Smart home, without the guesswork
Plain-language guides, budget kits and calculators to set up a smart home that works together, for renters and owners.
Browse by topic
See all →By room
Smart kitchen11Smart living room10Smart bedroom12Smart bathroom6Smart home office7Front door and entryway14Smart garage7Smart yard, porch and outdoors16Laundry, basement and utility rooms14
By situation
Smart home for renters24Smart home for older adults15Smart home for new parents6Smart home for pet owners9Smart home without monthly fees10Privacy and local control18Energy saving with smart devices28Away from home and vacation14Smart home basics42Accessible smart home9
By ecosystem
Matter and Thread18Alexa smart home9Google Home smart home6Apple Home (HomeKit)6Home Assistant17SmartThings9
By device
Smart lighting20Smart plugs and outlets15Smart thermostats16Smart locks14Video doorbells11Home security cameras20Sensors and alarms24Wi-Fi and networking17Indoor air quality9Robot vacuums and mops10
Kits by budget and situation
See all →KitWater leak protection kit for a houseFive leak sensors, an automatic shutoff valve and a hub: the shopping list to catch leaks early and stop them before they flood the floor, with…KitSmart home starter kit under $100A speaker, two smart plugs, two bulbs and one door sensor: the shopping list to start a smart home for about a hundred dollars, with the reasons…KitRenter no-drill smart home kitBulbs, plugs, adhesive sensors and a controller: a removable smart home you can set up in an afternoon, with optional upgrades that need your…KitVisual and vibrating alert kit for deaf and hard of hearingSmoke alarms with strobes and bed shakers, a doorbell that flashes your lights and a few smart bulbs: a shopping list for alerts you can see and…KitEnergy-saving smart home kitA certified smart thermostat, three energy-monitoring plugs, a standby-cutting power strip and optional LED smart bulbs: the shopping list that…KitAllergy season air quality kitA particle monitor, a HEPA air cleaner sized by CADR, spare filters and a smart plug, plus a hygrometer and dust covers: a shopping list to cut…
Calculators
See all →CalculatorDevice energy cost calculatorEnter watts (or amps), hours of use and your electricity rate to see what any appliance or smart device costs per hour, month and year, standby…CalculatorSmart plug standby savings calculatorPick the devices that sit in standby, say how many hours a day a smart plug would cut their power, and see the dollars saved per year, the plug’s…CalculatorSmart thermostat savings estimateEnter your heating and cooling costs, the setback you would use and the thermostat price to see a realistic savings range and payback, based on…CalculatorLED bulb savings calculatorCompare old incandescent bulbs with LED or smart LED bulbs: enter how many, the watts, hours per day and your rate to see the dollars saved per…CalculatorSpace heater cost calculatorEnter the heater’s watts, hours of use and your electricity rate to see what a space heater costs per hour, day, month and season, and how that…CalculatorAir purifier room size calculator (CADR)Enter your room’s length, width and ceiling height to see the CADR in cfm to look for, compare it with the EPA’s two-thirds rule for smoke, and…
Decision guides
See all →GuideSmart thermostat without a C-wire: your real optionsNo C-wire at the wall plate? Most homes can still run a smart thermostat. Check your wiring in ten minutes, pick the fix that fits your system and…GuideSmart lock for renters: options that leave no traceA retrofit lock keeps your landlord’s key working and comes off with a screwdriver. Here is how to check your lease, your door and your ecosystem…GuideSecurity cameras with no monthly feeYou can run home security cameras with no subscription if you accept local storage: a microSD card, a base station or an NVR. Here is what you…GuideSecurity cameras and neighbors: what the law allowsFilming your own property is generally fine, but pointing a camera into a neighbor’s windows or recording conversations can cause trouble. Learn…GuideHow to start a smart home: a four-week planPick one ecosystem, solve one problem at a time and keep your wall switches working. Here is a four-week plan with what to buy first, what to skip…GuideWhat is Matter? A plain-English guideMatter is a shared language for smart home devices. Learn what it covers, what you still need at home, how setup works and where it falls short…
Comparisons
See all →ComparisonMatter vs Zigbee: what changes for your smart homeMatter promises devices that work with every ecosystem; Zigbee is proven, cheap and battery-friendly. Here is what each really means for…ComparisonSmart thermostat vs programmable thermostat: is the upgrade worth it?A programmable thermostat follows a fixed schedule for $25–$60. A smart one adds Wi-Fi, learning, away detection and sensors for $80–$280. See…ComparisonSmart bulbs vs smart switches: cost, wiring and useSmart bulbs are plug-and-play and give color; smart switches keep the wall switch working and control any bulb. See the cost per room, wiring…ComparisonSmart plug vs in-wall smart outletA smart plug takes seconds and goes with you; an in-wall outlet looks cleaner but means wiring. Compare price, ratings, rental rules, GFCI and…ComparisonRetrofit or full-replacement smart lock: how to chooseA retrofit lock keeps your existing deadbolt and key; a full replacement swaps the whole lock for a keypad version. Compare security, looks,…ComparisonKeypad or fingerprint smart lock: which fits your householdA keypad needs a code you remember; a fingerprint reader needs a clean, readable fingertip. Compare kids, older adults, worn hands, rain, shared…
No fake tests
We do not claim to test products. We compare published specifications, standards and manufacturer documentation, and say so.
No brand rankings
We explain which features matter for which home. Amazon links open a search for those features, not a pre-picked model.
Sources on every page
Safety, energy and privacy facts come from official bodies such as ENERGY STAR, the CPSC, the FTC or the EIA, linked at the bottom of each page.
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