We use Google Analytics to collect anonymised information about visits to our site. We also embed videos from YouTube that can place cookies on your computer. Read more about the information we store, cookies and how you can choose to disable them in our privacy policy.
An independent consumer guide to smart homes.
Big Test: Best smart home hubs
Updated
Sep 24, 2024

Big Test: Best smart home hubs

Smart home products are being launched in a fast phase. All of a sudden, you realize that there are a lot of apps and products to keep track of in your home. In order to take advantage of all their purchased products, it is beneficial to control them in one app. This is usually what a smart home system with hub is for. With a hub (electric controller, controller as it is also commonly called) you can create so-called flows that are designed to automate your connected gadgets in the home. What you want to achieve with so-called home automation is a reduced burden on hands, energy efficiency and a simpler everyday life.

Top 3
1
.
Homey Pro 2023
Read more
2
.
Homey Bridge
Read more
3
.
Aeotec Smart Home Hub
Read more
1

Homey Pro 2023

Read more
2

Homey Bridge

Read more
3

Aeotec Smart Home Hub

Read more

What is a smart hub?

A smart hub connects your smart gadgets at home. It ensures that the right device executes the right command at the right time. It also sits on the whole logic and makes the necessary calculations. In a hub, you usually write your own feeds. Flows are pre-programmed events that are executed on demand. The advantage of a good smart hub is that you, as a user, can program your own feeds yourself without needing prior programming knowledge.

Why use a smart home system with hub?

A smart hub increases the chances that you can connect different brands to automate everything under one roof. We recommend getting a smart hub if you are a user who wants to take full control of your home. One advantage of buying a smart hub is that the logic often takes place locally, so you don't have to send unnecessary data to any company in the cloud to light a light. If your internet is down, this will not affect your lights.

Read more: Get started with your smart home in 5 easy steps

This is how a flow works (also called routine and automation)

Some event must start the flow itself, this can be a button press, a clock, someone comes home, a window opens, etc. This is called a “trigger”.

When your hub receives this trigger, it executes one or more commands that you have chosen before.

An example: You have a smart lock installed in your door. When you get home and unlock the lock, this is used as a trigger to start your feed. Your smart hub then tells your hall light to turn on and then go off 2 minutes later. An easy way to save both time and energy.

What should be considered when choosing a hub/gateway?

There are many aspects to consider when choosing a smart hub/controller. As we often talk about, it's about doing your needs analysis first.

In the less advanced user, a hub may not even be needed. Many make it a long way on lights that talk to a cloud service and settle for it. If you belong to those users who do not like restrictions and are willing to spend a little time and money on their system, it may be a good idea to invest in a hub. By far the biggest advantage of a good hub is that you can connect different brands under the same roof and include them in one and the same flow.

Think about how you will want it in the future and choose a hub that will cope with this goal.

Read more: Smart Home - The Complete Guide

X.

Homey Pro 2023

Homey Pro in new design and some hardware updates.
Homey Pro 2023
4.7
Buy here:
Buy via a link above to support our business <3
Buy here
A growing platform
Support for 50,000+ devices
1,000+ affiliated brands
Advanced Flow (Homey Pro)
Quite expensive
Somewhat plastic feeling
Z-Wave
Z-Wave Plus 700 Series
ZigBee
2.4GHz
Wifi
2.4GHz / 5GHz
Bluetooth
Bluetooth LE 5.0
Infrared
Yes
433Mhz
Yes

Homey Pro has received a lot of updates. Processor, memory, storage, Wifi, Bluetooth and Z-wave have all been upgraded.

New additions include Thread, Matter and and the ability to connect your Homey Pro wired to your network using an ethernet adapter for 349kr.

With Homey Pro, you get access to over 50,000 apps written both by enthusiasts and verified apps by manufacturers. With built-in antennas for most protocols, the Homey Pro becomes one of the most powerful controllers on the market. The possibilities for automating your home are endless. Homey Pro is for the most advanced users.

X.

Homey Bridge

The powerful little brother.
Homey Bridge
4.3
Buy here:
Buy via a link above to support our business <3
Buy here
A growing platform
Support for 50,000+ devices
1,000+ affiliated brands
The logic of the cloud
Does not work without internet connection
No access to Homekit or Siri
Z-Wave
Z-Wave Plus Gen 5
ZigBee
2.4GHz
Wif
2.4GHz
Bluetooth
Bluetooth LE
Infrared
Yes
433Mhz
Yes

This is Athom's attempt to make Homey accessible to everyone with the software in the cloud. Homey Bridge consists only of antennas (unlike its predecessor Homey and Homey Pro) to bring down the price of its hardware and become available to a larger market. A good option for the less advanced user.

X.

