Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Every smart home needs a voice, and the Echo Dot is the cheapest good one. Controls thousands of devices, plays music, sets routines — start here.
Check current priceBest for: every starter smart home.
Amazon Smart Plug 4-Pack
Four plugs that turn any lamp, fan, or coffee maker into a smart device. Schedules, voice control, and away-mode lighting for security — all with no hub.
Check current priceBest for: instant smart home.
Kasa Smart Light Bulbs 4-Pack
Screw in, connect to Wi-Fi, done. Dimmable whites plus millions of colors, voice-controlled, and they work with Alexa and Google. The four-pack covers a whole room.
Check current priceBest for: smart lighting beginners.
Govee LED Strip Lights (16.4 ft)
Peel-and-stick ambience for behind the TV, under cabinets, or along the stairs. Music sync mode makes movie night feel like a theater.
Check current priceBest for: mood lighting anywhere.
Ring Video Doorbell (Battery)
See and talk to whoever's at the door from anywhere. Battery power means no wiring — mount it, connect to Wi-Fi, and you're protected.
Check current priceBest for: renters and first-timers.
TP-Link Tapo C110 Camera
A crisp indoor camera with night vision, motion alerts, and two-way audio. Check on pets, kids, or packages from your phone — no subscription required for the basics.
Check current priceBest for: keeping an eye on home.
Echo Show 5
A tiny smart display for the nightstand or kitchen. See your doorbell feed, follow recipes hands-free, and glance at weather and timers.
Check current priceBest for: kitchen and bedside.
Google Home Speaker
Google's current smart speaker, which replaced the discontinued Nest Mini in 2026. It is built around Gemini for Home, doubles as a Matter controller and Thread border router, and controls the same universe of smart devices.
Check current priceBest for: Google households.
SwitchBot Bot
A tiny robot finger that physically presses buttons — light switches, coffee makers, garage remotes. Automates the dumb things other smart gadgets can't touch.
Check current priceBest for: automating anything.
Meross Smart Garage Door Opener
Open and close the garage from your phone, get alerts if you left it open, and let the delivery driver in while you're at work. Installs on most openers in 15 minutes.
Check current priceBest for: never wondering again.
Smart home questions
Do I need a hub to start a smart home?
No separate hub purchase is required. Nearly every pick on this list connects directly to Wi-Fi and works with an app or voice assistant, and the Google Home Speaker even has a Matter and Thread hub built in if your setup grows later.
Alexa or Gemini — which should I choose?
Pick the one your phone already uses. Alexa (Echo devices) and Gemini for Home (Google Home Speaker) control much the same universe of gadgets, so go with the ecosystem your household already lives in.
Can renters use these smart home gadgets?
Yes — most picks here are renter-friendly. Smart plugs, bulbs, and battery cameras need no wiring, and the Ring battery doorbell mounts without drilling into doorbell wires.