Do smart home devices need a hub?
Usually not. Of the 304 devices we've checked (hubs and bridges left out), 225 work without a hub, 61 need one and the rest aren't confirmed. 37 of the 61 that need one use Zigbee, which pairs with a hub rather than with your Wi-Fi.
By category
| Category | Work without a hub | Need a hub | Unconfirmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart plugs | 38 | 11 | 4 |
| Smart bulbs | 24 | 3 | 0 |
| Smart locks | 22 | 0 | 3 |
| Smart thermostats | 15 | 5 | 3 |
| Smart sensors | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| Smart cameras and doorbells | 51 | 5 | 0 |
| Smart switches and dimmers | 21 | 8 | 0 |
| Robot vacuums | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Smart LED light strips | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Smart blinds and curtains | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Smoke and CO alarms | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Garage door controllers | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Smart buttons and remotes | 4 | 9 | 0 |
Devices that need a hub, and which one
Smart plugs
- Aqara Smart Plug (US) · Aqara Zigbee hub
- Aqara SP-EUC01 (EU) · Aqara hub (HomeKit-compatible)
- FRITZ!DECT 200 (EU) · FRITZ!Box
- Eve Energy (Matter, US)
- Eve Energy Outdoor (Matter, EU)
- Hive Active Plug (UK) · Hive Hub
- IKEA GRILLPLATS (EU)
- IKEA INSPELNING (EU) · IKEA DIRIGERA hub
- IKEA TRETAKT (EU) · IKEA DIRIGERA hub
- Innr SP 240 (EU) · Echo with built-in Zigbee hub or Hue Bridge
- Innr SP 242 (UK) · Echo with Zigbee hub, Hue Bridge or SmartThings
Smart bulbs
- Aqara LED Bulb T1 (EU) · Aqara Zigbee 3.0 hub
- IKEA KAJPLATS E27 colour bulb (EU)
- Sengled Zigbee Color A19 (US) · Sengled Smart Hub
Smart thermostats
- Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 (EU) · Aqara Zigbee 3.0 hub
- FRITZ!DECT 301 (EU) · FRITZ!Box
- Bosch Radiator Thermostat II (EU) · Bosch Smart Home Controller II
- Kasa KE100 (EU) · Kasa Hub (KH100) Matter bridge
- Kasa KE100 (UK) · Kasa Hub (KH100) Matter bridge
Smart sensors
- Aqara Motion Sensor P1 (US) · Aqara Zigbee 3.0 hub
- Aqara Temperature and Humidity Sensor T1 (EU)
- Aqara Water Leak Sensor T1 (EU) · Aqara hub
- IKEA BADRING (EU)
- IKEA PARASOLL (EU) · IKEA DIRIGERA hub
- IKEA VALLHORN (EU)
- Hue Motion Sensor (EU) · Philips Hue Bridge
- Hue Motion Sensor (US) · Philips Hue Bridge
- Tapo T100 (EU) · Tapo H500 hub (Matter Bridge)
- Tapo T110 (EU) · Tapo Hub (H100)
- Tapo T110 (UK) · Tapo Hub or Tapo Homebase
- Tapo T310 (EU) · Tapo H500 hub (Matter Bridge)
- Tapo T315 (EU) · Tapo H500 hub (Matter Bridge)
- Tapo T315 (UK) · Tapo Hub (Matter Bridge)
Smart cameras and doorbells
- Blink Outdoor 4 (EU)
- Blink Outdoor 4 (UK)
- Blink Outdoor 4 (US)
- Blink Video Doorbell 2nd Gen (UK)
- Blink Video Doorbell 2nd Gen (US)
Smart switches and dimmers
- Aqara Wall Switch H1 (EU) · Aqara hub
- Inovelli Blue Series 2-1 Switch (US) · Amazon Echo with built-in Zigbee hub
- Caséta Plug-in Lamp Dimmer PD-3PCL (US) · Lutron Caséta Smart Bridge
- Caséta Smart Dimmer PD-6WCL (US) · Lutron Caséta Smart Bridge
- Caséta Smart Switch PD-5ANS (US) · Caséta Smart Bridge
- Philips Hue Wall Switch Module (EU) · Hue Bridge
- Sonoff ZBMINI-L2 (EU) · SONOFF Zigbee gateway (e.g. ZBBridge-P, NSPanel Pro, iHost)
- Tapo S210 (UK) · Tapo Hub (H100/H200)
Smart blinds and curtains
- Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (EU) · Aqara hub
- IKEA FYRTUR (EU) · IKEA DIRIGERA
- IKEA TREDANSEN (EU) · IKEA DIRIGERA
Smoke and CO alarms
- Aqara Smoke Detector (EU) · Aqara hub
- Bosch Smoke Detector II (EU) · Bosch Smart Home Controller
- X-Sense XP0A-MR (US) · X-Sense SBS50 base station
Smart buttons and remotes
- Aqara Mini Switch (US) · Aqara hub
- Aqara Remote Switch H1 (EU) · Aqara hub
- Aqara Wireless Mini Switch (EU) · Aqara hub
- Hue Dimmer Switch (EU) · Philips Hue Bridge
- Hue Dimmer Switch (US) · Philips Hue Bridge
- Hue Smart Button (EU) · Philips Hue Bridge
- Hue Smart Button (US) · Philips Hue Bridge
- Hue Tap Dial Switch (EU) · Philips Hue Bridge
- Hue Tap Dial Switch (US) · Philips Hue Bridge
Quick answers
- Do smart plugs need a hub?
- 38 of 53 work without a hub; 11 need one and 4 aren’t confirmed.
- Do smart bulbs need a hub?
- 24 of 27 work without a hub; 3 need one.
- Do smart locks need a hub?
- 22 of 25 work without a hub; none needs one and 3 aren’t confirmed.
- Do smart thermostats need a hub?
- 15 of 23 work without a hub; 5 need one and 3 aren’t confirmed.
- Do smart sensors need a hub?
- 14 of 28 work without a hub; 14 need one.
- Do smart cameras need a hub?
- 51 of 56 work without a hub; 5 need one.
- Do smart switches need a hub?
- 21 of 29 work without a hub; 8 need one.
- Do robot vacuums need a hub?
- 12 of 13 work without a hub; none needs one and 1 isn’t confirmed.
- Do smart light strips need a hub?
- 6 of 6 work without a hub; none needs one.
- Do smart blinds and curtains need a hub?
- 7 of 12 work without a hub; 3 need one and 2 aren’t confirmed.
- Do smoke and CO alarms need a hub?
- 8 of 13 work without a hub; 3 need one and 2 aren’t confirmed.
- Do garage door controllers need a hub?
- 3 of 6 work without a hub; none needs one and 3 aren’t confirmed.
- Do smart buttons and remotes need a hub?
- 4 of 13 work without a hub; 9 need one.