When trying to pick the best smart home controllers a consumer can be spoiled for choice. There are so many stand-alone products now, finding the top home automation hubs can be a chore. Using a hub can unite all the different smart devices in your house. These hubs are the brains that control the body of your home. Here we have put together a list of a few of the best home controllers 2017. [Read: What is a smart home and what can smart home automation do for you?]
The SmartThings Hub by Samsung is hands down one of the best tool available on the market. It can connect wirelessly with hundreds of compatible smart devices, allowing you to monitor, control, and secure your home from anywhere.
SmartThings can work with products produced by some of the biggest names in the industry, including Samsung, Bose, Schlage, Yale, Cree, OSRAM LIGHTIFY, Honeywell, First Alert, and other brands. Monitor your home from anywhere with one of the tidiest and most streamlined apps available on both iOS and Android. Simply plug it into your router and set up is easy.
The Wink Hub 2 is a strong contender for the number one spot on this list. It allows for a diverse collection of smart products to speak the same wireless language, so that you can easily control them—and customize their interactions—from the Wink app. [Read: Samsung SmartThings vs Wink Hub - Which one is better for whom?]
Wink's current list of usable products includes Bali automated blinds, GE Link LEDs, GE Remote Enabled Convection Wall Ovens, the Kidde Wireless Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Kwikset SmartCode 910 Deadbolts, and more.
The Wink Hub can also interpret a various selection of network protocols. This list includes all the most important ones for smart home users like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, ZigBee, Lutron ClearConnect, and Kidde.
Some reviews report problems pairing products with the hub and Wink doesn't currently offer support some major brands like the Nest Learning Thermostat, Sonos, Belkin WeMo products, and Yale locks. As stated in a pervious article, the Wink’s appearance could be improved, but its affordability and versatility make it a strong choice.
The Mi Casa Verde was designed under the philosophy that smart home control can be both simple and inexpensive. This lesser known brand lives up to that mandate while still offering impressive specs.
The hub can manage up to 70 devices over an internet connection. It is compatible with over 750 smart products. The hub will also send text and email alerts for predetermined situations, customized by the user. The VeraLite app allows for easy control over a decent selection of compatible products. This control extends to lights, cameras, thermostats, door locks alarm systems and others. [Read: 5 best wireless outdoor security cameras 2017]
The Harmony Hub smart home unites a variety of devices while also focusing on home entertainment.
Use a smartphone or tablet as an universal remote to control your home theater while along with other smart home products. This includes changing channels and volume, program favorites, lighting, temperature and more.
The Insteon Hub 2 is a great way to begin using some basic automation in your home or apartment. It comes complete with a very small app that can control and monitor 2 plug-in modules. The Insteon Hub connects to your home network and supports iOS, Android, Windows 8 and Windows Phone.
When picking the top home automation hubs, it is always important to consider the multitude of options available on the market. Above we have listed some of best for those running multiple stand alone devices.
