The best smart home system? If you want to implement home automation professionally, it is better to rely on a system that has already proven itself in practice. The best smart home system does not ultimately depend on the price, but on personal priorities, simplicity, flexibility and security

What is a smart home system?

It’s important to note that not everything in the house could be manipulated automatically with the use of smart home systems or any other kind of software or programming. Such devices or tools are power tools like chainsaws, so you would rather opt for the best corded electric chainsaw.

The best smart home system accompanies our everyday life inconspicuously, intelligently links the individual actuators with one another and can be controlled intuitively via app, radio switch or voice assistant.

Many providers have been facing this challenge for a number of years: Magenta SmartHome, innogy or Samsung SmartThings have probably already come across most of them in the lively advertising landscape. The promise, for example: More security through smart door sensors that send an SMS in an emergency and make the linked siren wail. And more comfort through a responsive heater that heats up to save energy while we circle around the block to get a parking space. The possible Smart Home scenes are innumerable, just like that, Smart Home Systems to implement this.

Three steps to your personal smart home system

In order to find the best smart home for your own needs, it is best to ask yourself the following three questions before comparing the smart home systems:

1. Which areas should my smart home system link?

  • Lighting control (WLAN sockets or smart LEDs)
  • Heating control (smart radiator / wall thermostats, underfloor heating)
  • Shading (smart blinds / roller shutter control)
  • Entertainment (Multiroom-System, Smart TV)
  • Security (Burglary and fire protection, Water alarm, air quality)

2. How do I want to control my smart home?

  • Intuitive app for automation
  • Smart radio switch (permanently installed, adhesive, portable)
  • Voice assistant (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit/Siri)
  • IFTTT (more about meta apps at the end of the smart home comparison)

3. How flexible do I want to be in terms of the system structure?

  • Closed system, with products from one manufacturer
  • Partly open system that integrates many cooperating third-party products
  • Open system that can be freely designed with the manufacturer’s own and third-party products

Tips for choosing the best smart home system

Tip 1 : A closed or partially open system often has the advantage that the link runs smoother and more stable. The open system, on the other hand, allows a manufacturer-independent selection of smart home products. Here, however, it can happen that devices have to be sent back because they use a different radio variant. In the following comparison of the smart home systems, we have made it clear which systems are open, semi-open or closed.

Tip 2 : In order to enjoy the smart home system in the long term, you should take a closer look at the selection. Once you have decided on a system, you can initially do that with an inexpensive starter package. Set up a smart home or order the control center with two components to test how the app user interface is liked and how intuitively smart home scenarios can be created. If in doubt, it is better to sell the smart home system again.

To summarize, the best smart home system meets your own needs for simplicity, flexibility and security and is therefore an individual matter. The comparison of smart home systems has certainly shown that getting started with the smart home can be very easy. Once you have decided on a smart home system, all you have to do is follow the manufacturer’s compatibility tables and put together your own personal smart home accordingly. We hope that our Smart Home test comparison 2021 will serve as a helpful decision-making aid.