The 15 Best Cheap Smart Home Devices

With more than 430,000 reviews on Amazon, the Echo Dot with Alexa is a popular, affordable smart speaker. You can ask Alexa to play music, check the weather, set alarms, get questions answered, and more with just your voice. With the right accessories, you can also turn on lights, adjust thermostats, and even lock doors when paired with compatible devices. At less than $50 and with multiple layers of privacy protection built in, it's a great all-around pick.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa products

According to one reviewer: "Works great around the house for connecting to apps, playing music, and getting the forecast for the day. Also use it as a backup alarm clock if I forget to set my phone.”

This set of two smart light bulbs change color and brightness via voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Home Assistant. You can also turn on or off the lights remotely using a smartphone or tablet, or even schedule for them to automatically turn on or off at set times ⁠— a great feature for those who travel a lot or have pets. Plus, the multicolor feature adds a nice touch to any room.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, iOS, and Android

According to one reviewer: “Exactly what I was looking for. They have lots of colors and adjustable brightness and paired easily with my Alexa app/device.”

The best-selling MyQ smart garage hub allows you to open and close your garage door from anywhere with your smartphone through the myQ App. Receive alert notifications in real-time whenever your garage is opened. Plus, Amazon Prime members in select areas can opt in the app to receive Amazon packages delivered inside their garage. There's also a guest feature that allows up to three people access.

• Compatible with: Key by Amazon, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Wink. Also garage door openers from Genie, Overhead Door, Raynor, Craftsman, Chamberlain, Stanley, Linear, and more

According to one reviewer: “The setup took about 10 minutes in all. Having done it once now, I think I could do it in about 5 minutes. It works perfectly. It was easy to give household members access to it. This is a no-brainer if you're looking for a remote or remote access to your garage, not to mention safe deliveries from Amazon.”

This smart power strip enables you to shut on or off your devices from anywhere via the associated app or voice control. It features three AC outlets and two USB ports to power up all of your devices. You can also schedule automatic shut-offs for both outlets and USB ports, or turn it off when you're away.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant

According to one reviewer: “This is a must have for every person in the world! Works so easy with my iPhone and you can control the plugs even when you are away from your house. You can also set schedules to turn on and off at certain times or with in a timer. A great feature if you are someone who likes to fall asleep with the TV on you can save a lot of money by having the plug turn off automatically at a scheduled time.”

The Amazon smart plug is a great home upgrade that grants voice command capability to any outlet. Plug this smart device into your outlet (don't worry, its compact design leaves the second outlet free), and you can schedule appliances and control them while you’re away from home using the Alexa app. Also great: This smart plug has a 4.7-star overall rating after more than 490,000 reviewers weighed in.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa

According to one reviewer: “I have owned several different brands of smart plugs, and this one was BY FAR the easiest to to set up. I plugged it into an outlet and within a few seconds the Alexa app on my phone recognized it as a new device, prompted me to give it a name, and I was all set! Awesomeness all around.”

This smart lamp is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistants, and can even be changed via an app on your phone. You change the color of this lamp to one of 16 million colors (no joke) with just the sound of your voice or the touch of a button. You can also pre-program a color scheme and set automatic timers for it to go off. Over 3,000 Amazon reviewers have tried this out and it's gotten rave reviews.

• Compatible with: Alexa, Google Assistant, iOS, or Android smartphones

According to one reviewer: “I set this lamp to turn on when my alarm goes off or a few minutes before and it actually helps me wake up. Plus, if I want to have a soft light to fill the room I turn it on. You can adjust the brightness and change the colors. This is by far one of my favorite buys!”

The August Smart Lock keypad is a code-based entry lock that’s mounted outside your door. Press a button and your door is instantly locked, or give your guests a unique access code so you know when they're coming in. There’s also an option to create a temporary PIN to give to guests or service providers. However, you'll need an August Smart Lock to use this keypad.

• Compatible with: August Smart Lock app for iOS (9.0 or higher) or Android (5.0 or higher) smartphones

According to one reviewer: “Actually, I love it and it is a life changer in a number of ways for my Rental which I manage remotely. It is fantastic that you can set up codes on the guests phone which only last when a guest is at a rental - and you can see who and when they have arrived / departed - and when cleaners have been at the house and for how long. This has avoided the need for giving out keys and way better than old key-pad devices which you can not change remotely ... and everybody has the same code which can be a safety issue - the August lock overcomes this.”

