Best Apps for Your Smart Home

Technology has come a long way, and today you can get devices and apps that will make your day-to-day routines much easier. Forgot to turn off the thermostat, or you’re unsure of whether you locked the door on your way to work? Instead of going back, you can now simply unlock your phone, open the smart apps, and do it on the go.

Check out some of the best devices and apps you can get today and improve or transform your house into a modern smart home.

What Can You Install In Your Smart Home: Apps and Devices

A smart home is a residence where some, or all, of the house’s functions are controlled via smartphone or similar device. Lighting, thermostats, door locks, TVs, air conditioners, and more can all be controlled from a distance using apps on your smartphone.

There are thousands of devices, gadgets, and apps that we could discuss. Today we decided to showcase some of the best and most useful ones that will improve your home and enhance your experience.

Smart Door Locks

Before we list what we think is the best smart door lock on the market, we need to address its functionality. The struggles of whether or not you locked your door this morning are now over. You want to let someone in your house, but you’re not home yet? No longer an issue either.




Functionality comes at a cost, which is why a standard door lock is less expensive and more ubiquitous. Smart door locks you can get range from $200 to $300. According to the experts at Locksmiths Locators, no matter which brand of smart door locks you get, they are no more difficult to install than standard locks.

However, to stay on the safe side and avoid damages, improper installations, or other issues, you should call a professional to do it for you. One example of a smart lock is the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi Smart Lock. You can get one online for about $280, and it comes with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, geofencing, tamper alarm, touchpad, and voice activation. You can download the Z-wave app from where you can control the door lock.

Virtual Assistant Technology

The first virtual assistant app that comes to mind every time is Amazon’s Alexa. It was launched back in 2013 — the virtual assistant is used with Amazon Echo and has a ton of features. Today, you have heard about this app even if you don’t have Alexa at home. To clarify, Alexa is the app you play via your Amazon Echo speaker. Some people still think that the speaker is named Alexa.

The speaker has an app that helps you control and give commands via voice activation. In fact, all you have to do to make the device work is call its name. You can make appointments, set alarms on your phone, make shopping lists, play music, change the channel on your TV, etc.

You can get the speaker online for about $80, while the Alexa app comes for free, as you can download it on your smartphone.

Smart Lights

Ever got comfy on your sofa or gone to bed but forgot to turn the lights off? It happens to the best of us, really.
But instead of getting back up, smart lights are the way to go. If you have them installed, all you have to do is fire up an app and dim or turn off the lights. The best thing is that you don’t need anything else other than a new lightbulb.
Philips has released a lightbulb called Hue. Once you install all the lights and download the app, you can turn them on or off, adjust how bright they are, and even change colors. You can also set timers when the lights change color by themselves.

Additionally, you can pair the app with your Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri and use voice activation. You can get the Philips Hue lightbulbs online, which come in packs of 2 or 4 and will cost you around $70 or $120.

Intelligent Thermostat

Last but not least, we decided to present you with a smart thermostat that you can control via your mobile device. The time when it’s winter, and you’re going home knowing that you’ll enter a cold room can be long forgotten.
With a smart thermostat like Ecobee, you can open the app, adjust the temperature and make your home warm and cozy, no matter where you are.

You can always change the setting or prepare some preference for the coming days. Ecobee will also consider the season outside and advise which temperature will be perfect for you.

Final Thoughts

Technology today is ever changing and bringing new conveniences into our lives. What would have seemed like science fiction a few years ago is a reality today. Whether you decide to jump into smart home devices all at once or slowly over time, it’s important to remember how convenient these technologies can be. More important than convenience is the safety and security that a smart home can provide.

David Todva

David is an experienced writer who has worked in the sports industry for many years and he also enjoys writing about tech, business and real estate investments as a freelance writer. David's background as a Russian native gives him a unique perspective on Eastern European business culture and current trends. When he's not writing, David enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.

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