We have evolved in how we interact with our home devices. Initially, we would physically walk to our TVs to change channels. Then came the era of remote control, which we thought was the best. But it turned out that the best smart home apps offer a more convenient and exciting way to interact with and manage your home environment.
In this era of smart home automation, your smartphone is now your intelligent assistant, which you can use to control your entire home from anywhere.
In this post, we will discuss various smart home apps to help you make better decisions when setting up your smart home ecosystem. But before we dive in, here are a few things you should know:
Single and Multitasking Apps
Smart home apps are mobile applications that help you manage the essential functions of your smart home devices, such as lights, curtains, kitchen appliances, doorbells, thermostats, cameras, locks, security sensors, speakers, and TVs.
These intelligent applications can be either categorized as single-tasking or multitasking apps.
Single-Tasking Apps: This type of innovative home application is designed to operate one specific device, for instance, your home lighting.
Essentially, you cannot control other IoT devices with these apps because they only accept compatible systems.
Multi-Tasking Apps: These apps are convenient since they let you control your entire smart home ecosystem. With such applications, you can operate all the smart home gadgets you have installed.
The type of app you choose will depend on your personal preferences. Some people prefer convenience, which they can get from multitasking apps.
While others select single-tasking apps, believing they will provide better security. That is why we have recommended both types of apps on our list.
The 10 Best Smart Home Apps
The ten most powerful intelligent home apps include the following:
1. Amazon Alexa App
Alexa is perhaps the best intelligent home management app. It handles various tasks to harmonize different devices in your home network.
And the good thing is that it supports more than just Amazon products. What makes it unique is that it works seamlessly with voice commands. So, you can achieve much without having to tap on your smartphone.
Key Features
- Let you access the status of connected devices.
- Call or message compatible devices.
- Listen to music.
- Make a shopping list.
- Prepare your to-do list.
2. Samsung SmartThings App
The SmartThings home automation hub allows you to control most aspects of your smart home, including air conditioners, refrigerators, TVs, washing machines, etc.
With the SmartThings app, you can check the status of supported devices, configure gadget settings, group and manage these devices simultaneously, and receive notifications about each connected device.
Key Features
- Direct media from your smartphone to your Samsung TV.
- Listen to music.
- It gives you a broad overview of connected devices.
- Create scheduled cycles for your washing machines.
3. Google Home App
The Google Home app has the reputation of being the smart home app for Android. This app makes setting up and controlling Chromecast and Google Home devices easier.
Apart from this, the Google Home app is compatible with several third-party intelligent devices and platforms, such as Philips Hue, Nest thermostats, Honeywell Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Wemo, among others.
Key Features
- Listen to your favorite music.
- Adjust thermostat temperatures.
- It is the best app for connecting intelligent lights, cameras, and speakers.
- Give you instant, real-time weather updates.
- Allow you to create a guest network.
4. Apple HomeKit App
Another top application to manage your smart home is the Apple HomeKit app. This app provides a seamless way to manage HomeKit devices.
And as you can imagine, several smart home devices are compatible with HomeKit. So, there has to be a simple way to control these devices.
And this app provides simply that. The beauty of it is that you can use Siri commands to coordinate things.
Key features
- Let you customize your own scenes and home automation.
- Allow you to control various devices like thermostats, lights, and locks using voice commands via Siri, WiFi, and Bluetooth.
- Let you control devices using iOS apps on your iPhone or iPad.
5. Home Assistant App
This home automation app offers you a centralized point for controlling devices and the privacy of your home. It probably supports more smart devices than any other app on this list.
Specifically, it can integrate more than 1,600 smart devices and add-ons.
Key Features
- It is compatible with both the iOS and Android platforms.
- Supports more than 1,600 plug-ins and add-ons
- Can integrate with Nest, Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Philips Hue-supported devices.
- Let you control and monitor security and energy-measuring devices.
6. Honeywell Home App
Several Honeywell devices are designed for your smart home, ranging from thermostats to freezing prevention systems.
