Home Automation
What's New in Home Assistant 2026 | The Biggest Updates That Actually Matter
Home Assistant 2026 updates: new dashboard, voice assistant, Matter camera support, energy tracking, and automations that regular users actually care about.
Smart Home
50 articles
Home Automation
How to Build a Beautiful Home Assistant Dashboard | Cards, Themes and Layout Tips (2026)
Build a professional Home Assistant dashboard with custom cards, themes, and layout. Step-by-step guide for 2026.
Home Automation
Best Zigbee Sensors for Home Assistant in 2026 | Motion, Contact, Temp and Water Leak
The best Zigbee sensors for Home Assistant in 2026. Motion, contact, temperature, water leak, and mmWave presence sensors tested and reviewed.
Home Automation
Apple Home vs Home Assistant in 2026 | Which Smart Home Platform Should You Choose?
Apple Home vs Home Assistant comparison. Features, device support, automation, privacy. Which platform is right for you?
Home Automation
How to Migrate from SmartThings to Home Assistant | Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Complete guide to migrating your smart home from SmartThings to Home Assistant. Learn hardware, device pairing, automation setup, and timelines.
Home Security
Best 4 Smart Doorbell Cameras in 2026 | Ring, Aqara, Reolink and Google Nest
Compare the best smart doorbell cameras of 2026: Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, Aqara Video Doorbell G4, Reolink, and Google Nest. Find the right fit for your home.
Home Security
Smart Water Leak Detection and Auto Shut-Off | Protect Your Home Before Disaster Strikes
Water damage claims average $12,000. A smart leak detection system costs under $200 and prevents catastrophe. Here's the complete guide.
Home Automation
How to Set Up Frigate NVR with Home Assistant | Local AI Camera Detection Guide
Step-by-step guide to setting up Frigate NVR with Home Assistant for local AI-powered camera detection. No cloud, no subscriptions, full privacy control.
Home Automation
10 Best Smart Home Devices Under $25 | Budget Picks That Actually Work (2026)
10 best smart home devices under $25. Budget sensors, relays, and controllers that work with Home Assistant, Matter, and Zigbee.
Home Automation
SmartThings vs Home Assistant vs Hubitat in 2026 | Which Smart Home Hub Is Right for You?
Comparing SmartThings, Home Assistant, and Hubitat—the three major smart home hubs in 2026. Find which one fits your needs, skills, and ecosystem.
Home Automation
Best Thread Border Routers for Your Matter Smart Home in 2026
Thread border routers are essential for Matter smart homes. Here are the best options in 2026: HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, Home Assistant Connect, and Aqara Smart Hub M3.
Home Security
Ring vs Arlo vs Reolink | Best Wireless Security Cameras Compared (2026)
Ring vs Arlo vs Reolink security cameras. Head-to-head comparison of price, features, subscription costs, and smart home compatibility.
Home Automation
Roborock Qrevo Curv Review | The Best Robot Vacuum for Home Assistant in 2026
Roborock Qrevo Curv review: flagship robot vacuum with 18,500Pa suction, FlexiArm mop, dual-camera navigation, and tight Home Assistant integration for 2026.
Home Automation
Zooz 800 Series Z-Wave Switches Review | ZEN76 and ZEN77 for Hubitat and Home Assistant
Zooz ZEN76 and ZEN77 800 series Z-Wave switches reviewed. Long Range ready with SmartStart pairing, tested on both Hubitat and Home Assistant hubs.
Home Automation
Emporia Vue 3 Review | Smart Home Energy Monitor for Home Assistant and Apple Home
The Emporia Vue 3 lets you monitor your whole home electricity usage in real time. Here's whether it's worth the $100-$150 price tag.
Home Security
How to Build a DIY Smart Home Security System | No Monthly Fees, Full Control
Build a DIY smart home security system using Home Assistant. No subscriptions, no cloud dependency, complete control over cameras, sensors, and alerts.
Home Automation
How to Set Up the Home Assistant Energy Dashboard | Track Electricity, Solar and Gas
Step-by-step guide to setting up Home Assistant's Energy Dashboard: hardware options, sensor configuration, solar tracking, and automation.
