One of the most important questions when you’re shopping for a smart home hub is “Will it work with my devices?” The 4th generation Amazon Echo earned our top pick because more often than not, the answer to that question was “yes” with this hub.
The Amazon Echo is also very compatible with smart home automation devices and security systems. It works with Alexa, Arlo, August, Ecobee, GE, Honeywell, Kwikset, LIFX, Lutron, Nest, Philips Hue, Schlage, SmartThings, Sylvania, TP-Link, Wemo, and Yale.
Find out how it compares to the competition in our full breakdown of the best smart hubs.
The best smart hubs for home automation
- : Best overall
- : Budget Alexa hub
- : Budget Google hub
Compare the best smart home hubs
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Product
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Price*
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Connection type
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Smart home compatibility
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Learn more
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| Best voice controls |
 (4th Gen) |
$99.99 | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee |
Alexa, Arlo, August, Ecobee, GE, Honeywell, Kwikset, LIFX, Lutron, Nest, Philips Hue, Schlage, SmartThings, Sylvania, TP-Link, Wemo, Yale | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Budget Alexa hub |
 (4th Gen) |
$49.99 | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Alexa, Arlo, August, Ecobee, GE, Honeywell, Kwikset, LIFX, Lutron, Nest, Philips Hue, Schlage, SmartThings, Sylvania, TP-Link, Wemo, Yale | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Budget Google hub |
 |
$24.99 | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Arlo, August, Cree, Ecobee, GE, Google Home, Honeywell, Leviton, LG, LIFX, Nest, Philips Hue, SmartThings, Sylvania, TP-Link, Wemo | View on Google Store | Read review |
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
1. Amazon Echo (4th Gen): Best overall
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) takes the Echo family further into smart home integration by adding a Zigbee-enabled smart home hub. It supports Zigbee, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth smart home devices. Use it to call people hands-free or ask Alexa to read the news, answer questions, and play music.
Voice control Alexa skills Different finishes IFTTT compatibility
Incompatible with some devices Disappointing sound qualityIt can also work like a home intercom system with other Amazon Echo devices in your house. If you’re like me and you don’t want your smart home hub to look like an alien spaceship that landed in the middle of your home, you’ll appreciate the variety of Echo finishes to choose from.
The fourth generation Echo is touted as having better sound quality than its predecessor, with front-firing speakers and a mini woofer for better bass performance. Many users who have upgraded say that the sound quality is better when compared to the previous Echo, but not by much.
Check out some of our favorite Alexa-compatible devices.
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) now includes a built-in Zigbee hub and replaces both the Echo (3rd Gen) and the Echo Plus (2nd Gen). It's a good thing too, since it's about $50 cheaper than the Echo Plus was.
2. Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen): Budget Alexa hub
The Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) is a lot less expensive than traditional hubs and still performs many of the same functions, like giving you Alexa integration and voice control for your smart home devices.
Voice control Thousands of skills Three color choices
Incompatible with some devices Lower sound quality No built-in Zigbee controlsIt costs half as much as the Echo, so you can expect lower sound quality and no built-in Zigbee controls, but the Alexa voice assistant still answers your questions, plays your music, and gives you access to thousands of other skills.
3. Google Nest Mini: Budget Google hub
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Like the Echo Dot, the Google Nest Mini isn’t much of a hub, but the smart speaker offers hub-like features like controlling your smart home devices using your voice. It’s compatible with a wide variety of smart lights, plugs, appliances, and home security products.
Voice control Four different finishes
Incompatible with some devices Less than stellar soundWe found that Google Assistant is a little bit better at recognizing a voice command than Alexa, and we like the option for using less specific follow-up questions, like asking, “When does it open?” after asking where the nearest bakery is.
Check out some of our favorite Google Assistant-compatible devices.
More hubs we considered
Broadlink
The Broadlink RM4 Pro (about $45) is a cheaper universal remote alternative to recently discontinued Logitech Harmony. Its IR/RF technology allows you to control a wide variety of smart gadgets using your mobile device.
While Harmony had a focus on home theater devices like TVs and stereo systems, Broadlink expands beyond that to also control appliances like air conditioners and fans, provided they already use some sort of remote control.
Hubitat
The Hubitat Elevation (about $140) is a powerhouse of a smart hub, easily beating SmartThings in user privacy and customization options. But it's mostly for hardcore smart home technology enthusiasts since it's more difficult to set up. Plus, it's one of the more expensive hubs on the market.
Wink
The Wink Hub 2 (about $200) was one of the earliest smart home hubs to hit the market, and it remains a compelling alternative to SmartThings. We like its native support for Nest and Lutron smart devices, both of which don't work with SmartThings.
Unfortunately, Wink's products have become less reliable and harder to find in stock. Plus, its recent move to a monthly fee makes it a poor choice for folks on a budget.
Final word
The Amazon Echo is our top smart hub pick thanks to its compatibility with an overwhelming number of smart devices. We especially like how you can just press Discover Devices in the Alexa app, and Alexa hub does the rest for you.
Smart home hub FAQ
Always look at the compatibility, mobile app, and setup when choosing a smart home hub:
- Compatibility: Make sure the devices are compatible with each other to avoid buying additional hubs or new devices. If you already have connected devices in your home, choose a hub that connects with them as well as future devices on your wishlist. The hub's website should have a full list of compatible devices.
- Mobile app: As you shop for a hub, read app reviews from users, and if you can, test drive different automation hubs. You want a user-friendly app that’s easy to navigate while interacting with your smart home device.
- Setup: Most smart home hubs walk you through setup using tutorials and guides. It’s nice to have help setting up your hub and other devices in this growing market with lots of unknowns.
Technically, no, and it can be tempting to rely on Wi-Fi-enabled smart gadgets and apps to avoid a hub setup altogether. Wi-Fi is fine for wired smart devices like smart light bulbs, smart plugs, a smart thermostat, and video doorbells, but it quickly drains the batteries of your wireless devices like a security sensor or smart lock.
Having too many can also drag down your network speed. If you want to avoid frequent battery replacement and keep your Wi-Fi network running smoothly, it’s worth it to look into wireless home automation devices that use radio frequencies like Z-Wave and Zigbee.
Yes. You may have some hubs that speak one language and some that speak another, and that’s okay. As you learn more about how home automation works and get more comfortable with your system, you may discover more gadgets that don’t work with your current hub.
In that case, you can use another hub or a bridge to loop them into your smart home system.
Yes, the “brains” of some of the best smart home security systems also operate as smart home hubs and give you control of your smart home gadgets (like a security camera) through your security system app.
If you want voice control, look for a system that’s compatible with a voice assistant, and you’ll be able to access devices like your Ring Video Doorbell with your voice. Security system hubs can also offer you the added bonus of cellular and battery backups in case of power outages.
How we reviewed the best smart home automation systems
To select the best smart home hubs, we dug for hubs that were compatible with the most brands and easy to use. We studied real user reviews and compared product features side by side in hands-on tests. Read our full methodology to find out more.
Contributing writer: John Carlsen
Related articles on SafeWise
- The Best Smart Home Security Systems
- What Is Home Automation and How Does It Work?
- Best Smart Tech Tools: How to Work from Home Like a Boss
- Best Smart Speakers
- Ultimate Guide to Alexa and the Amazon Echo Family
- Ultimate Guide to Google Assistant and Google Nest Products
- Room-by-Room Guide to Home Automation
- What’s the Difference between Zigbee and Z-Wave?
- SmartThings Review
Disclaimers
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
†Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
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