Neither app is universally better. Google Home is a natural fit if your home already relies on Google speakers or displays and devices marked Works with Google Home. SmartThings is worth considering if you use Samsung TVs or appliances, or if your other devices are supported by SmartThings. The right choice depends on your exact devices, the automations you need, and whether your setup requires a hub—not simply on the brand name.
What each app is designed to manage
Google Home
Google Home brings compatible smart-home devices into one app for control from a phone or tablet. Google also documents voice control through a Google smart speaker or display. Its help page lists more than 50,000 compatible smart-home devices, while a separate Matter preparation page claims more than 80,000 Works with Google Home devices. These are Google’s own claims, cover different scopes, and are not an independently audited comparison; the reviewed pages do not state publication years for either figure. Google’s control documentation and Matter preparation guidance describe those figures.
SmartThings
SmartThings lets users control Samsung TVs, appliances, wearables, and compatible devices from other brands. SmartThings says it supports thousands of Samsung and partner Works with SmartThings devices. Its support page, dated June 9, 2021, gives that broad count; it is not an exact current inventory. Device support can vary by region, so check the SmartThings device support page and the app’s regional listings for your models.
In either app, broad compatibility claims do not guarantee that every feature of a particular device will be available. Check the exact model and the controls exposed in the app before choosing a platform.
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#1 Best Overall
- Powered by SmartThings: Connect, monitor, and automate your home through the SmartThings app. Build a reliable, unified smart home using Samsung's proven ecosystem
- Matter + Zigbee Smart Home Hub: Supports the newest Matter standard plus Zigbee for lighting, sensors, plugs, switches, thermostats, and more - thousands of compatible devices. PLEASE NOTE: Z-Wave not supported
- Easy Setup with Wi-Fi or Ethernet: Get started in minutes using Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet connection for apartments, houses, and expanding smart home systems - Z-Wave not supported
- Automations That Work for You: Create custom routines for security, lighting, comfort, and energy savings. Many local automations continue working even if your internet goes offline
- Wide Device Compatibility: Connect compatible smart devices from Aeotec and many other brands to build a unified system for lighting, voice control, energy management, and climate settings
Which app fits your existing devices?
| What matters in your home | Google Home | SmartThings |
|---|---|---|
| Existing ecosystem | Google speakers or displays, plus devices verified for Google Home | Samsung TVs, appliances, wearables, and supported partner devices |
| Control interfaces | Phone or tablet app; voice control through a configured Google speaker or display | App control for compatible Samsung and partner devices |
| Device compatibility | Third-party device controls can vary by model | Device availability can vary by model and region |
| Device-count claims | Google claims over 50,000 compatible smart-home devices on one help page and over 80,000 Works with Google Home devices on another; the scopes differ | SmartThings says thousands of Samsung and partner devices; its cited support page is dated June 9, 2021 |
Use the table as a starting point, not a compatibility guarantee. Compare the exact devices you own and the controls you need, including whether other household members already use Google voice control or Samsung products.
Matter and Thread: when a hub is needed
Matter can make it easier to connect devices across compatible platforms, but it does not remove every hardware requirement or ensure identical features in both apps.
Rank #2
![SmartThings Hub 3rd Generation [GP-U999SJVLGDA] Smart Home Automation Hub Home Monitoring Smart Devices - Alexa Google Home Compatible - Zigbee, Z-Wave, Cloud to Cloud Protocols – White](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21hChu0ounL._SL160_.jpg)
- Monitor and control compatible devices in your home using a single smartphone app for your phone
- Automate connected devices in your home and set them to turn on or off when doors are opened, people come and go, and much more
- Works with a wide range of smartphone compatible products
Google Home requirements
Google says you need a Matter-enabled hub to add Matter devices to Google Home. For a Matter device that uses Thread, the setup also needs a Thread border router. Google documents local control of compatible Matter devices over the home network while you are at home, and internet- and cloud-mediated control when you are away. Confirm that the device type and desired controls are supported.