Home Automation
Best UPS Battery Backup for Smart Home Hubs | Keep Your Automations Running During Outages
Best UPS backup power for Home Assistant, Hubitat, and smart home hubs. Recommended models and setup guide.
Home Security
Aqara Camera Hub G350 Review | The First Matter Camera for Your Smart Home (2026)
The Aqara Camera Hub G350 is the world's first Matter v1.5 camera with dual lenses, 9x hybrid zoom, and multi-protocol support. Read our hands-on review.
Home Automation
Aqara Smart Hub M3 Review | The Best Multi-Protocol Smart Home Hub for 2026
Aqara Smart Hub M3 review: Zigbee, Thread, IR blaster, and Matter bridge in one $70 device. The best value multi-protocol hub for smart home automation.
Home Automation
Aqara FP400 Spatial Multi-Sensor Preview | Next-Gen Presence Detection at CES 2026
Aqara FP400 spatial sensor unveiled at CES 2026. Advanced mmWave radar tracks up to 10 people's position and posture for next-gen room-level automation.
Home Automation
Apple's Big Smart Home Push in 2026 | HomePad, HomePod mini 2 and More
Apple's 2026 smart home push includes the rumored HomePad touchscreen hub, a refreshed HomePod mini 2, and new HomeKit cameras with Matter support.
Home Automation
Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 Preview | Smart Thermostat Meets Smart Home Hub at CES 2026
Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 CES 2026 preview: HVAC control plus Zigbee hub and Thread border router in one device. Matter support coming.
Home Automation
Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition Review | Local Voice Control Without the Cloud
Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition runs entirely local with no cloud dependency. Full review of this $59 privacy-first voice assistant for Home Assistant.
Home Automation
Apple TV 4K as a Smart Home Hub | Thread, Matter and HomeKit Secure Video (2025)
Is the Apple TV 4K 3rd gen worth buying as a smart home hub? We review its Thread router, Matter support, and HomeKit Secure Video processing capabilities.
Home Automation
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Review | Built-In Air Quality Monitor and Siri Support
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium review: built-in air quality monitor, Alexa speaker, HomeKit support, and room sensors. Best thermostat for Apple Home.
Home Automation
How to Set Up Home Assistant Green | Beginner's Guide to Local Smart Home Control
Home Assistant Green setup guide for beginners. Step-by-step unboxing, first boot, device discovery, and automations. Local smart home control made easy.
Home Automation
ratgdo: The Best MyQ Alternative for Home Assistant | Local Garage Door Control
ratgdo brings local, cloud-free garage door control to Home Assistant. Here's why it beats MyQ and how to install it in 20 minutes.
Home Automation
How to Set Up Node-RED with Home Assistant | Visual Automations for Beginners
Learn how to install and use Node-RED with Home Assistant to build visual flow-based automations without coding. Perfect for complex conditional logic.
Home Automation
Best Smart Outdoor Lighting for 2025 | Path Lights, Spotlights and Landscape Options
Smart outdoor lighting roundup: Philips Hue Lily, Ring Smart Lights, innr outdoor spots, and budget options for landscape and security lighting.
home-networking
Google Nest WiFi Pro Review | Wi-Fi 6E Mesh with Matter and Thread Built In
Google Nest WiFi Pro review: Wi-Fi 6E mesh system with built-in Thread border router and Matter support. Performance, features, and worth it analysis.
Home Automation
Meross Smart Garage Door Opener Review | HomeKit, Alexa and Google for Under $50
The Meross MSG200 brings HomeKit support to your garage door for under $50. Here's what you're getting for that price.
Home Automation
Home Assistant SkyConnect vs Sonoff Zigbee Dongle | Which One Should You Buy?
Home Assistant SkyConnect vs Sonoff Zigbee Dongle comparison. Which USB dongle is right for your setup? Comparing Thread, Zigbee, price, and features.
