With our smart home system ratings, you can compare hubs side by side using our Head To Head tool.
You can compare seventeen different models in seven categories such as warranty, compatibility, price, availability, & where they are made. You can also read the individual reviews of each brand below.
Our simple rating system gives each brand a color code and a star rating. If the card is green, then, that is one of the top picks from HvacRepairGuy. If the card is yellow, then, that would be a budget pick from HvacRepairgGuy. If the card is red, then, the brand is not recommended by HvacRepairGuy. It truly is like you were taking a repairman shopping with you!
This brand is from Nortek Security & Control. The Edge panel combines a state of the art home security panel featuring integrated facial recognition for hands free disarming of the security system with a basic home automation hub. The Edge allows for up to eight camera feeds and utilizes two way audio as well as working with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts. The brand is only sold through a very limited dealer network and is focused on home security.
This brand is made in Indonesia and their Smart Home Hub is a basic hub without a display and it is Matter compatible as well as working with the SmartThings ecosystem. The hub can synch with Alexa or Google Assistant but does not work with Siri Shortcuts. They are available online but are not compatible outside North America and are relatively high priced for what you get.
This brand is made in China by Lumi United Technologies Company Limited. The M2 hub works with Apple Homekit as well as a wide variety of voice assistants but does not support the new Matter standard. The units are very inexpensive basic hubs that have a built in speaker but not a display screen. They are available world wide including through Amazon & The Home depot in the USA. They offer a variety of sensors that can be connected but support a relatively small (128) devices per hub.
The Smart Switch is designed to replace an existing light switch and allow for smart home control using Alexa or Google Assistant. They feature motion, temperature, and ambient light sensors as well as a 5 inch touch screen. They are available in four models and six colors and can be purchased from their website as well as on Amazon. The brand is more focused on lighting and the main problem with replacing an existing light switch is the fact that it places the touch screen too low for comfortable viewing. They are also relatively expensive.
These systems are designed and installed by professionals and are more for very high-end homes. They have their own AI-powered voice assistant and a large range of products that are only for their systems. It seems like they are trying to be to smart home what Apple is to smart phones with a walled-garden approach. The CA-1 controller is their entry level system but it does not have a built-in display or microphones.
This brand is made in China and can be purchased at Best Buy as well as on Amazon. The Echo Hub uses their Alexa voice activated personal assistant which can control virtually any smart appliance or system in the home. They are Matter compatible and work with basically any smart device that is made. They feature a large 8 inch touch screen at a fair price for all that it brings to the table. The units feature four microphone arrays with a mic off button as well as dual stereo speakers. They feature Amazon Sidewalk which enables some devices to stay connected even if Wi-Fi is lost. They are easy to install and setup as well as being backed by a good guarantee that can even be extended.
The Ezlo Plus Smart Home Hub leaves you asking where's the plus. It is just a basic hub that works with Alexa & Google but is very expensive for what you actually get. They are made in China and have their own operating system (MiOS) yet they still work with many devices from other manufacturers. The hub can be purchased through their website or on Amazon.
The Yubii is a simple plug-n-play device that works with Alexa, Google Assistant, & Samsung SmartThings. The brand is from Nice Group and can be purchased on Amazon but they are expensive considering their limitations and lack of a screen. The hub uses Z-wave so you can still control all of your smart devices if Wi-Fi fails.
The HomeTroller Pi is a basic system that works with a variety of devices. They can be purchased online through the manufacturer's store but are more expensive than some of the comparable brands. The hubs work with Alexa & Google Assistant but are basic units without any displays. The hub uses Z-wave so you can still control all of your smart devices if Wi-Fi fails.
This system offers a basic hub without a display that is compatible with WiFi, Zigbee, bluetooth, Z-wave and IR devices as well as Matter and Thread protocols. The Homey is designed for use in the cloud through a subscription that costs $2.99 per month. The basic subscription only allows the connection of five devices while their premium plan is up to 50,000 but at a very steep monthly price. The entire concept seems doomed to failure and not a threat to the major players in the smart home industry.
The Dirigera hub is a big improvement over their prior Tradfri hub but it is still features rather buggy firmware and a limited variety of devices to control. It is a basic hub without a display but it works with Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home. The Swedish conglomerate is famous for its cost controls and the hub is relatively inexpensive but it is also relatively limited in its functionality. The hubs are available at their retail stores as well as online.
This brand offers a basic hub that works with Alexa & Google but requires a paid subscription to their app for about $40 each year. It seems like a doomed business model and the Hub 2 has limited functionality without a screen. The app allows you to build scenes where you can program several things to happen at the same time each day but they are mostly focused on controlling lighting products and smart outlets.
The Caseta Smart Hub is a basic unit without a display. The hub plugs directly into your router and communicates with devices wirelessly over a different frequency so that it will not slow down your home's WiFi network. The unit works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit but is relatively expensive for what it provides. The Dimmer Starter kit can be purchased on Amazon and includes a LED dimmer switch with the hub and a remote control.
The Nest Hub (2nd gen) has a built-in seven inch LCD display and their Sleep Sensing technology. This technology uses motion and sound sensing to keep track of how you are resting which to some people might seem really creepy. The hubs are relatively inexpensive but in order to include video calling you will need the Hub Max which has a larger ten inch HD screen and a built-in camera. They are available through the Google store and they work with thousands of products from other brands.
This brand is more focused on LED lighting where up to 64 devices can be connected to the Z02 hub. They can be controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands but they do not support the Matter protocol. They are inexpensive and available on Amazon but they do not have a display and they have rather limited functionality.
The SmartThings Station combines a basic hub with a charging pad. The system works with many brands of devices but does not have a display or the advanced features of other brands. The unit supports the Matter protocol as well as Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee but has limited functionality.
The Tapo H200 smart hub is more focused on home security than other brands. The hub has the ability to control up to 64 devices and can be controlled with voice commands from Alexa and Google. The units do not have a built-in display so their functionality is rather limited but they are a good starter for the average DIY project. They can be purchased directly through their website or Amazon store where they are relatively inexpensive.
The Hub 2 works with many brands of devices through Apple, Alexa, & Google but it does not have a display and is expensive for what you get. The unit requires constant Wi-Fi access and does not support the Matter protocol but it works with zigbee, z-wave, and bluetooth. The unit has auto discovery for easier integration of your smart home devices.
This brand offers a variety of starter kits and sensors as well as individual hubs. The Hub can be connected to the internet through Wi-Fi or ethernet connection to your home router. It uses their Control-D2D for device to device pairing where the hub can connect to up to 128 devices and the devices will continue to operate without internet connectivity. The SpeakerHub includes a built-in speaker to give you audible alerts and information. The Hub3 is designed for areas without traditional internet service and the hub will automatically choose a cellular service provider. It has a built-in rechargeable battery to continue to operate during power outages. There is a monthly subscription for the cellular service at a cost of about $7 per month. The units do not have a built-in display so their functionality is rather limited but they are a good starter for the average DIY project. They can be purchased directly through their website or Amazon store where they are relatively inexpensive.
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