Smart home, built right.
Research-based buying guides. Product links are labeled. A score means we tested the thing.
Prices are whatever the source published. If we have not checked a price, the page says so.
Buying guides · Sensors and switches
Five US outdoor smart plugs for Christmas lights compared on Home Assistant route, IP rating, LED load limits and GFCI needs. Research-based, with sources.
Buying guides · Lighting
Govee Christmas Lights 2, Twinkly Strings and Philips Hue Festavia compared on effects, outdoor ratings and what Home Assistant, Alexa, Google and Apple Home can control.
Buying guides · Radios
Which Thread border router to use with Home Assistant: ZBT-2, SMLIGHT, Apple TV, HomePod, Nest and Echo compared on compatibility, Thread 1.4 and price.
Buying guides · Radios
Which Zigbee coordinator to buy for Home Assistant: ZBT-2, SMLIGHT SLZB-06 and MR1, and Sonoff dongles compared on ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, USB vs PoE and Thread.
Buying guides · Deals
Black Friday 2026 smart home picks by budget: outdoor plugs, Christmas lights, sensors and Thread hubs, with notes on which ones work locally in Home Assistant.
Buying guides · Hubs
Which hardware to run Home Assistant on: Home Assistant Green, a Raspberry Pi 5 or an Intel N150 mini PC, compared on setup, specs, power draw and room to grow.
Buying guides · Ecosystems
Smart home gift ideas by budget, filtered by Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home and Matter, with no-subscription picks and notes on which ones grow into Home Assistant.