Privacy

Connect All of Your Home’s Smart Appliances

Smart appliances should make your life easier — not harder. Although they are becoming increasingly common, it can still be difficult to connect all of your smart appliances on one device. But there are several devices currently available that attempt this feat. The following devices will allow you to connect your smart appliances on one device so that you can control and monitor your home effortlessly.

Samsung SmartThings Hub
SmartThings works with a variety of devices from different brands, which means it is one of the best smart hubs on the market. This device is available for about $75-$100 on Amazon. It offers a way to connect all of your smart appliances to one device, and control and monitor your home remotely through the free SmartThings app. The SmartThings hub can control devices like your smart lighting, locks, thermostat, and security cameras. Receive notifications on the status of your smart home, and set preferences for how you want your smart appliances to behave when you’re asleep or away from the home. You can even combine the SmartThings hub with Amazon Echo to control your smart home through voice commands. This feature, combined with all of the previously mentioned features, makes this smart hub one of the best smart hubs available now.

The Wink Hub
This smart hub is available for less than $70 from Amazon (or $90 from other sellers). This hub works with a variety of different connectivity options and devices from different brands. Like the SmartThings hub, you’ll control Wink through the Wink app. The app and hub essentially allow your smart devices to communicate with one another, so that you can control them all on one platform. Program your lights and A/C to turn on whenever you unlock your front door, for example.

The VeraEdge Hub
Another option for under $100, this smart hub will connect a variety of brands, and even other brand-specific smart hubs (like Nest). It can control hundreds of devices wirelessly. Create preferences for how your device should control your home when you’re at home or on vacation. Download the app to control your smart home from your phone, or even from your PC. For $50 more you can get the VeraPlus model, which allows you to more fully manage your home while you’re away. You can check in on your pets, receive alerts any time someone is in your home, and monitor your home while you’re away for possible flood damage from a storm.

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