5 affordable smart devices you can use with Alexa and Google Home

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Most often, smart home devices come with a companion app, where you can add and control the gadget remotely. This is usually not a problem, especially if you stick to the same smart home brand. The problem is that when you start looking at different manufacturers, you end up juggling multiple apps at the same time just to manage your entire smart home.

But there’s actually a simpler approach to doing this: adding your smart home gadgets to a smart home platform like Google Home and Amazon Alexa. As long as your gadgets support the platform, you can easily integrate and control them from the platform’s app alone – no more switching between apps.

The best part is that it’s now pretty easy to find smart home devices that work with Google Home, Alexa, or both. Here are five of these essential smart home gadgets that are designed to integrate with Google Home and Alexa, but won’t break the bank.

Smart video doorbells improve the security of your home while making it easier to manage your deliveries and guests. If you’re looking for an affordable model compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, consider the $50 Tapo 2K D205 Wireless Smart Video Doorbell. It’s a 2K camera with a 160-degree field of view and free AI-powered person detection alerts. This means that instead of basic motion alerts, the video doorbell will send you more precise notifications when someone shows up at your door, all without paying a subscription.

Besides alerts, the Tapo D205 can also call your phone every time you press the doorbell. It works like a regular phone call, where you get a caller screen on your mobile and the option to accept or decline the call. If you accept this, you can then speak to the other person as you would in any other direct call. If you decline the call, you can choose to send a pre-recorded quick response from the app.

The Tapo D205 also supports Google Home or Alexa integration. Using a Google Home or Alexa smart display, you can ask the voice assistant to show you the live recording of the doorbell on the screen. With a smart speaker, on the other hand, you can hear a chime coming from the speaker every time someone uses the doorbell.

Unlike wired doorbells that require external cables, the Tapo D205 is powered by a 5,200 mAh rechargeable battery. It can last up to 180 days and recharges in about six hours. If you prefer not to take it apart when the battery runs out, you can connect the doorbell to a supported Tapo solar panel or hang a power bank next to it.

The Timmerflotte Smart Temperature/Humidity Sensor is one of the affordable smart home finds you can get at IKEA. It’s part of IKEA’s line of Matter-certified smart home devices, meaning it works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, as well as major smart system platforms like Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings. The Timmerflotte can measure both temperature and humidity and works best in rooms where temperatures are between 32 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 40 degrees Celsius).

In the home, this sensor can be useful for automating tasks that depend on temperature, humidity level, or both. For example, you can automatically turn on your bathroom exhaust fan when the humidity exceeds the normal range. You can also use it for simple environmental monitoring when you want to get an idea of ​​how hot or humid the room is. Since it only costs $10, you can get multiple sensors for multi-room monitoring. It is important to note, however, that the sensor does not constantly display temperature and humidity values. Instead, you’ll need to press the button on the front of the device to view them. It will then show you the temperature first and the humidity second.

Ready to use, the Timmerflotte provides temperature readings in Celsius. If you prefer Fahrenheit, you can easily change this setting with the physical switch on the back of the sensor. The switch is located under the two AAA batteries that operate the sensor, so it’s hard to miss.

Available for $20 for a pack and $46 for a three-pack, the Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch HS220 is one of the best ways to transition to a smart home without completely giving up traditional light control. Instead of relying solely on your phone app, there are actually several ways to control the Kasa HS220.

On the one hand, you can press the buttons like a regular switch. The two buttons at the top are used to dim the light, while the large switch is used to turn the light on or off. There is a line of LED indicators at the top of the switch to show you the current brightness level. If you want the light to slowly fade before turning off, you can simply press the large switch twice.

For hands-free control, you can use the Kasa Smart Dimmer with your smart speaker or display running Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Simply say commands like “Dim the bedroom lights” or “Turn on the lights.”

Finally, there is the option to add the dimmer to its companion app Kasa Smart. From the app, you can remotely adjust the brightness of the bulbs according to your needs. You’ll even find settings to schedule the time the lights turn on or off or if they turn on/off at sunset and sunrise. Conveniently, the Kasa Smart app lets you group the smart dimmer with other Kasa smart home devices and control them all at once with just one touch.

Smart bulbs can already set the mood of a room. But if you specifically need accent lighting for a smaller area of ​​your home, like behind the TV or under shelves, it’s best to opt for smart light bars. An affordable option that supports both Google Home and Amazon Alexa is the Matter-certified WiZ Connected Gradient Light Bars, which sell for $42.

These dimmable LED bars can each display a variety of colors at the same time. For example, one bar might display purple and pink at the same time, while the other might be set to a solid blue. For your convenience, WiZ offers all kinds of preset lighting modes that you can easily apply. These include static presets like Night Light, Warm and Relax, and dynamic presets like Party, Pastel colors and Steampunk. In addition to providing ambient lighting, the light bars sync perfectly with music out of the box. They can also sync with content displayed on your TV, but first you need to pair them with a separate WiZ HDMI sync box.

With their flexible installation options, these WiZ connected gradient light bars are one of the creative ways to use smart lighting in the home. Compared to smart bulbs that rely on fixtures, light bars can be installed anywhere with an outlet nearby. You can place them horizontally on your TV stand or table, or place them in the provided brackets for vertical installation. Rear brackets are also provided in the box, allowing you to attach the light bars to the back of your TV or monitor.

To keep an eye on your porch, you will normally need to install an outdoor security camera. This setup may sound good in theory, but it has several drawbacks, including the risk of theft, exposure to the elements, and the need to drill holes in your wall. As an alternative, you can use a window camera like the $35 Wyze Window Cam. As the name suggests, it is specially designed to be mounted on your window without drilling holes or using any other tools. All you need to do is peel off the supplied mounting sticker, stick it on the clean window (inner side) and lightly press the camera onto the sticker.

In terms of performance, the Wyze Window Cam delivers clear 1080p HD recording day or night with its enhanced color night vision. It also includes standard security camera features, such as two-way audio, custom detection zones, and support for microSD cards up to 512GB. And like most smart cameras, you can easily pair the Wyze Window Cam with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, as well as IFTTT if you like advanced automation.

Of course, motion detection is also integrated into the window camera. Right out of the box, you’ll receive simple notifications letting you know when motion has been detected. However, when you subscribe to the Cam Plus plan, notifications are upgraded to AI-powered detection alerts. These are more precise and can identify whether it is a person, a pet, a vehicle or a package that has passed your window. The top plan, Cam Unlimited Pro, takes it up a notch and gives you a description of the detected activity, like what the person is wearing or the color and model of the car.

When developing this list, we took into account some key considerations. On the one hand, the gadgets should work with both Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This makes them easier to integrate into the system you already have set up. Another important factor was the price. We opted for smart home devices that cost $50 and less. Finally, these devices are well received by users and get ratings of at least 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon or the manufacturer’s website.