The Best Smart Home Gadgets Under $200 in 2025

The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) shines as an affordable smart display alternative — during our review its sleep tracking and improved sound quality stood out for bedside use. Priced at $99.99, we found the lack of a camera limits video calls and the UI can feel sluggish at times, but Secure Access and notifications keep it useful for routines and alerts. If you prioritize audio and sleep insights over video chats, this 8/10 device is a smart, budget-friendly addition to a Google-centric home.

This Unknown Product surprised us with a clean 13MP camera that improves video call quality — during our review the picture clarity was a genuine plus for remote meetings. However, we found it’s less useful as a broader smart home hub since it lacks a Zigbee bridge and also omits a 3.5mm audio jack for external speakers. Wi‑Fi connectivity, voice control and remote monitoring make it serviceable, but integration limits and missing ports keep it from being a full smart-home solution despite decent camera performance (6/10).

The Echo Dot is an affordable little speaker that impressed us in testing with improved sound and a punchier bass for its size, plus handy built‑in motion and temperature sensors for simple automations. We found the compact design fits anywhere and voice control works reliably with your routines, but its bass still can’t match larger speakers and the motion/temperature sensors lack the precision of dedicated devices. Scoring 7/10, it’s a smart, budget-friendly way to add voice control and room-aware automations without breaking the bank.

If you want a color-changing bulb without the Hue price, the Philips Smart A21 Color (7.5/10) gives you 16 million colors and tunable whites, and we liked how easily it worked with Google, Alexa, and Siri Shortcuts during our testing. Setup is straightforward over Wi‑Fi with no extra bridge required, but our experience shows it uses the WiZ ecosystem rather than Philips Hue’s app, and its larger A21 size may not fit every fixture. It also includes energy monitoring features for helpful usage insight.

The Govee Smart Corner Floor Lamp (6/10) brings a clean, modern accent to a living room corner and during our testing it created a great ambient wash of color that elevates a space. Our experience shows assembly is fiddly and time-consuming, and the short power cord limited placement options unless you have a nearby outlet. It supports Wi‑Fi and voice control, so once assembled it’s easy to integrate into routines, but expect a bit of patience during setup and placement.

Govee’s RGBIC LED Strip Lights (7.5/10) are a fun way to add multicolor, dynamic lighting to rooms — in our testing the RGBIC zones delivered eye-catching effects and the app offered deep customization. We appreciated the strong Bluetooth control for instant tweaks, but note it’s not compatible with Alexa and isn’t rated for outdoor use, so stick to indoor installs. Setup took a little patience to measure and stick the strips, but once in place these strips punch above their price for mood lighting and media setups.

The Smart E26 Bulb Starter Kit is a feature-rich pick if you want vibrant, tunable lighting and broad voice compatibility — in our testing the color range and brightness options impressed. We found the Zigbee connection delivers smoother control when paired with a Hue Bridge, though the kit’s higher $142.99 price and occasional connectivity hiccups hold it back a bit. It supports Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri and includes encryption and remote monitoring for secure access. While not the cheapest option, its ecosystem and app polish explain the 7.5/10 score.

Nanoleaf NL42-0001HX-3PK is a fun, creative lighting solution that gives you very bright panels and over 16 million colors — in our testing the included mounting tape made installation painless. We found the modular design inspires creative layouts, but it feels pricey for what you get and requires a controller and power supply. Connectivity between Apple and Google platforms proved flaky in our experience, which dents everyday convenience. If you value dramatic accent lighting and can tolerate higher cost and occasional integration quirks, it’s worth considering (6.5/10).

If you want keyless entry without a hub, the ULTRALOQ U-Bolt WiFi at about $140 is a solid midrange pick (7/10) that impressed us with its multiple entry options — fingerprint ID, keypad, and app control — and built-in Wi‑Fi for true remote management. In our testing the installation was straightforward with basic tools, and voice control worked well, but we found the Wi‑Fi connection can be flaky and battery life usually lasted only 3–6 months. Note it only supports 2.4GHz networks, so verify router compatibility before buying.

The Google Nest Doorbell (8/10) is one of our favorite camera-style doorbells for video clarity and ecosystem integration — during our review the HD day/night footage was consistently sharp and setup was painless using either battery or wired power. We found it blends effortlessly with Google Home and delivers timely notifications, though full functionality depends on a Nest Aware subscription and free storage is limited to just a few hours. If you value excellent video and easy integration, it’s a strong choice but budget for the subscription if you want event history.

The Ring Spare Parts Kit is a tiny but practical buy at under $5 for folks who need replacement screws, anchors, and a driver, and during our review it was convenient for quick doorbell maintenance. We found it’s compatible with several Ring Video Doorbell models, but the kit scored lower (5.5/10) because you may end up paying for extras you don’t need and can’t buy individual screws separately. If you’ve lost a mounting screw, this affordable kit is an easy fix, though keep track of the small pieces.

The Aqara Smart Lock U100 delivers robust, multi-method entry — in our testing Apple Home Key integration and options like fingerprint, password, NFC and Bluetooth made daily access very convenient. We found the IP65-rated zinc alloy construction feels durable and secure, and the lock supports encryption, two‑factor authentication and remote notifications. Downsides include fingerprint sensor reliability concerns over time and the need for an Aqara hub to fully tie into Alexa or Google Home. Priced around $139.99, it’s a capable 7.5/10 smart lock if you can handle the extra hub.

