The Internet of Things has made it possible to forget about many household chores. You can set the robot vacuum cleaner to clean the floors while you are at work, automatically lock the door when you leave, and turn the lights on and off from afar. All this convenience can make a modern home look a little like Jetsons , but it comes at a price: too many smart home apps.
When you need to open a dozen apps to access all of your devices, convenience becomes a burden. Luckily, there are apps that bring all your smart apps together in one place. Below are the best smart home apps for complete smart home automation.
Some of these applications may require an external hub, while others require nothing more than a phone.
Samsung SmartThings
SmartThings Smart Home App is one of the original universal smart home control apps created by Samsung SmartThings Hub. It connects to devices like Yale, Ring, ecobee, and more. It consolidates the control of each connected device into one application.
You can also set up routines and automatic triggers through the SmartThings app. While SmartThings is not compatible with all existing devices, it will work with the vast majority of common devices. If you have smart home devices from lesser known companies, SmartThings may not be the best option.
You can download the SmartThings app for both Android and iOS. SmartThings Hub should be directly connected to your router, but once the app is set up, you can easily connect your devices.
Amazon Alexa app
The Alexa app is essential for anyone with an Alexa device, whether it’s something like the Amazon Echo or a third-party device with Alexa built in. If you have an Alexa device, you have the app, and you can add other compatible devices easily.
The Amazon Alexa smart home app is compatible with a myriad of devices as even the most obscure smart home companies try to work with Alexa functionality. It works with Philips Hue, Nest, Wemo and many more. However, the Alexa app does more than just control your smart home; it can be used to create shopping lists, listen to music, and more.
The Alexa app also allows users to call other Alexa users, connect to video chat via echo shows, share images, and more. The app will prompt users to add compatible devices and walk you through the setup process.
The Amazon Alexa app is a great option for controlling all of your devices as it is most likely already part of a modern smart home. Just download it, configure and manage compatible devices from one place.
Google Assistant
Alexa may lead the smart home market, but for users who prefer Google, the Google Assistant app is a great choice for controlling your entire smart home from one place. Google Assistant works with Philips Hue, Honeywell, Nest and many other smart home companies to give you almost complete control.
The true strength of Google Assistant lies in its versatility. You can use it through your phone to send text messages to family members, search for information on the Internet, and play music.
Google Assistant, like the Alexa app, prompts you to add compatible devices that it detects online. Like Alexa, the Google Assistant app will already be part of your app collection if you have a Google device, but you don’t need to have a Google device to download the app and use it.
The Google Assistant smart home app is available for both iOS and Android.
Apple HomeKit
[HomeKit]
Apple HomeKit has the smallest range of compatibility of all of these options, but is also a popular choice due to how strong Apple is in the market. Since the Home app is preinstalled on iOS, it is already available to a huge number of users, but it requires a hub to work.
The good news is that the hub could be an iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV. Most Apple users already own one of these devices (although let’s face it – no one has a HomePod). Another good news is that while HomeKit doesn’t work with as many products as Amazon or Google, it does have a number of specialized devices.
Setting up your device with HomeKit is usually straightforward too. Most devices simply require you to scan the QR code on the back, and the rest of the process is mostly automated. HomeKit excels in another aspect as well: aesthetics. The look and feel of the HomeKit app is attractive and looks more modern than most smart home apps.
If you don’t like having to open app after app to control your home, try one of these smart home apps. When you can control everything from one place, the smart home becomes truly convenient.
What’s your favorite smart home app? Let us know in the comments below.
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