Aeotec Smart Home Hub

A very powerful hub with many affiliated brands.
Aeotec Smart Home Hub
4.1
Buy here:
Buy via a link above to support our business <3
Buy here
Large community
Hundreds of brands
Thousands of products
Slightly limited automation in relation to capacity
Z-Wave
Z-Wave Plus Gen 5
ZigBee
2.4GHz
Wifi
2.4GHz and 5GHz
Bluetooth
-
Infrared
-
433Mhz
-

Aeotec, Samsung, Smartthings? Last year, Samsung made the decision to stop manufacturing hardware for the smart home. Aeotec has since taken over the hub which still looks the same on the inside. If you are an Android user and own a Samsung TV, this is a good choice. With hundreds of affiliated brands and thousands of compatible products, you can do the most with this hub.

X.

Aqara Camera Hub G3

One camera and hub in one for Aqara users
Aqara Camera Hub G3
4.0
Buy here:
Buy via a link above to support our business <3
Buy here
2K video
AI features for automation
Built-in security camera
IR
Supports only Aqara devices with ZigBee
Z-Wave
-
ZigBee
3.0
Wifi
2.4 & 5 GHz
Bluetooth
Yes
Infrared
Yes
433Mhz
-

The Aqara Camera Hub G3 offers a combination of monitoring and integration with other smart home products. The camera supports 2K video resolution, which provides high-quality image reproduction. With a viewing angle of 110° and the possibility of pan and tilt control (340° horizontal and 45° vertical), it offers comprehensive coverage of the area it is aimed at, even with night vision.

You can easily automate flows and scenarios with other Aqara devices. With its NPU processor, the camera can recognize faces, pets and gestures. These can then be used for various automations. For example, you can set your TV to silent by holding your hand up, partly thanks to the device's built-in IR lamp.

Installation and configuration of the Aqara Camera Hub G3 is relatively simple. The app interface is user-friendly, and allows users to remotely control the camera, view live streams and review recordings.

The Aqara Camera Hub G3 can store its recordings in more ways. With Aqara's proprietary cloud storage, you get 30 days of 2K resolution encrypted video storage and no storage limitation. With Apple Secure Video, you store your movies in iCloud. You can also store your movies on a microSD card in the camera (up to 128gb).

The Aqara Camera Hub G3 is a versatile and powerful smart home camera that offers high-quality monitoring and integration with the Aqara ecosystem. While its features and performance are impressive, you should consider the ecosystem compatibility and total cost before purchasing.

X.

Aqara Hub M2

An updated hub with limited compatibility
Aqara Hub M2
3.7
Buy here:
Buy via a link above to support our business <3
Buy here
Support for HomeKit
Dual Wifi Antenna
Ethernet connector
No access to the Mi Home app
Only support for Aqara devices
Z-Wave
-
ZigBee
3.0
Wifi
2.4GHz
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0
Infrared
Yes
433Mhz
-

Aqara has released a sequel to the M1S. Some improvements can be found but if you are an owner of the M1S, we would not say that it is worth upgrading.

The built-in bluetooth function creates some question marks as to what it should be used for as Aqara currently does not have any devices with bluetooth.

The M2 hub is claimed to be able to handle up to 128 devices. This is true only if you add repeaters. Each powered repeter, in turn, can handle 16 devices. So you could, in theory, hook up 128 devices.

So what is the difference between Aqara Hub M2 vs M1S? The big difference is that the M1S has a led lamp and lacks an ethernet connector.

X.

Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)

Google has the answer to everything!
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
3.6
Buy here:
Buy via a link above to support our business <3
Buy here
Can monitor and analyze your sleep
Good voice assistant
Good for cooking by recipe
Thread border router
Lack of camera for video calls
Slow touch screen
Limited system home automation
Z-Wave
NA
ZigBee
NA
Wifi
2.4GHz and 5GHz
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0
Infrared
NA
433Mhz
NA

Google launched its updated version of the Nest hub in March 2021. “Sleep tracking” and “gesture controls” are two new features added. With Google Assistant, this hub becomes a fairly user-friendly product that will fit in some kitchens as well as bedrooms. It recognizes your voice for better family functions. Due to the fact that the system is relatively locked and the ability to create routines is limited to the language you have set, it remains mostly a good voice assistant.

X.

Apple HomePod Mini

Large sound in small format.
Apple HomePod Mini
3.4
Buy here:
Buy via a link above to support our business <3
Buy here
Good sound
Easy to pair with second device
Intercom function
Thread Border Router
HomeKit products only
Siri, not as reliable as competitors
Z-Wave
-
ZigBee
-
Wifi
2.4GHz and 5GHz
Bluetooth
Bluetooth LE
Infrared
-
433Mhz
-

After the less successful launch of the HomePod, Apple now wants to compete with Google and Amazon with this slightly smaller and cheaper speaker made from recycled plastic. Like AppleTV, HomePod Mini acts as a hub for your HomeKit gadgets. It also acts as a so-called Thread Border Router which allows access to your smart home via the cloud.