All these devices can be monitored and controlled via the Honeywell Home app. On top of this, you can get updates on what is happening in your house.
Key Features
- Allow you to access the settings of connected Honeywell devices.
- Get real-time updates on activities in your home.
- It can integrate humidifiers, thermostats, doorbells, and cameras.
7. Nest App
Google’s Nest app is a robust application for managing smart devices installed in your home. It is suitable for people who want to safeguard their homes via smartphones.
Nest provides real-time updates on every side of your house by coordinating intelligent doorbells, cameras, smoke detectors, and alarms.
Key Features
- Get you updated on what is going on at home.
- See who is at the main door before opening it.
- Receive critical alerts in case there is excess smoke.
- It lets you configure and control your thermostat and informs you about the temperature levels in the house.
8. Philips Hue App
The Philips Hue app is one of the best smart home apps if you are looking for an intelligent lighting coordination system with a good range of customizability.
This app allows you to play with your smart bulb’s color, tone, and contrast, giving you an interactive experience.
Key Features
- Set timers for intelligent lights.
- Let you adjust the brightness of every connected Philips lamp.
- Adjust the tone and color of the bulbs.
- Take advantage of presets for everyday scenery.
9. Danalock Bluetooth Z-Lock App
The Danalock Z-Lock app enables you to control who accesses your home. All Danalock products, such as the motorized Danalock V3 smart lock, are coordinated through the app.
So, you can know who enters the main door and each room in your home.
Key Features
- It has a robust automated unlock and relock feature.
- Lock and open doors with your smartphone.
- GPS-based instant unlocking when you arrive at home
- Create and share virtual keys with guests.
10. Wiser App
The Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) is among the best smart home apps that provide first responders with vital updates on hazardous material accidents.
Key Features
- Enable you to access the NLM’s Substances Data Bank.
- GIS compatibility allows for isolation at the scene of the incident.
- It has a Comprehensive Decision Support capability to help you identify and control unknown substances.
Honorable Mentions
There are many other smart home apps that you might love to have in your home. Here are a few notable mentions:
MyQ Garage & Access Control App: This app is mainly designed to help you control access to your garage. Additionally, you can monitor the status of other doors in your house.
Ecobee App: Ecobee lets you regulate the temperature in your home. Aside from this, the app can also help you turn on or off your lights and monitor your energy spending.
Therefore, it is a perfect solution to create a conducive environment in your home.
Wemo App: The Wemo app is your one-stop solution if you want to control lighting and security in your home.
Also Read: The 10 Best Smart Plugs in 2024
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Smart home apps enable you to control multiple home devices with different systems from a single home automation hub. With appropriate components such as sensors and networks, intelligent home apps can monitor smart systems and environments and send alerts in case of a problem.
In most cases, people create group actions on their smart home apps.
For instance, you can create a scenario called ‘Leaving for Business’, which might involve setting up a security system, locking doors, and adjusting window coverings and the heating and cooling system. Conversely, a ‘Returning Home’ scenario might reverse all these processes.
Integrating all your smart home devices is possible if they all use the same protocol.
What it means is that you may need to buy gadgets with the same protocol, which can be unpracticable sometimes.
So, instead of limiting yourself to devices with similar protocols, you can choose a suitable intelligent home automation app to manage different protocols to sound alike.
If you have yet to convert your home into an intelligent environment, you might start automating little annoyances.
For instance, if you often leave your house while the lights are on, you might need a smart plug or light bulbs.
Likewise, installing a smart thermostat is the way to go if you adjust your thermostat more frequently.
Final Thoughts
Smart home automation is progressing each day. As companies race to bring more intelligent devices onto the market, more people will find smart home apps a source of relief.
The power and convenience of controlling your smart home ecosystem from a single app are unmeasurable.
No one should be left out of this growing smart home automation trend. So, if you want to be part of the team that makes their lives easier, we recommend choosing one of the best smart home apps.
You can find more information about smart home automation apps here.
