Smart home devices are not only for those who want to spend a lot of money. There are plenty of choices out there that cost less than $25. You do not have to buy the most expensive equipment to control your lights, plugs, or other gadgets at home. Whether you are just starting to make your home smarter or looking to add a few more pieces, you can find good options that do not cost much. This post looks at several smart home devices under $25 that work well for a new setup or to mix into what you already have. Each item here is simple to use and easy on your wallet.
Home Assistant
Home Assistant is one of the best smart home devices under $25, if not the best. To start with, Home Assistant is free. If you have an old computer lying around or a spare Raspberry Pi, you can easily install and run Home Assistant on it and get one of the best smart home hubs out there in our opinion. With new features and updates coming out monthly, it’s well maintained. And it’s capabilities match the major smart home controllers out there. It’s automation in particular is super useful, and more advanced than other smart home controllers. If you have some spare hardware lying around and are feeling up to it, we highly recommend giving Home Assistant a try.
Voice Assistants
While the physical speakers or displays might cost more, the voice assistant apps themselves are free and incredibly useful. You can use Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri right from your phone without buying anything extra. These assistants are compatible with most major smart home brands and make controlling your devices easier than ever. Whether you’re turning off lights, locking doors, or checking the temperature, voice assistants give you a hands-free way to manage your home. They also help with automations, reminders, routines, and even troubleshooting. This makes them a key part of any smart home setup, even on a tight budget.
Zigbee Smart Hub
Many smart home sensors and devices run on Zigbee, so adding a Zigbee hub to your environment is a great choice. The Aqara Smart Hub M100 connects to Zigbee devices and lets them communicate with your smart home assistant of choice. It can work with Matter, which is a new way for smart home devices to talk to each other. The hub also acts as a Thread border router and connects with Zigbee and Wi-Fi. You can use it with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Home Assistant, which gives you a lot of choices for how you want to set up your smart home. The Aqara Smart Hub M100 can be helpful if you are trying to start building a smart home for less money or if you just want to add something new without spending a lot. If you are looking for smart home devices under $25, you may find that some Aqara products, like sensors or switches, can work with this hub, making it a good choice for a budget setup.
Smart Plugs
The Sonoff S31 Lite Zigbee Smart Plug is a low-cost way to add smart control to lights, fans, or other small devices that plug in to an outlet. It works with Zigbee, so you may need a dongle or hub to connect it. This four pack of outlets is frequently on sale, with the cost per plug coming in well under $25. With smart plugs, you can use your phone or voice to turn things on or off, set schedules, and check if something is left running. The plug is small, so it does not block other outlets. This makes it easy to add to new or old smart home setups without spending much.
Smart Buttons
The Aqara Wireless Mini Switch button is another low cost smart home addition. Smart buttons like this can be used to control smart home devices, with different button presses able to be programmed to different actions. This helps with things like turning lights on or off or running other scenes in your home. This particular button is Zigbee based, so you would need a Zigbee hub to connect it to most smart home hubs. This switch fits well with the idea of building a smart home on a budget, whether you are just starting out or adding something new to what you already have.
Smart Speaker
Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo Pop are great additions to a smart home. This one is frequently on sale for $25, so be sure to keep an eye on the price when you buy it. Smart speakers like this can be used to ask your voice assistant questions, play music, set alarms, and control smart home devices that work with it. The small size of most smart speakers means they do not take up much space, so you can put it on a nightstand, shelf, or counter. It is a good choice if you want a simple way to try out voice assistants or want to add more smart features to your home without going over budget.
Smart Light Bulb
Smart light bulbs like this four pack of Kasa Smart Light Bulbs are a good choice when looking for smart home devices on a budget. This four pack of bulbs is frequently on sale for under $25, so be sure to keep an eye on the price when you buy them. This pack of bulbs works with both Alexa and Google Home, so you can control your lights with your voice or through an app. The bulbs fit standard A19 sockets, use 9 watts of power, and give off up to 800 lumens. You can pick from many colors or adjust the brightness to fit your mood or the time of day. Since they use only a 2.4Ghz WiFi connection and do not need a separate hub, setup is simple even for beginners. These bulbs fit well into both new and old smart home setups, giving you flexible lighting control without spending much.
