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5 min readOne of the most important questions when you’re shopping for a smart home hub is “Will it work with my devices?” The Aqara Hub M3 earned our top pick because, more often than not, the answer to that question was “yes” with this hub. It works with all the major smart home ecosystems, including Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings.
It offers by far the best compatibility, but if you're after something a little simpler (or cheaper), see how it compares to the competition.
Product | Best for | Price | Connection type | Smart home compatibility | Learn more | |
| Best overall | $279 | Bluetooth Wi-Fi Zigbee Thread IR | Apple HomeKit Google Home Alexa Samsung SmartThings Matter | View on Amazon | Read Review | |
| Best for HomeKit | $149 | Bluetooth Wi-Fi Thread | Apple HomeKit Matter | View on Bing Lee | Read Review | |
| Best for Google | $79 | Bluetooth Wi-Fi | Google Home Samsung SmartThings Matter | View on Big W | Read review | |
| Best for Alexa | $169 | Bluetooth Wi-Fi Zigbee Thread | Alexa Samsung SmartThings Matter | View on Amazon | Read Review | |
| Best smart display | $229 | Bluetooth Wi-Fi Zigbee | Alexa Samsung SmartThings Matter | View on Amazon | Read Review |
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
The Aqara Hub M3 offers unrivalled smart home compatibility across Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Samsung SmartThings. It can even help reduce the clutter of remote controls lying around your home with its built-in IR blaster. This is great for appliances that use simple remote controls like fans, blinds, lights, air conditioners, and TVs.
More importantly, it also functions as a Matter controller, making it essentially future-proof as it already supports this new cross-platform smart protocol.
On the downside, it is a bit pricey, and although it has a speaker for announcements and notification, it doesn't function like an Echo or a Nest Hub. Also, it only supports Aqara-branded Zigbee devices at the moment.
Wide smart home compatibility
Supports Matter and Thread
Features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, PoE and IR
Encrypted local storage for greater privacy 
Expensive
Zigbee support only for Aqara devices The Apple HomePod mini is the most affordable way to add a HomeKit hub to your home. While the HomePod mini bears an almost uncanny resemblance to the Echo Dot, it offers better audio quality overall.
Plus, it supports HomeKit-certified devices that use Wi-Fi and Thread. At around $150, Apple's "budget option" costs a decent chunk more than similar-sized speakers from the competition.
One of HomeKit's biggest advantages is its rigorous certification program. Apple requires every device to meet strict security and privacy standards before it can connect to other HomeKit devices.
While Apple's goals are admirable, it limits compatibility compared to other platforms. HomePod mini and HomeKit aren't available for Android users since it's the only hub on our list that requires an Apple device to run.
Excellent audio performance
HomeKit certification program
Apple Home app is easy to use
Supports Matter and Thread
Requires Apple device to use
Limited compatibility The Google Nest Mini is the most affordable option on our list and functions as both a hub for your compatible smart devices and as a smart speaker, allowing you to use the excellent Google Assistant to do your bidding (whether that's turning on the lights or asking when the nearby cafe closes).
We're big fans of the low-profile design, as it can easily blend in with any decor. The same can't be said for every smart home hub on the list!
We think the Nest Mini is great for smart home beginners, but Google has a few different options if this one isn't up your alley, including the bigger Nest Audio and two smart display options: The Nest Hub and the Nest Hub Max.
Affordable
Great voice assistant
Subtle design
Supports Matter
Less than stellar sound 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. It can also act as a Thread border router and now works with Matter, making it future-proof. Use it to call people hands-free or ask Alexa to read the news, answer questions, and play music.
This hub can also work like a home intercom system with other Amazon Echo devices in your house. It's also just a damn good speaker with excellent room-filling audio.
It's not the most subtle-looking device in the world, but there are a few other options to choose from including the smaller Echo Dot (5th Gen), Echo Pop or Echo Spot, and the high-fidelity Echo Studio.
Great sound quality
Good value
Wide compatibility
Supports Matter and Thread
Not the most subtle design If you're after a smart home hub that brings a little extra versatility, a smart display like the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) is hard to go past.
It offers all the same features as the screenless Echo (except the ability to act as a Thread border router), plus a ton more thanks to its 8-inch interactive display. You can use it to control your smart home, stream a TV show, and there's even a built-in camera for video calls or to check in at home while you're away.
If you've got a compatible security camera or video doorbell, you can also use the display to access a live feed or receive alerts.
When not in use, the Echo Show will simply display the weather, news, or a collection of family photos—it's all fully customisable.
Versatile
Good value
Wide compatibility
Supports Matter
Audio quality could be better The Aqara Hub M3 is our top smart hub pick thanks to its wide compatibility with an overwhelming number of smart home ecosystems and devices. That said, we think you'll be happy with any of the hubs on this list—simply choose the one that best fits your home and lifestyle.
Always look at the compatibility, mobile app, and setup when choosing a smart home hub:
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.
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