The sound in the HomePod Mini is surprisingly good. If you buy more units, you can pair these together for stereo. HomePod Mini comes into its own when you use the entire Apple ecosystem. Especially when you are a family where everyone has Apple gadgets. The intercom feature allows you to easily send voice messages between your devices to notify someone else in the family. For example, you can use Siri to send voice messages from CarPlay or your Apple Watch, either to all your HomePod Mini's or a select one. So who should buy the HomePod Mini? If you are a faithful user of Apple products and live in a larger home with several rooms, this may be for you. If you only use HomeKit and Apple Music, it's almost a clear choice.

Produkterna i vår lista

Homey Pro 2023
Homey Bridge
Aeotec Smart Home Hub
Aqara Camera Hub G3
Aqara Hub M2
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Apple HomePod Mini

Jämför egenskaper

Z-Wave
ZigBee
Wifi
Bluetooth
Infrared
433Mhz
Homey Pro 2023
Z-Wave Plus 700 Series
2.4GHz
2.4GHz / 5GHz
Bluetooth LE 5.0
Yes
Yes
Homey Bridge
Z-Wave Plus Gen 5
2.4GHz
2.4GHz
Bluetooth LE
Yes
Yes
Aeotec Smart Home Hub
Z-Wave Plus Gen 5
2.4GHz
2.4GHz and 5GHz
-
-
-
Aqara Camera Hub G3
-
3.0
2.4 & 5 GHz
Yes
Yes
-
Aqara Hub M2
-
3.0
2.4GHz
Bluetooth 5.0
Yes
-
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
NA
NA
2.4GHz and 5GHz
Bluetooth 5.0
NA
NA
Apple HomePod Mini
-
-
2.4GHz and 5GHz
Bluetooth LE
-
-

Jämför priserna på Price Runner

How does Matter affect my choice of hub?

With the new smart home standard called Matter, we will see a reduction in the number of hubs that a smart home sometimes requires. Matter-compatible devices are part of a so-called mesh network controlled by, among other things, the Thread protocol. To create a stable and useful mesh network with Thread, it is good to also acquire a so-called border router. It eats a Matter-compatible device that is supplied with constant power. An example of this is Apple TV 4K (second generation).

What is a Border Router?

In a smart home, a border router is a central component that plays a key role in creating an efficient and secure network for all smart devices connected to it. The border router acts as a bridge between your wifi and the internet.

Matter, formerly known as Project CHIP (Connected Home over IP), is a standard for smart home devices being developed by the Matter Working Group, a collaboration of leading technology companies. Matter aims to create a universal standard for communication between different smart devices, regardless of which manufacturer they come from. This means that different smart devices, such as lighting, thermostats, locks and other appliances, should be able to communicate seamlessly with each other, whether they use Wi-Fi, Ethernet or other wireless technologies.

The advantages of using a border router with Matter In a smart home there are several:

  1. Interoperability: The goal of the Matter standard is to enable smart devices from different manufacturers to work together without problems. The border router plays an important role in ensuring this interoperability by translating communication protocols.
  2. Security: A border router acts as a firewall for the internal network of the smart home. It can manage traffic flow and implement security measures to protect against unwanted threats and potential intrusions from the wider internet.
  3. Smart Home Management: The Border router can also serve as a central point for managing smart devices in the home. It can monitor connected devices, provide configuration and enable remote access to your smart home.

This is how the test went

We have continuously tested hubs/controllers with different qualities. Everyone is fully fit and able to do the job. The question is which one suits you best?

Ease of use — How easy it is to get started as well as create feeds and add new devices.

Compatibility — What built-in antennas are available. How many languages can the hub communicate in?

Sound — Is there a speaker that can give you feedback and maybe play music. And if so, how good is the sound.

Voice assistant — Does the hub have a built-in well-functioning voice assistant. If not, it is easy to make use of another to easily give voice commands to the hub.

Hardware — What is the processor and RAM in the hub? Does it execute all logic locally or pass it all on to the cloud. How fast is it.

Design “A hub sends a lot of signals and needs a central location in the home to reach all your devices. Design is always important.

Tests and comparisons of unlicensed casinos can be found at GoPlay.se

FAQs of Hubs for the Smart Home

What is the best hub for a smart home system?

Best hub for a smart home system include products such as Samsung SmartThings Hub, Homey Pro and Google Nest Hub etc. These hubs offer broad compatibility with various smart home devices, simple installation processes, and user-friendly apps to control and automate your smart home.

What devices can I control with a smart home hub?

A smart home hub can control and coordinate a variety of devices, including smart lights, thermostats, security cameras, locks, sensors and more. Compatibility may vary depending on the hub model and manufacturer, so be sure to check the product description to see which devices are supported.

Can I use a smart home hub from one brand with devices from another brand?

Yes, some smart home hubs can be used to control devices from different manufacturers. This is often referred to as interoperability or compatibility between different protocols and standards such as Zigbee and Z-Wave. Check the hub compatibility list to see which devices and brands can be integrated.

Previous products

These products have previously been included in our top list.

Fibaro Home Center 3
Amazon Echo (4th gen)
Homey Pro
Super deals right now! - At least 20% discount