Best Z-Wave Smart Plugs

Smart Plugs are a great addition to any home as they have the power of turning your ordinary vintage table lamp, into a fully automated smart device!

Which you can then operate remotely, enjoy creating schedules and even use the voice control feature with some Smart Plug models.

The Smart Plugs we will be talking about today also feature Z-Wave, a form of wireless communication that’s developed in order to have control over home appliances such as lights, cameras, locks and more.

The way it differs from your own WiFi or Bluetooth connection is that it offers a more reliable and secure connection, easy installation, the advantage of both local or remote control and the useful ability to have your Z-Wave devices communicate with each other creating the ideal smart home ecosystem.

You can read more about Z-Wave here on our take on Z-Wave vs. Z-Wave Plus — What’s the Difference?

But now let’s get right to it and see which Z-Wave Plug fits best into your home!

Feel free to use our navigation system to skip down to any part you prefer.

Best Smart Lights to Use With Google Home

Bring the lights to life with Google Home!

Looking for the best smart lights to use with Google Home can be challenging, as there are many great options on the market. You probably want something that offers both exceptional quality as well as additional features, such as voice control, geofencing, and scheduling. All without too much fuss when it comes to the installation process. In this article, we’ll cover both best smart light bulbs and best smart light switches for Google Home.

Let’s start with the light bulbs, but feel free to use our navigation system to jump straight to any other section.

Best Smart Light Switch for Alexa

When it comes to looking for the best smart home lights for Alexa, we’ve got you covered.

A smart light is a useful addition for any home as it will provide you with some great benefits. Such as being able to control your lights using your voice, so basic things like turning all the lights off at night, become simple and efficient. Some smart switches even allow remote control, which is a great tool for when you’re returning home in the evening and having your home all brightly lit waiting for you.

The great news is that you don’t have to spend a lot on an efficient smart light switch for Alexa, as some models such as come at a more affordable price, and still has some great features, such as the LED backlight.

While the Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Dimmer Switch is set at a higher price range, it’s totally worth it for its user-friendly installation and great compatibility options.

Have a look at the options below, so you can make that decision for yourself. Feel free to use the navigation system to skip down to any part you prefer.

Best 3-Way Smart Dimmer Switches

Want to have the perfect lighting for your dinner?

We bring to you the top four brands of smart dimmer switches that we use today. With these smart switches, you’ll have the full ability to control all of the lights in your home via your smartphone. And you’ll also have the power to connect them to other smart home devices too, like Alexa and Google assistant.

Below, we’ve outlined the best in our opinion 3-way smart dimmer switches for you to choose from. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump right into a specific section.

Top 3 No Neutral Smart Switches

An increasing amount of home users are looking into installing smart switches to control their lighting. Yet they find their existing light switches don’t include a neutral wire. While there are a few options for installing dimmable smart switches without it, let’s first find out if you have one.

Also, feel free to use our navigation or keep reading to learn more about the neutral wire.

Xfinity Home Security vs. ADT

ADT has been around forever, protecting homes since long before the advent of technology. Xfinity Home Security, on the other hand, is a much more recent addition to the smart security industry. Which is better? In this case, we feel like Xfinity takes the cake with better smart home tech and seamless integration with their media services.

Xfinity, owned by Comcast, is a major player in the media industry — primarily making their money by offering TV, Internet, and landline service to a large portion of the United States. Only recently have they started moving into the home security industry, and the features do look promising. We feel that it does a better job than ADT, but you may want to proceed with caution, as Comcast isn’t exactly spotless when it comes to customer service and satisfaction.

We’ll compare the similarities and differences of Xfinity Home Security vs. ADT below to help give you a better idea of what each brand has to offer. Alternatively, you can use the navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

GE Link Hub vs. Wink Hub

GE Link Hub vs. Wink Hub — What’s the History?

Before we even get into comparing GE Link Hub vs. Wink Hub (which you’ll find below), we need to talk a little bit about the companies themselves.

Both GE Link Hub and Wink Hub allow you control your smart home appliances, and both hubs come from the same company, Quirky — Except that Wink is a spin-off from invention incubator Quirky. According to a Quirky report, by 2015 there were Wink products in 300,000 homes, and the business was growing until April 2015, when Wink experienced a security problem.

Now, the problem caused a lot of Wink hubs to go offline or break. This incident forced the company to issue a recall. And already by November 2015, the Quirky company went through bankruptcy proceedings due to financial difficulties. Wink was sold for $15 million to Flextronics (now called Flex). It wasn’t surprising since Flex was Wink’s primary supplier of hardware and firmware. As of now, Wink continues to successfully operate as an independent subsidiary of Flex.

SmartThings vs. Insteon

If you’re stuck choosing between SmartThings vs. Insteon, our guide will go over the differences between the two and hopefully help you make the choice that’s right for you.

As home automation becomes more popular, there are more and more companies offering smart home products. The competition is unreal and, as a result, a lot of customers are getting lost in the choices. And because of the rapid growth of technology, some companies just can’t compete anymore and have to step out of race: Revolv is a perfect example. The hub didn’t look good to begin with, but the company had thousands of customers who were pretty unhappy to learn that as of May 15th 2016, the Revolv Hub would no longer be functional — and after years of use!

So, once you’ve started looking into home automation, it seems like the most important thing to do would be to analyze the company’s position. But, when we talk about SmartThings vs. Insteon, the two companies have been on a market for more than 10 years and seem pretty steady. However, as is the problem in this new smart home market, you never know when the next giant company might just go under and leave customers with useless devices.

But, let’s talk about positive things, like the differences between two great devices!