Home Automation
How to Add Matter Devices to Apple Home | Setup Guide for iPhone and iPad
Step-by-step guide to adding Matter devices to Apple Home on iPhone and iPad. Includes pairing troubleshooting tips and multi-admin setup instructions.
home-networking
Best 3 Mesh Wi-Fi Systems for Smart Homes in 2025 | Eero, TP-Link and Asus
Best mesh Wi-Fi systems for smart homes in 2025. Eero Pro 6E, TP-Link Deco XE75, and ASUS ZenWiFi compared for reliable IoT device support and coverage.
home-networking
Eero Pro 6E Review | The Best Mesh Wi-Fi System for Smart Homes with Built-In Zigbee and Thread
Eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi with built-in Zigbee hub and Thread border router—the only router smart home users actually need. Full review.
Home Automation
Aqara Presence Sensor FP2 Review | mmWave Radar for HomeKit and Home Assistant
Aqara FP2 mmWave presence sensor review. Wi-Fi connected with no hub required, reliably detects stationary humans. Works with HomeKit and Home Assistant.
Home Automation
Matter Protocol Explained | What It Is, Why It Matters, and Which Devices Support It
Complete guide to Matter protocol: how it works, which devices support it, Thread vs Wi-Fi, and why it matters for your smart home.
Home Automation
Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro Review | The Best Local Smart Home Hub in 2025
Hubitat C-8 Pro review: 100% local smart home processing with Z-Wave 800, Zigbee, and Matter support. Best hub for local control without cloud reliance.
Home Automation
IKEA DIRIGERA Hub Review | Affordable Matter Smart Home Hub for TRÅDFRI and Beyond
IKEA DIRIGERA review: the best affordable Matter and Thread hub for IKEA smart home devices. We test Zigbee support, app quality, and Matter compatibility.
Buttons
The Best ZigBee Smart Plug in 2024 | SmartThings and Hubitat Compatible
The ThirdReality ZigBee Smart Plug has quickly become a favorite among smart home enthusiasts, and for good reason. This device combines robust functionality, seamless integration, and energy efficiency into one compact unit, making it a top choice for anyone looking to automate their home.
DIY Essentials
Unlocking the Future of Home Automation: Hubitat Elevation C-8 Smart Home Hub
The Hubitat Elevation C-8 has a similar form factor as it's C-7 predacessor, but the C-8 features new external antennas for improved wireless range and ...
Apps
Elevating My Smart Home Experience: Why I Switched from SmartThings to Hubitat
After many years of satisfied SmartThings automation, I started wanting more from my IoT hub and began looking for better solutions. Then I found the Hubitat Elevation hub, and my smart home was forever changed for the better.
Buttons
The Best Zigbee Push Button from ThirdReality
The ThirdReality Zigbee smart button device is a reliable, simple, and powerful Zigbee push button device. Powered by 2x AAA batteries, featuring a large single button with 3 supported interaction types (tap, double tap, hold), this button is out top pick for single-button devices to integrate with Hubitat or SmartThings.
DIY Essentials
Hubitat C7 Smart Home Hub - Winner of 2022 IoT Hub Comparison
In this article, we will be reviewing the Habitat Elevation C-7 Smart Home Hub, a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for managing your smart home devices.
Gadgets
Optimal Netgear Orbi Router Settings for Signal Strength and Speed
To access these settings, login to orbilogin.com (while connected to the network), click the Advanced tab, then choose Advanced Setup from the left sidebar menu. These settings are only available if your Orbi is in 'Router mode'.
Apps
Control Existing Window Blinds with Voice & App
This is the simplest, most cost-effective way to automate existing window blinds, without professional installation and programming.
Apps
Flic Mini Buttons for Smart Home Automation (Released 2023)
The Logi Pop smart button is, by far, the most aesthetically pleasing IoT push button. However, this beautifully designed smart button requires an additional hub for basic remote operation. To achieve an experience comparable to a native SmartThings device, you'll need to use a custom device handler & smart app, on top of IFTTT web hooks.
Apps
Party Strobe Lights with Hue Disco App
Read about how to turn party mode ON with your Phillips Hue lights. All you need is an iOS device with a microphone! Step by step guide...
Apps
Improve Nest "Away Mode" by Using Phone GPS
Using Nest Thermostat, learn how to leverage your GPS location to tell Nest when you are home or away, helping improve you automated schedule.