When you use Z-Wave, you need a central hub that facilitates communication between your controller and all the smart devices in your home.
Even when you are away from home, the smart hub makes it possible to receive information and send commands from your phone or tablet to your home.
All commands and responses flow through the hub, so it is an important part of your home automation system. Let’s look at a couple of the best Z-Wave smart hubs on the market:
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Benefits of Smart Hubs
There are many kinds of smart hubs and there is no doubt that they are an essential part of any smart home. Here are some of the benefits of having a smart hub:
- With a smart hub, you get access to all the devices in your home with one app. Your phone doesn’t get clogged up with multiple apps for all the different devices and you get access to everything in one place.
- They are compatible with a wide array of devices and let you control everything remotely.
- Some smart hubs also have voice control, which means that you’ll be able to control your entire home without even lifting a finger.
- Most smart hubs are customizable, which gives you the ease of operation. You can program them to suit your needs and preferences.
- They are backward compatible, so you can add newer devices without having to worry about losing the investment made on setting up the smart hub.
Smart Hub Reviews
We have reviewed a couple of the best home automation hubs for you:
Hubitat Elevation Home Automation Hub
The Hubitat Elevation is an advanced home automation hub that is compatible with both Z-Wave and Zigbee. It can be used with any standard protocol and is powered through an Ethernet cable.
All the data from your devices is locally stored and you get a Hubitat account which allows you to access the entire system from a browser anywhere in the world.
Hubitat Elevation Home Automation Hub - Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, Zigbee,...
- New Z-Wave 700 radio supports S2 security and SmartStart device inclusion (Model C-7 hub)
- New Z-Wave 700 radio supports S2 security and SmartStart device inclusion (Model C-7 hub)
Pros
- Efficient and quick response time.
- Can be used with both Alexa and Google Home.
- You can use the geofencing feature to automate or schedule mundane tasks.
- All data storage is local, which makes a wide-range hack very difficult.
Cons
- The configuration process can be complicated. But their video guide certainly helps.
Aeotec Smart Home Hub
The Aeotec Smart home hub is best known for its compatibility with a wide range of devices like air purifiers and motorized blinds. You can customize the setting and automate these devices to save a big chunk of your electricity bill.
Set-up only requires two steps and you can control everything with the Smart Things app on your phone. It supports Wi-Fi, Z-Wave and Zigbee protocols.
Aeotec Smart Home Hub, Works as a SmartThings Hub, Z-Wave Zigbee Gateway,...
- Easiest way to make your home a smart home: Wirelessly connect and control a huge range of smart devices - over 5,000 are available from dozens of brands - including voice assistants, lights & switches, speakers, cameras, sensors and more
- Easiest way to make your home a smart home: Wirelessly connect and control a huge range of smart devices - over 5,000 are available from dozens of brands - including voice assistants, lights & switches, speakers, cameras, sensors and more
- Automate connected devices: Any device you connect can be included into automations which can be intelligently managed
- Control via app and voice: Monitor and control connected devices, and run automations, using the SmartThings app on Android, iOS, and iPadOS, or voice user interfaces Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Requires an internet-connected Wi-Fi router (available Ethernet port recommended), plus a smart phone or table running the SmartThings app
- Compatibility: certified to work with Google, Alexa, SmartThings, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave Plus, and ZigBee protocols. Not compatible outside of the USA.
Pros
- Compatible with over 5,000 devices.
- Set-up is a straightforward and simple process.
- Supports Alexa, Google Home and Samsung Bixby.
Cons
- Some technical knowledge is necessary for advanced features.
The Bottom Line
Smart hubs are the heart of your automation. They make communicating with your smart devices easy and reliable.
There are a plethora of options when it comes to smart hubs.
Consider the devices you need to connect and all the new features offered by the smart hub before you make your decision.
