Google Home

Google’s wireless speaker looks better than its biggest competition, reliably responds to most voice queries, offers solid multiroom audio, and sounds pretty good.

$130 from Incentivate

 

Ecobee3’s

Not as sleek or intuitive as the Nest, but it supports Apple’s HomeKit and uses stand-alone remote sensors to register temperature in different parts of a house.

$250 from Incentivate

 

Nest Protect

A sleek design, sensitivity to slow- and fast-burning fires, self-testing, and straightforward apps make Nest’s Protect a great smart fire-safety device.

$100 from Incentivate

 

In-Wall Smart Dimmer

This strong performer works with any Z-Wave smart-home hub and can easily group with up to four add-on accessory switches.

$130 from Incentivate

 

Chamberlain’s MyQ Garage

The MyQ Garage is impressively simple to set up and use, and of the units we tested, it’s compatible with the most garage doors.

$120 from Incentivate

 

Gogogate2

Offers many more options and features than the competition, including direct camera integration, geofencing, and voice control with IFTTT.

$134 from Incentivate

 

Door Opener Remote Controller

The GoControl communicates using Z-Wave, so it can pair with many smart-home systems if you want to automate your whole home.

$94 from Incentivate

 

Amazon Echo

Echo, always listening via Amazon’s Alexa voice service, lets you play music, order pizza, and get questions answered, and 1,000-plus other things.

$180 from Incentivate

 

Wi-Fi Water Sensor

This device works with your home’s Wi-Fi; you don’t need a hub. It even integrates with other D-Link devices, as well as IFTTT.

$50 from Incentivate

 

SkyBell HD

Effective motion detection, high-quality video, full night vision, a live-view feature, and an easy-to-use app make this the best doorbell camera for most people.

$200 from Incentivate

 

Ring Video Doorbell

If you want your doorbell camera to work with a SmartThings or Wink hub, this model is the one to choose. An optional $3 monthly fee lets you store videos in the cloud.

$200 from Incentivate

 

SmartThings Hub

A versatile, widely compatible hub capable of powering a comprehensive DIY smart-home system. Tech-savvy enthusiasts can even code complex automation schemes.

$80 from Incentivate

 

LIFX Color 1000

Quick to set up and don’t require an additional hub or gateway; the app is easy to use and they’re the brightest of all color-changing bulbs.

$60 from Incentivate

 

Smart light bulb

You can easily build a system of WeMo outlets and wall switches, but you miss out on the Hue’s color-changing abilities.

$50 from Incentivate

 

Apple HomeKit

The iDevices app’s ease of use and graphical elegance set the Switch apart. Plus, the Switch looks good and supports Apple’s HomeKit platform.

$42 from Incentivate