Overview of Smart Home Brands

Aqara, a Chinese manufacturer, produces smart home products that primarily use the Zigbee protocol. Their range includes sensors, switches, relays, and motorized roller blind controllers. One of Aqara's key strengths is its compatibility with Apple HomeKit thanks to the Aqara hubs, and it also integrates well with Home Assistant. It is a premium-quality brand positioned in the mid-range segment, with a strong reputation for reliability and excellent value for money due to its stable Zigbee-based performance.

Aeotec is a German brand known for its premium-grade Z-Wave products. Their portfolio includes sensors, relays, wall switches, and central controllers (e.g., SmartThings Hub). Thanks to the Z-Wave protocol, their devices are highly compatible with SmartThings, Home Assistant, Domoticz, and Homey platforms. Aeotec’s strengths lie in its high build quality, reliability, and adherence to industry standards. They also offer high-quality Zigbee products in their lineup.

Manufactured by Germany’s dresden elektronik, the Conbee USB sticks serve as universal gateways for Zigbee and Thread networks. They are typically used with the deCONZ software and Home Assistant. Supporting both Zigbee and Thread protocols, they can unify devices from multiple brands. Enthusiasts often claim that there's no Zigbee device that cannot be integrated via Conbee. Its strengths include wide compatibility and stable performance, making it particularly suitable for advanced users.

GLEDOPTO is a Chinese manufacturer specializing in Zigbee- and Wi-Fi-based LED controllers (RGBW, CCT, dimmers). Their products are compatible with Philips Hue, Home Assistant, and Amazon Alexa, and some devices also work with the eWeLink platform. They fall between the entry and mid-level price categories. The main advantages are their good value and flexible compatibility with existing lighting systems.

Home Assistant is an open-source, community-developed smart home platform supported by Nabu Casa. It is available in hardware forms such as Home Assistant Green, ZBT-1, and other controllers. It supports a broad range of protocols (Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and is known for its nearly universal integration capabilities. Its key strengths are high customizability and advanced local automation options. Recommended for experienced users.

Developed by Dutch company Athom, now owned by LG, Homey is a compact, multi-protocol smart home hub that supports Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, IR, and Bluetooth connections. The Homey Pro is a particularly advanced version with broad device support. It occupies the mid to premium price range. It stands out for its ease of use and user-friendly mobile app. It is one of the most favored professional-grade hubs among smart home installers.

Nous is an Eastern European brand offering smart plugs, relays, cameras, and sensors, mainly based on Wi-Fi and Zigbee. Most of their products are built on the Tuya platform, but they also offer devices with pre-installed open-source Tasmota firmware, suitable for Home Assistant and similar platforms. It is an entry-level brand offering good quality at affordable prices.

Remootio is a Hungarian-developed smart gate and garage door controller using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It comes with its own mobile app and supports Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Rather than a full ecosystem, it offers a focused solution for a specific use case. Its strengths are its simple installation and keyless mobile control.

Shelly, a Bulgarian brand, has become a market leader in recent years with one of the most innovative and fastest-growing product portfolios worldwide. Their offerings primarily include Wi-Fi relays and Bluetooth sensors, but their fourth-generation devices now support Zigbee as well. The Pro series is DIN rail mountable and supports Ethernet, and Z-Wave versions are becoming more common. Their Wi-Fi and Ethernet devices can be integrated via MQTT with almost any commercial or open-source hub, including Homey and Home Assistant. They also offer their own Shelly app with a free cloud platform. Shelly is positioned in the mid-range market, with strengths in open protocols and installer-friendly solutions.

SmartWise smart products use the same eWeLink chip found in Sonoff devices and are fully compatible with the eWeLink app and platform. The brand offers Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and eWeLink-Remote (Bluetooth) devices, typically targeting gaps in Sonoff's lineup. One of their specialties is a range of touch and push-button light switches that can operate without a neutral wire. These devices offer good quality at entry-level prices, with full compatibility with Sonoff devices and the eWeLink platform.

This is a newer European brand producing Zigbee/Thread coordinators compatible with Home Assistant-based smart home hubs. They offer highly integrated solutions (e.g., alternatives to Home Assistant’s ZBT-1 dongle). Supported protocols include Zigbee and Thread, and their devices are Matter-compatible. Targeted at advanced users, the brand operates in the mid to premium segment. Their strengths include support for modern technologies and a mature device lineup.

Manufactured by Chinese company Sonoff, these devices are among the most well-known entry-level smart home solutions, offering Wi-Fi-based relays, smart plugs, and switches. Devices operate on Sonoff’s proprietary eWeLink platform, with the optional iHost hub enabling local eWeLink functionality. They are compatible with cloud platforms like Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings, and integrate locally with open-source platforms like Home Assistant. Sonoff’s key strengths are their very competitive pricing and solid hardware, making them a favorite in the DIY smart home community.

TuyaSmart supports the Tuya platform, a Chinese IoT ecosystem providing Wi-Fi and Zigbee products. Thanks to the Tuya cloud, these devices are compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Home Assistant (with some limitations). Tuya's main strength lies in its broad device support and affordability, making it a popular entry-level choice.

WDYK is a lesser-known but specialized Chinese brand focusing on smart miniature circuit breakers and safety relays (residual-current devices). Their Wi-Fi-enabled products are compatible with Sonoff devices and the eWeLink platform.

Yeelight is part of the Xiaomi ecosystem and specializes in smart lighting solutions, including lamps, RGB bulbs, and ceiling lights. Positioned in the mid-range market, its strengths include appealing design and stable performance.