The Best Smart Light Switches
Smart light switches are another innovation to the ever-growing world of smart devices. Smart lights enable Bluetooth connectivity to as many rooms as you desire and are easily interfaced with smartphone assistants such as Alexa or Siri. Whether you're looking to rewire your entire home or simply add a couple of lights for home security, smart lights are energy-efficient, extremely user-friendly, and require little technical know-how to install. Below we've gathered our favorites, spanning a wide variety of connectivity and price options for homeowners looking to bring their house into the 21st century.
What to Look For
In our research, we found that the best smart light switches are easy to use, easy to install, and smartphone compatible. We liked how Kasa’s smart light works with Google-enabled phones and Alexa users. Countless programmable features combined with easy installation make the Smart Light Switch our top choice. For those seeking a stress-free installation, consider Treatlife’s smart light switch. This 4-pack is perfect if you’d like to upgrade more than one room. Read on to learn more about our favorite picks. We’re sure you’ll find the right smart light switch for your needs.
Kasa Smart Light Switch
Smart pick
What used to be a cost-prohibitive luxury is now an everyday appliance with Kasa’s Smart Light Switch by TP-Link. Whether you prefer to set a schedule ahead of time or command your compound with the sound of your voice, Kasa will make it possible. The Smart Light Switch requires a 2.4 GHz connection and a neutral wire, but aside from this, the setup is straightforward. One of our favorite features of Kasa’s innovative product is the Away Mode feature. While some smart switches can program routines to keep lights on when you’re away, Away Mode randomly turns lights on and off throughout the house, simulating an active household and keeping opportunistic thieves wondering if anyone is home.
Pros:
- We like how the Kasa includes a bevy of features including usage monitoring, countdown timers, light grouping, and more.
- It’s compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana.
Cons:
- Caution to Apple users; this pick doesn’t have connectivity with Apple Homekit.
Kasa 3 Way Smart Switch Kit
So many ways to light a room
Another state-of-the-art selection from the Kasa brand of products, the 3-Way Smart Switch Kit replaces your old three-way light kit for ultimate control manually and electronically. Switches like these are ideal for rooms with multiple thresholds or at the top and bottom of stairways. Like most smart switches, the Kasa 3-Way is smartphone compatible, capable of arranging weekly schedules, and accessible via voice command. Kasa, however, sets itself apart from the pack with high-end connectivity and setup features. The Kasa app is like having an IT department in your pocket, with step-by-step guidance on installation. The switches themselves don’t require an expensive hub to connect to your wifi network, allowing you to build out your IoT (Internet of Things) capabilities incrementally without a huge upfront investment.
Pros:
- We love this pick because you can use the power settings even when you’re away from your home wifi.
- The Kasa 3 Way conveniently features automatic adjustment for sunrise and sunset.
Cons:
- There’s a lot to love here, but it might be best to look elsewhere if you’re looking for a compact switchplate.
Treatlife Smart Light Switch
Stress free
So you’ve decided to plunge both feet first into the world of IoT smart switches, and you want your house wired up as soon as possible. Treatlife’s 4-Pack Smart Light Switch is the answer to houses yearning for renovation, and thankfully, most houses are compatible with these nifty new gadgets. Setup and installation are as simple as popping out your old light switch, connecting Treatlife’s switch to the live, neutral, and ground wires, and installing the Smart Life App. Snap-on wall plates, user-friendly software, and seamless permission-sharing make Treatlife one of the most formidable smart switch offerings around.
Pros:
- The auto-scan app feature connects switches with zero setup.
- These are FCC certified.
- We appreciate the mounted LED for ease of use in dark rooms.
Cons:
- The plastic mounting bracket is very fragile
Frequently Asked Questions
My current smart hub is not directly compatible with a specific smart switch. Am I out of luck?
Not necessarily. Smart switches work with most of the services that run on Android or Windows operating systems. On the off-chance that a more security-centric company makes your hub, such as ADT, the service we would recommend to you is If This Then That, or IFTTT. IFTTT is a free web-based automation service specializing in connecting apps that otherwise do not place nicely together. The free version of IFTTT allows you to activate any ‘applets’ or scripts already written by the community and create three recipes of your own. Say, for example, you want both your Nest hub thermostat to decrease by five degrees and your lights to turn off at night. IFTTT allows you to link the software of two applications, giving you seamless connectivity even if your Internet of Things setup is not universal.
What is a neutral wire, and how do I know if I have one?
A neutral wire is a term used to describe wiring that’s always sending power to a switch. In traditional light switches, when a switch is turned off, the circuit is closed. If this were the case with smart switches, an off switch would terminate the wifi connection, thus making your investment useless. Checking for neutral wires is as easy as removing the switch housing and looking for a bundle of disconnected white wires. Most homes built after the 80s should have neutral wires.
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