Smart home technology is the new big thing: everyone wants the ability to control items around their house with a push of a button or a voice command. Fortunately, having a smart home isn’t nearly as expensive as it used to be, and there are actually quite a variety of affordable smart home tech devices! Though some of the latest and greatest smart home technologies are still pretty expensive, smart home devices are so popular right now that there are a lot of great options for those interested in home automation ideas without breaking the bank. It’s true — as the smart home has improved, prices have dropped, which is great news for those of us who are excited by smart home solutions.
The following most affordable smart home tech devices are divided into the most common smart home product categories (i.e. smart hub, security, entertainment, thermostat, safety and health, cleaning and lighting). Whether you’re looking for gift ideas for a new homeowner or just browsing for yourself, there are a lot of great home automation ideas below! For the most affordable smart home tech devices, keep reading!
#1 Smart Hub
Looking for home automation DIY?
First things first —
You need a smart hub, where all of your smart home devices can communicate with one another. You can easily connect all of your smart home devices to the internet, but hooking them up to a smart home hub is a great idea for one main reason: with a smart home hub, you can connect all of your individual smart home devices so that you can control all of them from one place, instead of having to access them individually.
Wink Connected Home Hub — $30
The original Wink Connected Home Hub makes for one of the most affordable smart home tech devices out there. Though you could opt for the Google Home Hub, the Amazon Echo or Alexa, the Wink Hub can do all the same things for a more affordable price. The Wink Hub supports all of the common smart home wireless standards, such as Kidde, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Clear Connect. For new homeowners looking to transform their home into a smart one, the original Wink Hub can manage most smart home devices at about ⅓ the price of other smart home hubs.
#2 Security
Smart security systems are one of the top home automation ideas. Whether you’re looking for smart security cameras, smart locks, or an entire smart security system, smart home solutions make your home security a cinch.
August Smart Lock — $112
While the price of $112 might not seem affordable, it is pretty affordable for the category of smart home security systems. Unfortunately, security systems remain relatively expensive, though for good reason — your home security system is not an area you want to scrimp on. The third generation August Smart Lock includes August’s DoorSense Technology, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Z-Wave compatibility. It can be controlled with a smart home hub like Alexa or Google Assistant and is easy to install. For smart home security, the August Smart Lock is one of the best home automation ideas out there.
#3 Entertainment
After home security, home entertainment is the next most popular category for affordable smart home tech. Affordable smart home ideas for entertainment include TVs with smart home controls. Smart entertainment is definitely one of the best home automation ideas for those invested in making their home a haven.
Roku Streaming Stick — $47
When it comes to smart home devices and home automation DIY, the Roku streaming stick is one of the best smart home solutions for entertainment. There are a lot of options nowadays for TV streaming, but you can’t beat the Roku streaming stick. It features a variety of streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube or Amazon Prime and, with its voice-powered remote, you can search for shows without having to type it in, letter by letter. At this price point, the Roku streaming stick is your best bet for smart home solutions and entertainment options.
#4 Thermostat
Having the ability to control your home’s internal temperature is wonderful, but that’s been around for a while. What’s even better is being able to remotely control your home’s temperature through a mobile app.
Honeywell T5 Smart Thermostat — $110
Though Nest has been the market leader in smart thermostats for a while now, the Honeywell T5 Smart Thermostat makes for a great, affordable alternative. Though the Honeywell Thermostat lacks certain features of its competition — for instance, Nest features room sensor features and intelligent scheduling — its low price tag makes it a great entry-level option for those interested in affordable smart home tech and smart thermostats!
#5 Safety & Health
Including a smart smoke/carbon monoxide detector in your home is absolutely one of the best things you can do for your safety and health. With home automation DIY such as this, you’ll feel totally at peace knowing your affordable smart home tech will detect anything that could make your home unsafe.
Nest Protect Smart Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detector — $119
The Nest Protect will identify various kinds of smoke emanating from the rooms in your house. Whether it’s smoke from cooking on the stovetop or carbon monoxide present in your living room, Nest Protect alerts you to the dangers via voice communication. Simultaneously, Nest Protect will alert your phone, which will give you the ability to silence the alarm if it is unimportant. Home automation ideas and affordable smart home tech like the Nest Protect takes your home to the next level by giving you ample warning signs and keeping you safe, happy and healthy!
#6 Cleaning
Thinking about home automation DIY?
Start with smart cleaning devices!
Cleaning can be such a chore! In our busy schedules, who has time to keep up with vacuuming or dusting anymore? Smart home solutions for cleaning include robotic vacuum cleaners, robotic mops, pool cleaning robots, and robotic lawn mowers. With home automation ideas such as these, now your home is always clean and you don’t even have to think about it!
PUCRC26B Automatic Robot Vacuum Cleaner — $90
Do you have pets and you’re looking for a great robot vacuum cleaner that won’t break the bank? While there are a lot of expensive robotic vacuum cleaners out there, there is no need to purchase them when you have affordable smart home tech options like the PUCRC26B Automatic Robot Vacuum Cleaner! Home automation ideas and smart home solutions such as this robotic vacuum cleaner do the trick without forcing you to go bankrupt.
#7 Lighting
Many people might not think about lighting when it comes to smart home devices or home automation DIY, but installing the proper smart light bulbs can go a long way when it comes to saving money down the road. Smart lighting is one of the all-time best smart home solutions out there, you can count on it.
Lifx Mini Smart Bulb — $30
Lifx is a great smart light bulb that can be controlled through a smartphone app! Additionally, you can link the bulbs to Alexa, Google Home, Nest, Samsung SmartThings, Yonomi, Logitech Harmony, Yeti, IFTTT, Xfinity, Flic, and even Microsoft Cortana. What’s more — the Lifx Mini smart bulbs are small enough to fit into most fixtures, so setup should be a cinch.
And there you have it!
Smart homes don’t have to be a chore to create nor an expense you can’t afford. With home automation DIY, affordable smart home devices and smart home solutions such as these, you’ll have the start of your dreams in no time!
This post was written by Kara Roberts, blogger and content writer for Canvas Vows. We specialize in creating custom made canvas prints and have been featured in a number of publications, including Brides. For more interior design tips, gift ideas, anniversary celebrations, and personalized canvas creations check out our blog!
