The best smart home hubs of 2026: Homey, Aqara and Home Assistant

Usually yes: every Matter device needs a controller, and Matter-over-Thread devices also need a Thread border router. Some Amazon Echo, Google Nest and Apple TV or HomePod models already do both jobs, so you may own a hub without realizing it. A dedicated hub is still worth having for local automations and for the many Zigbee devices that don’t speak Matter.

Sometimes: a few Echo speakers include a built-in Zigbee hub that handles simple devices such as bulbs, plugs and sensors. Check the specification for Zigbee before relying on it, as most Echo models do not have it. Alexa routines also offer fewer options than a dedicated hub such as Home Assistant or SmartThings, and some device features may not appear in the Alexa app.

For battery sensors, choose Zigbee or Thread: both use little power and build a mesh in which plug-in or hardwired devices relay the signal. Wi-Fi suits plugs and cameras but crowds your router once you add dozens of devices. Z-Wave is reliable but pricier; in Canada, buy North American modules on 908 MHz, because European versions on 868 MHz won’t work here.

Very little: a hub drawing 5 W all year uses 5 W × 8,760 hours, about 44 kWh. At an example rate of 10¢ per kWh, that’s roughly $4.40 a year; your rate depends on your province and utility, so use the one on your bill for an exact figure. A mini PC running Home Assistant may draw more, a Raspberry Pi often less, so check with a smart plug that measures energy.

Usually because of Wi-Fi interference or a weak mesh. Zigbee shares the 2.4 GHz band with Wi-Fi, so keep the hub or USB dongle away from your router, using a USB extension cable for dongles. Add plug-in Zigbee devices such as smart plugs to act as repeaters. Choosing Zigbee channel 15, 20 or 25 also avoids overlap with Wi-Fi channels 1, 6 and 11.