SmartThings options
SmartThings documents Matter integration and Multi-Admin, which lets users share Matter devices with supported platforms. Its Matter resources describe connection paths through standalone SmartThings hubs and selected Samsung products with built-in hub functions. That does not mean every SmartThings installation needs a separate hub: check whether your existing hardware supports the protocols and devices you plan to use. SmartThings maintains a device support list; verify the specific hub and model before buying hardware.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
- LOCAL PROCESSING FOR INSTANT RESPONSE: The Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro runs automations directly on the hub, not on remote servers, so lights, locks, thermostats, and routines keep working even when your internet goes down; this local-first architecture delivers near-instant response to every trigger without relying on remote servers to process commands; compatible with 1,000+ devices across 100+ brands, and device data stays at home for enhanced privacy
- WORKS WITH ALEXA, GOOGLE HOME, AND APPLE HOMEKIT: Connect your preferred voice assistant and start controlling your smart home from day 1; the C-8 Pro is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, so your existing ecosystem works alongside the hub without compromise; Ring camera integration adds a concrete layer of security awareness; approachable setup is supported by step-by-step documentation and an active online community ready to guide you through every stage
- MULTI-PROTOCOL SUPPORT WITH EXTENDED RANGE: A single hub covers Matter 1.5, Z-Wave 800 Series with Long Range, Zigbee 3.0, and Bluetooth, so existing devices stay compatible without extra bridges or adapters; 800 Series Z-Wave and Zigbee 3.0 deliver improved reliability and mesh stability, backed by Z-Wave Alliance membership; 2 dedicated external antennas, one for Z-Wave and one for Zigbee, extend wireless reach in larger homes and device-dense environments where signal consistency is critical
- AI-ASSISTED AUTOMATION AND ADVANCED RULE ENGINE: The AI-assisted routine builder suggests and builds automations based on your connected devices, no programming required; Rule Machine enables multi-condition logic across lighting scenes, geofenced arrivals, layered security responses, and whole-home scheduling; when your family arrives after dark, the hub can unlock the door, activate pathway lights, and adjust the thermostat, turning complex sequences into reliable hands-free routines
- NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED AND CONTINUOUS UPDATES: Full platform functionality needs no recurring subscription; every automation, integration, and advanced feature is available from setup; continuous platform updates since 2018 have expanded compatibility without requiring new hardware; an active community of tech-savvy homeowners and DIY smart home builders shares custom apps, drivers, and automation blueprints for ongoing value; compact at 3.23 x 2.95 x 0.67 in and just 0.16 lb, it fits anywhere
Compare the automations you actually need
Google Home
Google’s improved household automation editor organizes a routine around starters, optional conditions, and actions. The documented starter types include schedule, voice, app, and presence-based triggers; conditions can include device state and presence. Google says integration of the improved editor is ongoing, with some features still available only in the previous editor. Availability also varies by region and language, so check the editor available to your account.
SmartThings
SmartThings includes routines and automations in its app. The available evidence does not establish that SmartThings is categorically more powerful than Google Home, or vice versa. Write down the triggers, conditions, actions, and device controls you want, then confirm that each app supports them for your devices and region.
Rank #4
- 【Easy Setup, One Control】With Matter, Skip the step of downloading and registering multiple manufacturers' apps every time you buy a new device. Instead, head straight to certified smart home platforms like Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, or AiDot to control all your Matter devices.【TIP】Matter-certified hub or controller (HomePod, Echo Dot, Nest, SmartThings Hub) is required for Apple Home/Alexa/Google Home/SmartThings platforms. Alternatively, the AiDot app can be used without hub
- 【Offline-Ready Control】Once you've set up your Matter-certified devices on your LAN, they'll be able to communicate with each other directly, using the Matter protocol. This means that if your home internet connection goes offline, your Matter-certified devices will still be able to communicate and be controlled within your LAN, without relying on the internet or cloud services.
- 【Remote Control from Anywhere】Use the app to turn electronics on before you arrive home and off after you leave, no matter where you are. Using the smart plug that work with alexa manage your power usage and save money.
- 【Hands-free Voice Control】Control linkind homekit plug using simple voice commands through Apple HomeKit, Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings, without the need for physical input such as buttons or switches.
- 【Flexible Scheduling & Timer】Effortlessly reduce energy usage with automatic device shutdown after a set time. For example Chrismas Tree, TV, Lamp, Fan, Humidifier,Blenders, Lightbulbs
Reliability and safety: an important limit
Google explicitly warns: “Automations are for convenience only, not safety or security-critical use cases.” Its guidance says routines can depend on internet, Wi-Fi, and third-party service availability and may not always start or stop as expected. Do not use an app automation as the sole control for a safety-critical task. The reviewed product documentation does not establish a comparative reliability winner between Google Home and SmartThings.
A practical way to choose
- List your devices. Record each exact model, not just its brand or product category.
- Check both platforms. Verify regional compatibility and the controls each app exposes for those models.
- Write down your required automations. Note each trigger, condition, action, and device response, then check what is available in your app and region.
- Check your existing hardware. For Matter or Thread, confirm whether you already have the required Matter hub or Thread border router. For SmartThings, verify whether an existing hub or selected Samsung product can provide the connection you need.
- Choose around daily use. If compatible devices and features are otherwise comparable, prefer the app that fits the interfaces and products your household already uses.
Does SmartThings work with Google Home?
SmartThings documents sharing Matter devices with supported platforms through Multi-Admin, but that is not a promise that every SmartThings device or feature will appear in Google Home. Check whether the specific device supports Matter and whether both platforms expose the functions you want. Compatibility should be confirmed device by device.
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