More than 100,000 reviewers give Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite with an Alexa voice remote a five-star rating. Plug it into most HD televisions with an HDMI port, so you can easily watch content from all of your favorite streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, and more on a bigger screen. Browse TV shows, movies, or even music via the remote control or Alexa voice command.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa and most HD televisions with an HDMI port

According to one reviewer: "Oh my...I shouldn't have waited so long to purchase. I wasn't sure if I needed it but now I don't know what I would do without it. It was super easy to connect to my TV and setup. It plugged right in and then I was ready to watch my shows in under 10 minutes!."

The AmazonBasics Microwave is a smart microwave that’s controlled via voice commands. Sync it with your Echo device to ask Alexa to start microwaving. This microwave is compact to save precious countertop space, too. It features 10 different power levels, a timer, turntable, and a child lock for safety.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa including Echo devices

According to one reviewer: “You have absolutely no idea what satisfaction is until you can just say "Alexa, microwave on high for 5 minutes and 25 seconds" and it just does it. Call me lazy if you want, but the convenience is absolutely worth it. Pairing the device to my network via the Alexa app on my phone was a breeze. I literally had it set up in under 2 minutes.”

Always know who’s at home with the Blink mini smart security camera which you can mount inside the home to keep an eye on kids and pets, or by the front door. This smart home camera features night vision, two-way audio, and person detection. And you can stream live footage from anywhere in 1080p HD via your mobile device.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as iOS and Android

According to one reviewer: “We use it mostly to keep an eye on our beloved dog when we can’t take him with us. It is comforting to be able to see him and know he is OK, and even to be able to offer him a little love via a few words of companionship and comfort. The functionality for the price is staggering.”

The TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Mini plugs into your wall outlet and turns any ordinary electronic device instantly smarter. Tap a button to control multiple devices and schedule automatic shut-off times from anywhere via your smartphone. It also works with voice control using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Microsoft Cortana devices. With more than 10,000 positive reviews, it's a fan favorite. "Setup took maybe three minutes and it worked perfectly the first time and every time since," one reviewer wrote.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana, and Android 4.1 and higher or iOS 9 and higher

According to one reviewer: “Being able to control lights from afar has been awesome! The Kasa app is really easy to set up, and it helps us light up the house just before we come home. We have 3 cats and a dog, so turning on a light while away is helpful too.”

The Echo Wall Clock will make setting a timer so much easier. This digital display clock can be synced with any Echo device for setting timers and countdowns via Amazon Alexa voice command so you won't have to wash your hands just to set a timer. It’s 10-inches in diameter and fits nicely with any kitchen or room’s decor.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa Echo devices including Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Plus, Echo Spot, or Echo Input

According to one reviewer: “I love this clock. It's a simple design, easy to hang and sets the time automatically through my Echo. The absolute best feature is the timer display and that it can do more than one timer at a time. I was so tired of having to ask Echo or look up on my phone to see how much time was left on my timer and trying to figure out how to ask which timer to check on when I had more than one. This clock is awesome and I don't have to worry about that anymore.”

Tile Pro is a handy Bluetooth tracker that keeps you from losing important things. Simply attach it to your car keys, bag, or wallet, and you’ll be able to locate it within a 400-foot Bluetooth range via your smartphone or Alexa voice command. There’s even a find your phone feature.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa enabled devices, iOS, and Android smartphones

According to one reviewer: “I'm forever forgetting my keys. If I leave my keys at the other side of my work heading out for the day it will tell my phone every time. Plus it will tell you the location you last had it and you can ping it until you find it. Also it will reverse find your phone.”

Leviton's smart LED dimmer is a light switch upgrade that lets you control your lights from anywhere via an app or voice command with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can schedule lights, easily adjust them to the time of the day or your mood, or set automatic shut-offs to save energy.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, August, IFTTT, iOS, and Android

According to one reviewer: “I've upgraded most of the switches in my house to these. The Leviton switches are amazing [...] Opens so many options for smart home control (remote, scheduled, control from bed, etc) without interfering with normal wall switch usage. Easy to install if you have basic electrical know-how (e.g. know how to replace a standard switch).”

The Honeywell Home 7-day programmable thermostat lets you program for the whole week and adjust it with a smartphone, computer, or smart speaker when you need to, saving you money and providing peace of mind. Best yet, it's compatible with an incredibly wide number of devices. This smart thermostat displays local weather, too.

• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, Bonomi, Wink, and Stringy enabled devices, as well as iOS and Android

According to one reviewer: “Easy to set up, easy to program, easy to connect to Alexa. Remove the front cover of your current thermostat first to make sure you have the C wire and follow the instructions. They're very clear. I'm glad I chose this over more expensive smart thermostats.”