The Arlo Video Doorbell 2K earned its high 9.5/10 score by delivering crisp 2K video, easy installation (wired or wire‑free), and tight smart home compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant — during our review the clarity and secure features like encryption and two‑factor authentication really stood out. We found live view and remote monitoring convenient for daily security, though advanced cloud storage and AI detection require a subscription and some users notice occasional live‑stream delays. If you want top-tier doorbell footage under $60 and can budget for a subscription, this is one of our top-rated choices.

The Tapo C120 Security Camera punches above its price with rich 2K video, free intelligent AI alerts, and color night vision — in our testing the image quality and timely notifications were impressive for such an inexpensive camera. We found the wired setup gives steady connectivity and its encryption and remote monitoring cover the basics, but the microphone quality is mediocre and the wired connection can be cumbersome for outdoor installs; it also lacks Apple HomeKit support. With an 8/10 score, it’s a great budget pick if you want high-resolution footage and smart alerts without splurging.

The Fire TV Stick 4K is our top streaming pick for value and performance — during our review it delivered excellent 4K HDR playback, Dolby Vision support, and responsive voice control via the Alexa remote. We found the $24.99 price and compact design make it easy to move between TVs, though the experience includes ads and limited internal storage that fills up fast with many apps. It’s secure with encryption and remote access, and its 9/10 score reflects how much streaming power you get for the money.

The eufy RoboVac 11S MAX stood out in our testing for strong suction, quiet operation, and a slim profile that easily slips under furniture. If you want straightforward cleaning without the fuss, it’s effective on mixed surfaces and won’t disturb the household, but our experience shows it lacks mapping, app control, and voice integration — you’re limited to the included remote and a random cleaning pattern. Given those smart limitations and a $119.99 price, it’s a solid basic robot vacuum but not a high-tech contender (6.5/10).

For sheer value the Kasa Smart Plug HS103P2 (8.5/10) is hard to beat — we found the compact plug integrates smoothly with Alexa and Google Assistant and the Kasa app makes scheduling and routines frictionless. In our testing two of these can fit in a single outlet without blocking the other socket, making them great for lamps and small appliances. Downsides include occasional Wi‑Fi hiccups and no energy monitoring or HomeKit support, but at under $20 it’s our go-to affordable smart plug for most rooms.

The Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini (6/10) is an attractive tiny plug that makes stacking in a single outlet easy — during our review the setup was fast and voice control with Alexa and Google Home worked reliably. However, our experience shows it only supports 2.4GHz Wi‑Fi and lacks Apple HomeKit compatibility, which could be a dealbreaker in mixed ecosystems. It’s a decent compact option if you need space-saving smart outlets, but expect limited cross-platform integration compared with higher-scoring plugs.

The Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip KP303 (7/10) is a practical pick when you need surge protection plus three individually controllable outlets and two USB ports — we liked the ETL-certified surge protection and voice control in our hands-on testing. Downsides we observed include a relatively short power cable and no energy monitoring, and a few users report reliability issues after months of use. For home offices or TV stands it’s a handy, budget-friendly strip, but don’t expect advanced power analytics.

The Govee Smart Plug Pro is a compact, budget-friendly smart outlet that impressed us with easy setup and useful energy monitoring during our testing. For just $21.99 we found it pairs quickly with voice assistants and the app, and its slim profile leaves the second outlet free — but note the 120V/10A limit restricts higher-power devices. Some users report scheduling delays and the noticeable clicking noise on activation can be annoying. Overall it’s a practical, affordable option if you need usage insights and remote control (7/10).

Smart Feed 2nd Generation is a very practical automatic feeder if your schedule is hectic — in our testing the ability to schedule up to 12 meals a day with portions from 1/8 cup to 4 cups and a Slow Feed mode that dispenses over 15 minutes made mealtimes less stressful for fast eaters. We found the Wi‑Fi connectivity and voice control useful, and Amazon Dash Replenishment is a neat convenience, but the app can feel slow and clunky and some users report DST confusion and occasional durability issues after about a year. Priced at $129.95 and scoring 7.5/10, it’s a solid midrange pick for busy pet owners who prioritize scheduling over a flawless app experience.

The Instant Pot Pro Plus 6‑Quart (7/10) is a smart, connected multicooker that impressed us with its wide range of functions and an intuitive display during testing, making meal prep far more versatile. We found the Wi‑Fi connectivity and voice control handy for remote starts and recipe integration, though the unit is large and can feel bulky in smaller kitchens, and the stainless inner pot may discolor over time. If you want a connected, multi‑function cooker under $200, it’s a strong contender despite a modest learning curve.

The Amazon Smart Thermostat earned our praise for easy installation and real-world energy savings — during our review it proved to be the best price-to-value thermostat here. We found the Wi‑Fi connectivity and energy monitoring features help trim bills, and strong security measures like two‑factor authentication and remote monitoring provide peace of mind. That said, temperature accuracy can wobble and some HVAC systems aren’t fully compatible, so check compatibility before buying. At about $78, its 8.5/10 score reflects solid savings potential.

The Tailwind iQ3 Pro Garage Controller impressed us with vehicle-aware convenience and multi-user support — in our testing automatic open/close and compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT made daily arrivals hands-free. We found installation can be fiddly, especially the vehicle sensor setup, and iPhone users may need an extra sensor, which raises the total cost. Some users also reported unreliable auto-open behavior in our experience. At $89.99 it’s a good fit for multi-car households that can tolerate a slightly complex setup (6.5/10).