Find the best smart home devices with our buying guides. Compare cameras, lights, plugs, and more to make the right choice.
Most indoor cameras get crippled without a monthly fee. The manufacturer prices the hardware low enough to sell, then locks live view, recording, or both behind a plan until the “cheap camera” turns into a recurring bill. These four cameras don’t do that – they work properly via local storage, a genuinely free cloud tier, … Read more
Most people buy a home security system once, set it up wrong, and forget about it until the battery dies or the monitoring company jacks up the price. That is not a great strategy. This is a straight comparison of the four DIY security systems worth considering in 2026: SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm, ADT Self Setup, … Read more
The short answer: Arlo Pro 5S 2K if you want the best wire-free camera money can buy, and Blink Outdoor 4 if you want something that works without emptying your wallet every month. Everything else falls somewhere between those two. Outdoor security cameras have one problem nobody talks about enough: the sticker price is a … Read more
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is the right call for renters and anyone who wants to keep their existing deadbolt – it sits on top of the interior thumb turn and handles everything from there. If you’re buying a new deadbolt anyway, the Schlage Encode Plus is worth the extra spend: it’s a complete deadbolt … Read more
The Schlage Encode Plus (BE499WB) is the one to buy. It works natively with Apple HomeKit – no hub, no bridge, no extra gear – plus Alexa and Google Assistant, and it’s built to ANSI Grade 1/AAA standards. If you don’t care about HomeKit, the standard Encode saves you $30 and does everything else the … Read more
The best smart light switch for most homes is the Lutron Caseta PD-6ANS – it works without a neutral wire, runs on a rock-solid proprietary mesh, and plays nicely with every major voice assistant. If you have a neutral wire and want Matter compatibility, the Leviton Decora D315S is the cleaner long-term bet. Smart switches … Read more
If you want a reliable WiFi thermostat without paying ecobee prices, Honeywell Home delivers. The T9 is the pick for most people – room sensors, smart scheduling, works with Alexa and Google Home. If you’re deep in Apple HomeKit, though, read the HomeKit section before you buy. Spoiler: it’s complicated. Budget shoppers who just want … Read more
For most people, the Arlo Pro 5S 2K is the one to buy. It hits the sweet spot between image quality, wire-free convenience, and smart home compatibility – including HomeKit if that matters to you. Everything else in Arlo’s lineup is either a step down or overkill depending on your situation. That said, Arlo’s subscription … Read more