You might think that upgrading your home with smart home products has to be difficult and expensive, but there are actually a lot of smart home products you can get for under $100 that will provide tons of smart functionality. From smart speakers to other smart devices that let you control things like lights or music with your voice using smart home assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to smart plugs that can transform any old device, like a coffeemaker or table lamp, into a smart one you can control from your phone, there are tons of ways to get started. And it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Smart buy
Aukey Wi-Fi Smart Plug 4-pack
Staff pick
This is such an incredible deal that you might as well stock up even if you can’t think of a use for all four right now. Aukey’s Wi-Fi Smart Plugs are very easy to set up and use. And you need the Aukey app and an Amazon Echo or Google Home to control lamps or seasonal decorations with your voice. A simple smart plug that doesn’t block the second outlet at all.
OK, Google!
Google Nest Mini
Google Assistant is probably baked into the phone you use every day, so it makes sense to stick with Google for your home smart speakers. The Google Home Mini is a colorful and compact smart speaker that lets you connect and control smart home products through the Google Home app, seamlessly integrates with Chromecast, YouTube, and other Google products and services you may rely on.
OK, Google!
Google Home
This is the OG Home smart speaker that Google released back in 2016, and the price has come down in the years since. The full-size Google Home takes up about the same footprint on your counter or side table, but it stands out more due to its taller stature and louder speakers.
Add more Alexa
Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
Amazon’s Echo Dot is the most affordable way to add Alexa to a room in your home. The 3rd generation Dot is the most stylish version yet with a rounded fabric finish and a 3.5mm line-out for connecting to more substantial speakers. Amazon offers bundles that include a smart plug or two-pack of smart bulbs, which is an equally great deal if you’re looking to add more smart things to your home.
No speaker needed
Samsung SmartThings Hub
For those who want all the benefits of smart home controls without adding smart speakers with active microphones in your home, you will want the Samsung SmartThings Hub. SmartThings supports a growing number of smart home devices and appliances — from smart bulbs and switches to smart fridges and TVs. Definitely worth considering if you own a Samsung phone and enjoy their apps and products.
Plug in more devices
Top Greener USB Wall Outlet
Smart plugs are a great option if you live in an apartment or other rental property. But if you own your home, you should upgrade some of your outlets to include USB ports like these outlets from Top Greener. These plugs are easy to install with the existing wiring in your house and are packed with safety features, including tamper resistance for kids. These plugs do not support fast charging, but it will let you keep your phones charged without needing a wall adapter.
Works with the Alexa app
Amazon Smart Plug
Amazon’s Smart Plug does not require you to own an Echo speaker to use voice commands — it connects directly to the Alexa app and lets you control lamps, fans, or appliances and set schedules with little hassle. It’s a great option if you’re sticking with the Amazon Alexa ecosystem or buying for someone who already owns an Amazon Echo speaker.
Smart lights starter kit
Philips Hue White 4-Bulb Kit w/ bridge
Philips Hue is one of the most popular smart bulb brands, and its starter kit offers excellent value for getting started in a smaller home or apartment. You get four soft white bulbs and the Wi-Fi bridge required to control your bulbs through an Echo Dot or Google Mini. Once you’re set up, it’s easy to add more Philips Hue bulbs in the future.
Tap to turn on lights
Philips Hue Tap
This accessory is specifically for those who have gone all-in on Philips Hue bulbs around your home. Use the Philip Hue Tap in coordination with the Philips Hue app to trigger up to four light scenes at the press of a button. Incredibly, this device is wireless and does not require batteries, making it a very convenient way to control your Philips Hue network.
Smart lights everywhere
Sengled Smart LED Light Bulbs 8-pack
These Sengled bulbs are a great option if you have a Samsung SmartThings hub, an Echo Plus with the built-in Zigbee hub, or bought the Echo Dot bundled with the Sengled bulbs and hub. Otherwise, you are going to need a Sengled hub to connect to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. But once you do, you get eight bulbs to set up and group into rooms. Once you start controlling your lights with your voice, you won’t want to go back.
