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Home Automation
Home Automation & Smart Hubs
One app, one voice, one tap for the whole house. Start with a smart display or hub you can set up in an afternoon, or have a certified dealer design a whole-home system that ties lighting, shades, audio and security together.
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Start yourself: DIY hubs and controllers
Pick the hub that matches the phones and voice assistant your family already uses. Look for Matter and Thread support so the devices you add later all work together.
Amazon
Echo Show 8 (4th Gen)
A smart display for the kitchen or office that doubles as a hub. Control lights, check the doorbell camera and run routines by voice or touch.
8.7-inch screen · Zigbee, Matter and Thread built in · Alexa
List $199.99
Apple
HomePod (2nd gen)
Room-filling sound plus an Apple Home hub, so automations keep running while you are away. Built-in sensors can trigger routines off temperature and humidity.
Matter and Thread · Temperature and humidity sensing · Siri
About $299
Apple
Apple TV 4K
If an Apple TV already sits under your TV, it can be your Apple Home hub and Thread border router at the same time.
Apple Home hub · Thread border router · Siri Remote
About $129
Samsung
SmartThings Station
A small, inexpensive Matter hub that also works as a wireless phone charger. A good fit for Android households using the SmartThings app.
Matter and Thread · SmartThings app · Built-in charging pad
About $45
Aeotec
SmartThings Hub v3
The hub to choose if you already own Zigbee or Z-Wave sensors, locks and switches and want to keep using them with SmartThings.
Zigbee and Z-Wave built in · SmartThings app · Wired or Wi-Fi
About $130
Home Assistant
Home Assistant Green
For tinkerers who want everything to run locally with no cloud required. It connects thousands of brands but takes more setup than the others.
Local control · Huge device support · Zigbee and Z-Wave need add-on adapters
About $199
Not sure which way to go?
Tell us about your home. We’ll send a specialist to walk the property and recommend DIY gear or a full system.
For Installers
Become a Featured Installer
Put your company in front of homeowners planning home automation projects in your area. Featured spots are limited to a few pros per region.
By Consultation
Whole-home automation systems
Dealer-designed systems that tie lighting, shades, audio, climate and security into one interface, with real support after the install.
Control4
CORE 3 and CORE 5 Controllers
The brains of a Control4 home. One controller runs lighting, shades, audio, cameras and climate from remotes, touchscreens and the app.
CORE 3: 4 audio zones · CORE 5: 7 audio zones · 4K on-screen interface · Zigbee and Z-Wave
Designed, installed and programmed by a certified dealer. Priced per project.
Control4
CORE lite
An entry point to Control4 for a single room or a smaller home, using the same app and remotes as a full system.
Single-room control · Choice of remote · Expands later
Designed, installed and programmed by a certified dealer. Priced per project.
Savant
Savant Home
A polished app built around photos of your own rooms: tap the picture of the room to control it. Often paired with Lutron lighting.
Photo-based interface · Lighting, audio, video and climate · Works with Lutron
Designed, installed and programmed by a certified dealer. Priced per project.
Crestron
Crestron Home
Crestron’s residential platform for large estates, with deep custom programming and its own lighting and keypad lines.
Custom programming · Crestron lighting and keypads · Commercial-grade hardware
Designed, installed and programmed by a certified dealer. Priced per project.
Josh.ai
Josh.ai Voice Control
A private, dealer-installed voice assistant that understands natural requests across rooms and systems.
Josh Core and Josh Micro · Works with Lutron, Sonos, Sonance, Crestron and Control4
Designed, installed and programmed by a certified dealer. Priced per project.
Real Installs
See these systems in finished homes
Project walkthroughs and photos from real luxury installs are coming to the Journal.
Compare
Every option at a glance
| Product | Type | Best for | Works with | Voice | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) | Smart display hub | Alexa homes | Zigbee, Matter, Thread | Alexa | $199.99 list |
| HomePod (2nd gen) | Speaker hub | iPhone homes | Matter, Thread | Siri | ~$299 |
| Apple TV 4K | Streaming box hub | iPhone homes with Apple TV | Matter, Thread | Siri | ~$129 |
| SmartThings Station | Hub + charger | Android and Samsung homes | Matter, Thread | Varies | ~$45 |
| Aeotec Hub v3 | Hub | Existing Zigbee/Z-Wave gear | Zigbee, Z-Wave | Varies | ~$130 |
| Home Assistant Green | Local hub | Tinkerers | Thousands of integrations | Optional | ~$199 |
| Control4 CORE | Pro controller | Whole-home systems | Zigbee, Z-Wave, IP | Varies | By quote |
| Savant | Pro system | Design-focused homes | IP, Lutron | Varies | By quote |
| Crestron Home | Pro system | Large estates | Crestron, IP | Varies | By quote |
Prices are typical online prices and change often. Pro systems are quoted per project.
Explainer
DIY hub vs. pro system: what’s the real difference?
A DIY hub connects devices you buy and set up yourself. A pro system is designed, programmed and supported by a dealer, and it ties every system in the house into one interface.
DIY hub
Best for: condos, smaller homes and single rooms
Cost: roughly $45–$300 for the hub
Setup: an afternoon with an app
Support: you, plus the manufacturer
Pro system
Best for: new builds and whole-home renovations
Cost: priced by project after a consultation
Setup: designed, wired and programmed by a dealer
Support: ongoing service from your installer
Rule of thumb: building new or renovating several rooms? Bring in a dealer during design. Adding smarts to a finished home? A DIY hub gets you most of the way.
FAQ
Home automation questions
What is Matter, and why does it matter?
Matter is a shared standard backed by Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung. A Matter device can be set up in any of their apps, so you are not locked into one brand when you buy switches, sensors or shades.
Do I need a hub at all?
Many Wi-Fi devices work on their own through an app. A hub becomes worth it once you have more than a few devices, want automations that run reliably, or want Thread or Zigbee devices that use less power.
Which hub should I buy?
Match what you already use: HomePod or Apple TV for iPhone homes, Echo Show for Alexa homes, SmartThings for Android and Samsung homes. Choose Home Assistant only if you enjoy tinkering.
Can a DIY setup grow into a pro system?
Partly. Control4, Savant and Crestron integrate many popular brands, such as Lutron and Sonos, but a dealer will usually replace consumer hubs with their own controller.
How much does a professional system cost?
It depends on the size of the home and how many systems are tied together. A dealer can price it after a walkthrough. Request a consultation to get a quote.
Planning a whole-home automation project?
Tell us about the house. We’ll send a specialist to walk the property and match you with the right installer.