25 Smart Home Products That Are Worth the Money

It seems like you can control just about everything with your phone or your voice these days, but that doesn't mean you need to go overboard on smart-home technology. While smart thermostats can indeed save you money, there are some things that simply don't need to be connected to Wi-Fi (we're looking at you, smart crockpot). So what might actually be worth a splurge? We've rounded up 25 smart-home products at a range of price points that earn reviewers' raves for making their lives easier.

Price: $30 | Buy it at Amazon
Want to turn on lights or appliances from your phone? It's as simple as plugging them into this sleek Wemo plug. You can schedule them remotely or even randomize lights to make it look like you're home when you're actually sipping margaritas on the beach. With Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, you can control Wemo with your voice, too.

Price: $119 | Buy it at Amazon
The Nest Protect does double duty as a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm. Spoken alerts and push notifications leave no doubt about whether something's wrong, and in case of a false alarm, you can easily hush it with your phone. It even automatically tests itself every month.

Price: $199 | Buy it at Amazon
You'll never have to deal with annoying solicitors again with the Ring Video Doorbell. Use your phone to see, hear, and speak to anyone who's at your door. Motion-detection alerts will tell you whether someone's there even if they don't ring the bell.

Price: $40.15 | Buy it at Amazon
Whether you have a second-floor washer, a flood-prone basement, or an aging water heater, this leak detector can immediately alert your phone if it detects even a tiny bit of moisture. Battery operation means you can place one anywhere, and don't worry if your internet is down — there's also a loud sound alarm, too.

Price: $80 | Buy it at Best Buy You know that sinking feeling when you can't remember whether you closed the garage door? Banish it forever with the Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub. Control access remotely with your smartphone, know when someone comes or goes, or get alerts if your garage door is left open for a certain amount of time.

Price: $230 | Buy it at Amazon
Kick your feet up and enjoy with this robotic vacuum, featuring a three-stage cleaning system as well as anti-drop and anti-collision sensors. Schedule cleanings anywhere using your phone, or control it with your voice using Alexa or Google Assistant. If you're in the market for a robotic vacuum, check out these Cheapism top picks, too.

Price: $120 | Buy it at Amazon
Keep an eye on the great indoors with the Amazon Cloud Cam, which delivers high-definition video to your smartphone. Get notified if a Cloud Cam sees activity, talk through the Cloud Cam with two-way audio, and access 24 hours of motion-alert clips for free.

Price: $1,889 | Buy it at Home Depot
No more worrying about whether you left the oven on — you can just turn this one off or on with your phone. Busy cooking? Control it with your voice using Alexa or Google Assistant. Other features include an easy-to-clean edge-to-edge cooktop, a warming zone, and the ability to combine and control two heating elements as one.

Price: $118 | Buy it at Amazon
If you rely on a window air conditioner, ductless mini-split, or other remote-based A/C to stay cool, the Sensibo will let you control it from anywhere with your phone. Sensibo can even note your location and turn on the A/C on before you arrive — no more coming home to a stuffy apartment or bedroom.

Price: $80 | Buy it at Target
Sous vide cooking isn't just for professional chefs anymore. Attach the Anova to any water-filled pot, put your food inside in a sealed bag, then set the cooker time and temperature, either on the Anova or with your phone. You'll get an alert when it's time to eat.

Price: $199 | Buy it at Amazon
These compact plug-and-play speakers use your Wi-Fi to stream music in any room of your home. Different units can be paired for bigger sound, too. But the One's biggest claim to fame is that it has Alexa built right in, letting you control the speaker and any Alexa-enabled smart-home devices with simple voice commands.

Price: $153.23 | Buy it at Amazon
A big storm is coming, but does your irrigation system know that? Save water and money with this forecast-connected controller, which is smart enough to adjust sprinkler operation based on the weather. Build schedules, set up custom zones, and control everything from your phone or with your voice using Alexa or Google Assistant.

Price: $169 | Buy it at Home Depot
This brighter, stripped-down version of the original Nest thermostat has all the smart features of its pricier big brother, but for less. It will learn your temperature preferences, and most importantly, turn down the heat or air-conditioning on its own when you're not home, leading to some nice savings on utility bills.

Price: $36.78 | Buy it at Amazon
There's nothing more frustrating than frantic, last-minute searches for keys, wallets or phones. Tile Mate Bluetooth trackers are an easy way to eliminate the problem. Attach them to important items, then launch the Tile app to ring your things. Tile Mate can even ring your phone when it's set on silent mode.

Price: $170 | Buy it at Amazon
If you're an avid weather watcher, this personal weather station will let you monitor conditions in your own yard and receive phone alerts about wind speed, rainfall, temperature, and humidity. Ask Alexa for the weather, and she can tell you what your station has detected.

Price: $193 | Buy it at Amazon
The Netgear Arlo Pro cuts the cord on your outdoor security cameras, giving you freedom to monitor any nook and cranny. The weather-resistant cameras include rechargeable batteries, two-way audio, and seven days of free cloud recordings. They're also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Price: $50 | Buy it at Amazon
With the Amazon Echo Dot, Alexa listens for your commands to play music, read the news, control connected smart-home gadgets, call a friend, or even order a pizza. Seven built-in microphones can listen for commands even in noisy rooms.

Price: $80 | Buy it at Amazon
If your dog or cat is an escape artist, the Whistle 3 will be your best friend's new best friend. It uses GPS to pinpoint their location, and sends notifications to your phone if your pet leaves a designated area. The waterproof unit even monitors exercise and rest to ensure they're staying healthy.

Price: $80 | Buy it at Amazon
Tired of relying on your cell phone, but don't want to pay a big monthly bill for a landline? Connect the Ooma Telo to the Internet and you'll get free nationwide calling. You'll get caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, and smart-home integration with Amazon Alexa and Nest.

Price: $2,300 | Buy it at Best Buy
Why not make your next fridge smart, too? The Samsung Family Hub has its own intelligent voice assistant, Bixby, that lets you add to your shopping list while you cook. Interior cameras show you what you've already got while you're at the grocery, and the integrated smart screen can show photos, calendars, or memos, and even stream music or TV shows.

Price: $188 | Buy it at Amazon
Long-lived LED light bulbs are among the most efficient lights you can buy, and these smart bulbs take the savings one step further by giving you the ability to control them and create schedules with your smartphone. Got Alexa? Turn them on or off with your voice.

Price: $196.90 | Buy it at Amazon
Why lug around a separate baby monitor when you can simply use your phone? The Netgear Arlo Baby Monitor will send smart alerts when your little one wakes up, let you peek in even when it's dark, and use two-way audio to sing a lullaby (or command a cranky someone to go to sleep).

Price: $99 | Buy it at Home Depot
Make any remote-operated ceiling fan smart with this internet-connected hub. Use your phone to control speed, direction, and light. Better yet, connect it to Alexa or Google Assistant and turn your fans off and on with your voice.

Price: $199 | Buy it at Amazon
Looking for a smartphone-friendly security system that won't break the bank? The Ring system doesn't require professional installation or monitoring (though it's available for just $10 a month). Control the alarm, sensors, and motion detector from your phone. Got a Ring doorbell? It will integrate with that, too.

Price: $40 | Buy it at Amazon
Don't have a smart TV? You can still ditch cable with the Amazon Fire TV Stick. As long as your TV has an HDMI port, it offers easy access to streaming channels and hands-free control using the Alexa voice remote.