Futuristic AF
Nexlux LED Strip Lights
LED light strips are great for adding colorful accents to any room, and you can’t beat the value of these Nexlux LED strips. Available in spools of 16 feet and 32 feet, each kit comes with a Wi-Fi controller and power supply. You’re free to split the strip and use each half independently as long as each strip has its own controller and power supply plugged in.
Smart control for outdoor lights
TP-Link Kasa Smart Light Switch
Instead of investing in pricey smart bulbs certified for outdoors, swap out the light switch that controls your “dumb” exterior lights with this smart light switch from TP-Link. You can schedule and set everything up in the Kasa app, and it works with either Google Assistant or Alexa for voice control and grouped commands.
Master control
Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip
This Kasa power strip is the ideal solution for automating your home theatre set up. Each plug can be controlled independently using the Kasa app or using your voice with Alexa or Google Assistant. You get six AC outlets along with three USB ports for charging your other devices. It’s a pretty fantastic product that’s like six smart plugs built into one.
Monitor your home remotely
Wyze Cam Pan 1080p Wi-Fi Indoor Smart Home Camera w/ 32GB MicroSD
Wyze Cam makes the best smart home cameras you can buy for under $100. And their best product is this compact Wi-Fi connected smart camera that can pan around 360-degrees. It can also be set up for continuous recording, motion and sound alerts, or recording time-lapses. It lest you keep an eye on your garage, kid’s room, or anywhere else in your home.
See who’s there
Remo+ RemoBell S WiFi Video Doorbell Camera
This handy video doorbell lets you not only see who’s at the front door using the Remo+ app on a compatible Android or iOS smartphone, but also talk to them using the two-way talk functionality. So you can tell the deliveryperson to leave the package at the door or advise someone suspicious to get off your porch. It installs using your existing doorbell wiring, works with Alexa voice control, and offers HD quality video without a monthly subscription and with free cloud storage.
4K streaming for less
Roku Premiere
The Roku Premiere is a compact 4K streamer that offers quite a lot of value for a low price. Roku supports all the major streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, along with a massive library of free channels offering varied content.
Here comes the sun
TaoTronics Light Therapy Lamp
This 12W LED lamp isn’t smart in the connected home sense, but if you need a reading lamp for your office or bedroom that’s fully adjustable and able to simulate sunlight, this is a very smart buy. It offers up brightness up to 10,000 Lux, which is ideal for light therapy and is UV-free with tap controls for switching between white and blue light.
Upgrade your smart home for less
It’s really easy to build out your dream smart home without spending a fortune. Just make sure you’re investing in quality products that can connect and communicate seamlessly with one another and are easy to install and/or set-up.
First, decide if you want to go with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for voice control and decide on a smart speaker to serve as your central hub, so to speak. Lots of devices work with both platforms, so you could even set them both up if you wanted to! Google Assistant’s strength is in unmatched language processing for answering your queries and integrates into other Google services like YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Calendar — apps you probably rely on daily. For Alexa, its strength used to be Amazon’s deep Skills ecosystem for smart device support. But now it’s more so the expansive Amazon Echo line up that includes smart displays, security cameras, smart plugs, and more.
Whether or not you go with Alexa or Google Assistant, I recommend getting the Aukey Wi-Fi Smart Plug 4-pack as a great starting point for controlling small lamps or other convenience appliances around your home. This will help you get your feet wet in terms of what it’s like to control devices you already use in the home with your smartphone and an app and/or voice. Likewise, the Philips Hue Starter Kit is a great place to start for adding smart bulbs to your home network, simply replacing a standard bulb with a smart one.
A more affordable option, though, and one that includes everything to get you started with smart lighting is the Echo Dot Sengled bulb bundle and Sengled smart bulb 8-pack that are really affordable for all of the goodies it includes.
For entertainment, you really can’t go wrong with a Roku device like the Roku Premiere that can turn your boring old TV into a smart one, able to access all of your favorite movies and shows from the top streaming services along with dedicated Roku channels.
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