Learn about smart home technologies, devices, and protocols. Get insights into how smart tech can make your home more efficient.
Vivint does not natively support Apple HomeKit. There is no official integration, no HomeKit certification on any Vivint hardware, and Vivint has not signaled any plans to add one – no Matter support either, as of 2026. If you are shopping for a security system with first-class HomeKit support, Vivint is not it. That said, … Read more
Yes – but only on the Kasa products that ship with Matter. TP-Link spent years refusing to pay Apple’s MFi tax, which is why Kasa was Alexa-and-Google country for most of its life. Matter ended that argument. The Matter-certified Kasa plugs, switches, and dimmers pair straight into Apple Home over Wi-Fi using a QR code. … Read more
Home Assistant wins on device compatibility, local control, and long-term flexibility. Apple HomeKit wins on simplicity, polish, and Siri integration. The right pick depends almost entirely on how much setup work you’re willing to do. What Is Home Assistant? Home Assistant is a free, open-source home automation platform that runs locally on your own hardware … Read more
Z-Wave and HomeKit are not really competing options – they operate at completely different layers. Z-Wave is a radio protocol (a wireless communication standard), while HomeKit is Apple’s software platform for controlling smart home devices. You can run both at the same time, and plenty of serious home automation setups do exactly that. The confusion … Read more