A smart home starter setup does not need to be complicated or expensive. The goal is to begin with a few reliable devices that work well together and are easy to manage day to day.
The recommendations on this page focus on simple, proven devices that are a good starting point for most homes using Alexa.
How to use these recommendations
Each section below covers a core smart home category. You can start with just one device type or mix a few, depending on what you want to automate first.
The budget picks work well for getting started. The HomeTechHacker recommendations balance reliability and features. The step-up options are better suited for people who want more flexibility or plan to expand over time.
Smart Bulb Recommendations
Most people love the Philips Hue lights, but they do require an investment into the Hue ecosystem to get the most out of them.
Preview
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
Tapo TP-Link Smart Light Bulbs, 16M Colors RGBW, Dimmable, Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, A19, 60W Equivalent, 800LM CRI>90, 2.4GHz WiFi only, No Hub Required, L530E(4-Pack)
LIFX Color Smart Light Bulbs E26 (2-Pack), Matter Compatible RGB + Tunable White (800 Lumens), WiFi Dimmable Color Changing (2.4GHz), Compatible with Apple HomeKit, Alexa & Google
Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs Starter Kit, Includes (1) Bridge, (2) 60W A19 Bulbs, White and Color Ambiance LED Color Changing Lights, 800LM, E26, Control with App or Voice Assistant
Budget Pick
Product Name
Tapo TP-Link Smart Light Bulbs, 16M Colors RGBW, Dimmable, Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, A19, 60W Equivalent, 800LM CRI>90, 2.4GHz WiFi only, No Hub Required, L530E(4-Pack)
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
LIFX Color Smart Light Bulbs E26 (2-Pack), Matter Compatible RGB + Tunable White (800 Lumens), WiFi Dimmable Color Changing (2.4GHz), Compatible with Apple HomeKit, Alexa & Google
Step-up Pick
Product Name
Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs Starter Kit, Includes (1) Bridge, (2) 60W A19 Bulbs, White and Color Ambiance LED Color Changing Lights, 800LM, E26, Control with App or Voice Assistant
Smart Plug Recommendations
All of these have energy monitoring. I own the Tapo smart plugs and own and have reviewed the Shelly Smart Plug Plus.
Preview
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Mini, Matter Compatible, Compatible with Alexa, Google Home & Samsung SmartThings, Energy Monitoring, 15A, UL Certified, 2.4G Wi-Fi Only, Tapo P110M(2-Pack)
Shelly Smart Plug, Smart Home WiFi and Bluetooth Outlet with Power Metering, Works with Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant, Smart Socket, No Hub, Easy Setup, Remote Control, Plus Plug US
Eve Energy (Matter) – Smart Plug, App and Voice Control, 100% Privacy, Matter Over Thread, Works with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings
Budget Pick
Product Name
TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Mini, Matter Compatible, Compatible with Alexa, Google Home & Samsung SmartThings, Energy Monitoring, 15A, UL Certified, 2.4G Wi-Fi Only, Tapo P110M(2-Pack)
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
Shelly Smart Plug, Smart Home WiFi and Bluetooth Outlet with Power Metering, Works with Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant, Smart Socket, No Hub, Easy Setup, Remote Control, Plus Plug US
Step-up Pick
Product Name
Eve Energy (Matter) – Smart Plug, App and Voice Control, 100% Privacy, Matter Over Thread, Works with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings
Smart Switch Recommendations
Our recommendation and the step-up pick are dimmers. The budget pick is great if you don’t need dimming. My review of the Brilliant Smart Control Light switch will give you more details on this elegant switch. If you are interested in a great solution that allows you to use your existing light switch or dimmer, check out my reviews of the Shelly 1 and the Shelly Dimmer.
Preview
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart Light Switch: Voice Control w/Siri, Alexa & Google Assistant | UL Certified | Timer & Schedule | Easy Guided Install | Neutral Wire Required | Single Pole | Tapo S505
TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart Dimmer Switch: Voice Control w/Siri, Alexa & Google Assistant, UL Certified, Timer & Schedule, Easy Guided Install, Neutral Wire Required, Single Pole, Tapo S505D
Brilliant Smart Home Control (Plug-In Panel) — Alexa Built-In & Compatible with Ring, Sonos, Hue, Google Nest, Wemo, SmartThings, Apple HomeKit — In-Wall Touchscreen Control for Lights, Music, & More
Budget Pick
Product Name
TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart Light Switch: Voice Control w/Siri, Alexa & Google Assistant | UL Certified | Timer & Schedule | Easy Guided Install | Neutral Wire Required | Single Pole | Tapo S505
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart Dimmer Switch: Voice Control w/Siri, Alexa & Google Assistant, UL Certified, Timer & Schedule, Easy Guided Install, Neutral Wire Required, Single Pole, Tapo S505D
Step-up Pick
Product Name
Brilliant Smart Home Control (Plug-In Panel) — Alexa Built-In & Compatible with Ring, Sonos, Hue, Google Nest, Wemo, SmartThings, Apple HomeKit — In-Wall Touchscreen Control for Lights, Music, & More
Smart Speaker Recommendations
Smart speakers and displays act as the central voice interface for an Alexa-based smart home. They enable you to control devices, run routines, and access information without needing your phone.
Preview
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
Amazon Echo Dot (newest model) – Vibrant sounding speaker, Designed for Alexa+, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Charcoal
Amazon Echo Dot Max (newest model), Alexa speaker with room-filling sound and nearly 3x bass, Great for living rooms and medium-sized spaces, Designed for Alexa+, Glacier White
Amazon Echo Show 8 (newest model), Vibrant HD 8.7″ display with spatial audio, Designed for Alexa+, Graphite
Budget Pick
Product Name
Amazon Echo Dot (newest model) – Vibrant sounding speaker, Designed for Alexa+, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Charcoal
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
Amazon Echo Dot Max (newest model), Alexa speaker with room-filling sound and nearly 3x bass, Great for living rooms and medium-sized spaces, Designed for Alexa+, Glacier White
Step-up Pick
Product Name
Amazon Echo Show 8 (newest model), Vibrant HD 8.7″ display with spatial audio, Designed for Alexa+, Graphite
Smart Hub Recommendations
For most people, an Amazon Echo works great as a smart home hub. If you want more advanced features and compatibility, consider the Hubitat. If you are interested in a software-based hub that can do everything, check out Home Assistant, which has been running my smart home for years. Here are hardware recommendations for running Home Assistant.
Preview
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
Amazon Echo Dot (newest model) – Vibrant sounding speaker, Designed for Alexa+, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Deep Sea Blue
Amazon Echo Show 5 (newest model), Smart display, Designed for Alexa+, 2x the bass and clearer sound, Cloud Blue
Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro Smart Home Hub – Latest Platform Updates – Matter 1.5, Z-Wave 800 LR, Zigbee 3.0 & Bluetooth – Works with Ring, Alexa, Apple HomeKit & Google Home – Local Control (No Cloud)
Budget Pick
Product Name
Amazon Echo Dot (newest model) – Vibrant sounding speaker, Designed for Alexa+, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Deep Sea Blue
HomeTechHacker Recommendation
Product Name
Amazon Echo Show 5 (newest model), Smart display, Designed for Alexa+, 2x the bass and clearer sound, Cloud Blue
Step-up Pick
Product Name
Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro Smart Home Hub – Latest Platform Updates – Matter 1.5, Z-Wave 800 LR, Zigbee 3.0 & Bluetooth – Works with Ring, Alexa, Apple HomeKit & Google Home – Local Control (No Cloud)
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