Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
A bookmark can make smart-home controls easier to reach without asking someone to learn another app—but only if it opens a useful, accessible page in the system your home already uses. A dashboard, a phone widget, or an automation may be a better fit depending on the devices and the action.
What a smart-home bookmark can—and cannot—do
A bookmark is a saved link, not a new control system. It can take someone directly to an existing smart-home webpage or dashboard, giving them one familiar place to start. It does not combine devices or grant access the person does not already have: the destination still needs to show the right controls, and the user may need to sign in.
The title alone does not identify the bookmarked URL or the household’s platform, so exact setup steps would be guesswork. The useful principle is to make the destination specific: a page with the controls that person needs, rather than a generic landing page that still requires hunting through menus.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Choose the shortcut that matches the job
| Option | What it offers | Trade-off to check |
|---|---|---|
| Bookmark | Opens a saved webpage or dashboard from a browser bookmark. | It depends on the page being accessible and useful on that device; some controls may require a sign-in. |
| Phone widget | Puts selected smart-home controls on a compatible phone’s home screen. | Some tiles act immediately, while others open the associated app. Availability and authentication depend on the platform and action. |
| Dashboard | Groups status and controls into a view that can be tailored to a person or setting. | Someone must configure and maintain it; the experience depends on the dashboard platform and device. |
| Automation or voice control | Can handle supported routine actions without opening a dashboard or app. | Requires compatible devices and platform support, and may not suit actions that need a visual check or confirmation. |
There is no universal winner. Compare how many steps it takes to reach the intended action, whether the shortcut opens a browser or app, which devices support it, and whether the person can authenticate when needed.
#1 Best Overall
- Echo Hub — An easy-to-use smart home control panel redesigned for your home. Arrange controls on your dashboard to quickly adjust devices, view cameras, start routines, and more.
- Customize your dashboard — Arrange devices into sections and resize them to focus on what matters most. Create a personalized layout that matches how your family uses their connected devices.
- Reimagined for your home - With an Alexa+ and compatible Ring subscription (sold separately), get Ring camera event summaries to stay in the know. Search your Ring footage using simple voice commands. Create routines by voice, activate modes to manage multiple devices at once, and chat with Alexa to easily control your smart home.
- Home security for the whole family — Use Echo Hub to easily arm and disarm your compatible security system, making it easy for everyone in your family to manage home security. Use the Alexa app and compatible cameras, locks, alarms, and sensors to check in while you're out.
- Works with thousands of Alexa compatible devices — WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Sidewalk, and Thread devices sync seamlessly with the built-in smart home hub.
When a dashboard is a better destination
A dashboard can put device status and controls together, rather than making a bookmark point to a page that requires more searching. Home Assistant describes its dashboards as the view a family sees when opening its app or website, and says they can be visually customized for different contexts, such as a kitchen tablet or guest access. That is one documented option, not evidence that every smart home uses Home Assistant. Home Assistant’s dashboard documentation
Home Assistant also supports multiple dashboards and lets users choose a default. Its webpage dashboard can embed a webpage, but browser security rules prevent embedding some sites. A link that opens the target in its own page may therefore work where an embedded view does not. Home Assistant’s multiple-dashboard documentation
Rank #2
- MEET ECHO SHOW 15 - A stunning 15.6" Full-HD (1080p) smart display that's perfect for your kitchen and ready to show you more. Use customizable widgets to keep your day on track, watch your favorite shows with Fire TV and powerful vibrant sound, and enjoy natural video calling, with 3.3x zoom and wide field of view.
- FAMILY ORGANIZATION HUB - See your top widgets at a glance, like your family’s calendars and to-do lists, local weather, smart home, and more.
- ALL YOUR FAVORITES, ALL RIGHT HERE - Built-in Fire TV unlocks endless entertainment, so you can enjoy your favorite content from thousands of apps like Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, and more (subscription may be required). Fire TV remote included. Plus, now you can quickly add a device to play music with Active Media - start playing a song in the kitchen, then add the living room and bedroom on the fly.
- SMART HOME CENTRAL - Control smart devices with your voice or a few taps using the smart home dashboard. Easily turn on all your living room lights at once or check live camera feeds to see what's happening around your home.
- YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES ON DISPLAY - Brighten your space (and your day) by turning your home screen into a photo slideshow that displays your favorite memories. Auto curate your images and show off your favorite family memories.
If you customize Home Assistant’s automatic Overview dashboard, new entities will no longer be added to it automatically. The onboarding guide recommends creating a separate dashboard if you want to preserve the default Overview’s automatic behavior. Home Assistant’s dashboard introduction
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
When a phone widget is the shorter route
For a household using Google Home, the Favorites widget offers selected controls on compatible phones. Google’s instructions cover Android 12 and later and iOS 17 and later. The widget is not a universal one-tap control: some Favorites tiles toggle devices, while camera, Wi-Fi, thermostat, and command tiles open the Google Home app. Google Home Help: Control smart home devices with the Favorites widget
Rank #3
- 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
Authentication can also change the number of steps. Google says sensitive actions—including opening locks or garage doors and checking cameras—require varying levels of authentication. A shortcut should not be assumed to bypass those safeguards. Google Home Help: Favorites widget behavior and authentication
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Make the shortcut practical for the person using it
- Pick one real task. Start with the controls the person regularly needs, not every device in the house.
- Open the link on their device. Confirm it lands on the intended page and that the person can sign in with their own access.
- Check the action itself. Verify whether a tap changes a device immediately, opens an app, or asks for authentication.
- Keep security intact. Do not treat a bookmark or widget as a replacement for access controls or confirmation on sensitive devices.
- Prefer a separate view when needed. In platforms that support multiple dashboards, a focused household view can avoid changing the default view other people rely on.
Home Assistant’s companion app supports URL-handler links to dashboards, which can be useful when the desired destination is a specific Home Assistant view rather than a general page. The precise link depends on that dashboard’s path. Home Assistant Companion URL Handler documentation
Rank #4
- New size, more viewing area: The 11“ smart display features a vibrant Full-HD touchscreen with 60% more viewing area versus Echo Show 8 (2025 release), built-in smart home hub, AZ3 Pro chip for powerful performance, and Omnisense technology for highly personalized experiences.
- Content looks and sounds incredible: Watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more on the vibrant Full-HD 11" screen and enjoy room-filling spatial audio, crisper vocals, wider sound stage, and up to 2x bass versus Echo Show 8 (2023 release). With Alexa+, find the name of that song you love and discover new shows based on your preferences.
- Your everyday assistant: The 11" display makes it easy to see recipes and calendars at a glance, find meal inspo, and manage your shopping lists. With Alexa+, find recipes based on foods you love, make reservations, order groceries, and more.
- Simple Smart Home control: Pair and control thousands of devices that work with Alexa without needing a separate smart home hub. Easily view your camera feeds. Manage lights, thermostats, and more using the display or your voice. With Omnisense technology, you can activate routines via temperature, presence, or visual ID detection.
- Crystal-clear video calls: Video calls feel natural on the vibrant 11" screen with a centered, auto-framing camera, 3.3x zoom, and noise reduction technology. Use live view to check in on your family, pets, and more while you're away.
Reduce app-opening further with automation
If the goal is to perform a routine action without navigating a screen, an automation or voice command may be a better fit than a bookmark. Home Assistant documents both voice control and automation as ways to interact with a smart home. Whether they work for a particular household depends on its platform, devices, and setup. Home Assistant FAQ
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
