The best alternatives to Samsung SmartThings are Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Home Assistant. Choose based on the devices and phone or voice assistant you already use, the hubs and radios your devices require, and how much setup and maintenance you are willing to handle. Matter can make it easier to control compatible devices from more than one platform, but it does not guarantee that every device feature or automation will transfer.
Which SmartThings alternative fits your home?
| Platform | Best fit | Setup and control considerations | Check before switching |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Home | Households centered on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Siri, HomePod, or Apple TV | Apple’s Home app controls compatible accessories. Apple identifies HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV as home hubs for remote access and automations. Apple Home app | Confirm that each accessory supports Apple Home or Matter, and check which functions the platform exposes. An appropriate home hub is needed for remote access and automations. |
| Google Home | Households already using Google Home, Nest, or Google voice control | Google Home supports app, voice, home-panel, and automation control. Setting up Matter devices requires a Matter-enabled hub; Thread accessories also need a Thread border router. Google’s setup instructions specify IPv6 on the home network. Google’s Matter setup requirements and Google’s control and compatibility guidance | Verify the exact device category, hub model, IPv6 configuration, and Thread coverage against Google’s current support information. |
| Amazon Alexa | Households invested in Echo, Alexa, and compatible devices | Compatible Alexa devices can be part of a Matter setup, but the required hub capability depends on the exact Echo or eero model and the device’s transport and function. TP-Link’s cross-platform examples were gathered in March 2026, so treat them as a starting point rather than a current guarantee. TP-Link’s Matter compatibility guide | Match the exact hub model and app version to the device’s Matter transport and desired functions; the Alexa name alone does not establish compatibility. |
| Home Assistant | People seeking local control, broad integrations, or detailed automations who are comfortable configuring and maintaining a system | Home Assistant runs on local hardware, can coexist with major voice platforms and SmartThings, and can expose devices to Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa. Local-protocol devices and automations may keep working during an internet outage; cloud-dependent devices and some integrations still need internet access. Home Assistant FAQ | Check the integration for each device, choose suitable hardware and any required radio adapters, and decide whether optional cloud access is needed for remote access or voice integrations. |
This is a qualitative guide, not a hands-on test or a feature-by-feature benchmark. The most practical choice is often the platform that supports your specific devices and the routines you rely on—not the one with the longest general compatibility list.
What Matter changes—and what it does not
Matter helps compatible devices work across more than one certified smart-home app. With multi-admin, a Matter device set up in one compatible app can also be shared with another. That can make a gradual transition possible, but it does not promise identical controls, automations, or feature support in each platform. Device categories and functions supported by each platform can differ and change over time. Google’s Matter information and TP-Link’s Matter guide
Matter is not a replacement for every radio
Matter is an application-layer protocol, not a radio that replaces Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Bluetooth. Matter devices communicate over IPv6 using the home network—typically Wi-Fi or Ethernet, or Thread. A device that uses Zigbee or Z-Wave therefore does not become a Matter device simply because you change smart-home apps. Home Assistant’s Matter documentation
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
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Hubs and network requirements still matter
For Google Home, Google says a Matter-enabled hub is needed to set up Matter devices and enable remote control. Thread accessories also need a Thread border router, and Google’s setup documentation specifies IPv6 on the home Wi-Fi network. For remote commands, Google describes a route through its cloud to the home hub, which then communicates with the accessory on the local network. Google’s Matter setup requirements and Google’s control guidance
Requirements differ by platform and device. Check the exact model and the function you want—such as a sensor’s readings or a device’s controls—in the destination platform’s current compatibility information before relying on Matter as a complete replacement for an existing integration.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What you may need to run Home Assistant
Home Assistant is software you run on hardware you choose. Its FAQ lists a suitable Raspberry Pi, mini PC, NUC, virtual machine, or Home Assistant Green as options. The software is free and open source; hardware and Home Assistant Cloud are optional. Cloud features include remote access and integrations with Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa. Home Assistant FAQ
Home Assistant Green
If you want a dedicated, plug-and-play host, Home Assistant’s product page lists Green at a recommended MSRP of $199 USD before tax. That is the manufacturer’s stated recommended price, not a guarantee of the price or availability at a retailer. The page identifies the model as NC-GREEN-1175 and lists more than 1,000 built-in integrations, a vendor-reported count. Home Assistant Green product page
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Rank #3
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- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Green can control Matter devices over Wi-Fi or Ethernet after you set up the Matter integration and server. Thread-based Matter devices need a Thread border router. Home Assistant describes Connect ZBT-2 as an optional radio for Zigbee or Thread; the Green page reviewed described Thread support as under development. Check current support and your specific devices before buying an adapter or hub. Home Assistant Green product page
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
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How to plan a switch without losing important routines
- Inventory your devices. Record each exact model, its connection type—Matter over Wi-Fi or Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, or vendor cloud—and any hub or border router already in use.
- List the routines and functions you depend on. Include the controls, sensor readings, and automations you actually use, not just whether an app lists the device as compatible.
- Check current platform documentation. Verify each model and required function in the destination platform’s official compatibility information. There is no single established current matrix here that proves every SmartThings device and feature transfers unchanged.
- Test a small group first. Where the devices support it, Matter multi-admin can let you share a device with another compatible app. Home Assistant can also coexist with SmartThings and the other listed platforms, so you can validate device coverage and routines before making a permanent change. Home Assistant FAQ and TP-Link’s Matter guide
- Move routines only after confirming behavior. Recreate and test important automations in the new platform before removing the old setup or its hub. Compatibility with a device does not by itself show that an existing SmartThings routine has transferred.
Choosing by household priorities
- Choose Apple Home if your household is Apple-centered and your accessories support Apple Home or Matter. Account for the home hub needed for remote access and automations.
- Choose Google Home if Google Home or Nest is already central to your setup and you can meet the Matter hub, IPv6, and—where applicable—Thread requirements.
- Choose Amazon Alexa if Echo and Alexa are already central, after verifying the exact hub model and device functions rather than assuming every Alexa device supports every Matter use.
- Choose Home Assistant if you want detailed configuration and local control across a mixed-device setup and are prepared to select hardware, configure integrations, and maintain it.
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