A fourth of all broadband households in the United States plan to purchase a smart lock within the next year
• 35% of all U.S broadband households think smart locks are affordable
• 60% of security systems are self-installed11
• Amazon will continue to dominate the smart speaker market, expected to hold 70% of total smart speaker ownership in the United States in 2021
• In an IQ test, Google Assistant performed better than Alexa and Siri, answering questions correctly 93% of the time12

Recap

Smart home technology can make your life easier, more convenient, and even more cost-effective, with the right devices. The good thing about smart home technology is that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get it; there are low-cost devices you can start off with, gradually adding to your collection in the future.