SmartThings Review

Friday, July 11th

2025 Home Automation Company Reviews

SmartThings

• Pricing starts at $79
• Automation for music, appliances, and lights
• App access to your entire home
• Charge your phone with the hub
• Buy individual items as needed
• 15-day returns
• "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB

If you're an Android OS user or someone fond of Google or Samsung technology, there's a smart home solution designed just for you. SmartThings is Samsung's home automation app that offers the ability to connect all of your Google or Android devices in one place and automate your home. The app itself is free, but to connect to the devices you have in your home, you'll want the SmartThings hub, which is the brain that makes your entire home run seamlessly in the background.

Create your own package

For Samsung superfans, SmartThings is already a no-brainer. To get started you need the SmartThings app which is free to download, and a SmartThings hub to connect all of your smart devices in one easy-to-access place. The only drawback to this system is that you do need to piece together all of your smart devices yourself. So, while you can add your smart refrigerator to the SmartThings app, there isn't a SmartThings bundle where you can buy all the items you need at once. So, if you don't already have smart technology interspersed around your home, you might need to do some extra shopping to get full home automation.

Connect with hundreds of products

SmartThings transforms your phone into a central hub, effortlessly managing all the smart devices linked to it. With SmartThings, you can oversee security through Ring, create ambiance with Philips lighting, regulate energy usage with Aeotec smart plugs, optimize laundry cycles with Samsung washers and dryers, and much more. For even more convenience, the SmartThings Station allows you to automate home routines. Imagine connecting lighting and the TV, defining a "sleep" mode, and simply selecting it on your phone to watch all connected devices adjust automatically. The SmartThings Station also serves as a wireless phone charger. The majority of Samsung products seamlessly integrate with SmartThings, and it is also compatible with various other brands like Cielo, Samsung Thermia, Miro SmartHome, Moodo, Aeotec, Arlo, Nest, Ring, and KWEATHER, among others.

Prices change depending on your devices

The only thing that Samsung sells that's directly related to SmartThings is its hubs, priced at $79.99. Beyond that, you can buy some smart home items from Samsung, like a smart refrigerator for up to $3,099. You can also find items like smart ovens or laundry machines. However, for basics like light switches or security items, you might need to shop at one of the retailers that are supported by the SmartThings hub. As such it's impossible to get an idea of a full home automation package price from what Samsung itself offers.

Charge your phone from your hub

As a fun extra, the SmartThings hub also functions as a wireless charger. The SmartThings Station is known for its "super-fast" wireless charging capability. Specifically, it can charge compatible Samsung phones at 15 watts, which is approximately three watts more than standard wireless charging, provided you use a 25-watt brick. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S22 went from a depleted battery to fully charged in approximately 2.5 hours.

15-day returns and up to 10-year warranty

According to Samsung's return policy, you have 15 days to make a return if you don't like your hub. For some of their other home automation items and smart appliances, you can find up to 10-year warranties for parts and repair. This is one of the better warranties we've seen in our review, but you do need to shell out for a fancy refrigerator to get it.

Solid reputation and popular with customers

Unsurprisingly, Samsung has an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, showing that SmartThings is backed by a reliable industry giant. We were able to find reviews on a variety of retailers showing that the SmartThings hub has an impressive 5-star average across multiple retailers outside of Samsung. The only drawback is that customers who prefer Apple or iOS technology won't be able to integrate with the SmartThings technology, so it does leave out plenty of customers.

Cost-effective despite missing items

While SmartThings provides a convenient and straightforward approach to home automation, it does come with certain drawbacks. If you're seeking a fully integrated home system, SmartThings may not be the ideal choice since you need to buy all of your home automation devices separately. However, if you prefer a more basic solution that allows you to automate certain appliances, you'll likely be satisfied, especially considering the lower cost compared to some of Samsung's competitors in our review. On the other hand, since SmartThings integrates devices like basic light switches or smart door locks rather than offering their own, SmartThings falls behind its nearest competitors.