Smart Security Camera
There aren’t very many smart home cameras available for folks on a budget, but this Kasa Smart Indoor Pan-Tilt Home Security Camera is frequently on sale for under $25. Smart home security cameras are a low-cost way to watch over your home, pets, or kids when you’re not there. This camera streams in 1080p HD and has night vision, so you can see clearly even when it is dark. The camera can move side to side and up and down, which lets you check more of a room without buying extra cameras. It can spot movement, which is helpful if you want to know when something is going on. You can store video on the cloud or with a micro SD card, so there are two options for saving clips. This camera works with Alexa and Google Home, so you can see the feed with your voice or phone.
LED Strip Light
LED strip lights are super useful in a smart home, showing up in kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and even outside. These Govee RGBIC LED Strip Lights are great for adding a bit of drama to an environment. They are controlled with an app over Bluetooth, so you do not need a separate remote. The strip is 16.4 feet long and can show more than one color at the same time. You can also set it to change colors with music. They work well for people who want to add some color to their space or try out smart lighting without spending a lot of money. This makes them a good pick for anyone building a smart home on a budget or just looking for an easy way to add some new features to their current setup.
Outdoor Smart Plug
Outdoor smart plugs are a great way to bring some smarts to outdoor items. The Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug is a choice for people who want to add smart features to their yard or patio without spending a lot of money. It works with Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings, so you can control outdoor lights or other devices by using your phone or voice. This plug does not need a separate hub, which makes it easy for beginners. Its IP64 weather resistance helps it stand up to rain or dust, and the max load of 15A/1875W means it can handle most outdoor devices. This plug is ETL certified, which means it meets certain safety standards. For anyone looking to add smart controls outside without spending much, this is one to think about.
Streaming Media Player
Got a smart TV with a dated interface? The Roku Express Streaming Media Player with Standard Remote is a good pick for anyone looking to add smart features to their TV without spending a lot. It often sells for under $25, so it’s a budget friendly pick to add to your home. The Roku Express comes with an easy setup, and lets you watch a lot of shows and movies. You can stream free, live, and paid channels, so there is a lot to choose from. This device is a simple way to bring streaming to an old or new TV, and you do not need a cable box or a big monthly bill. If you want to start your smart home or just add streaming to another room, the Roku Express is a useful and low-cost option.
Smart Power Strip
Have multiple devices in one area that you want to hook up to a smart plug? The Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip KP303 has your problem solved. It’s a power strip with three outlets you can control one at a time using your phone or voice. This is a great choice for controlling your TV and media center, multiple devices in an office, and other combo devices from one place. You do not need a separate hub for it to work. It also has two USB ports for charging other devices. This power strip works with both Alexa and Google Home, so you can use it with different smart speakers. Its price makes it a good pick for someone who wants to start a smart home or add more smart devices without spending a lot. It is white, so it blends in with most rooms, and the setup is easy using the Kasa app.
Door and Window Sensor
Door and window sensors are small devices that track if a door or window is opened. The Aqara Door and Window Sensor is a solid choice if you are looking for a door and window sensor on a budget. It is Zigbee based, so you would need a hub to connect it to. The sensor is easy to put up, does not take up much space, and does not look out of place on most frames. These are one of the devices that we are buying over and over, and we use it in multiple projects. You can use it to keep your home safer, and it can also work with other smart devices to do things like turn off lights when a door is opened. This makes it a useful pick for anyone adding to a smart home on a budget.
Water Leak Sensor
We love water leak sensors, and the Aqara Water Leak Sensor fits well on a list of the best smart home devices under $25. We have these little devices under sinks, under toilets, under the dishwasher, and under the washing machine. Pretty much anywhere there is water in the house, we have one of these sensors. It is a good pick for people who want to keep their homes safe from water leaks without spending a lot of money. This sensor helps by sending alerts out if it detects water. We love that they are super small and discreet. You can also connect it to other smart devices in your home, which lets you set up things like turning off the water or starting a pump if a leak is found. For its price, the Aqara Water Leak Sensor does a lot to help you avoid bigger problems from water damage.
Presence Sensor
Presence Sensors like this Tuya mmWave Presence Sensor are a big step up from basic motion sensors. Instead of waiting for you to move, these sensors use millimeter wave technology to detect even the smallest signs of life—like breathing—making them perfect for rooms where you might be still, like an office or bedroom. They’re more accurate and less likely to trigger false alarms than traditional PIR (passive infrared) sensors. Many mmWave sensors can also tell how many people are in a room and adjust lights, HVAC, or security settings based on real activity. Prices on some basic models have dropped recently, making them a powerful, low-cost upgrade for smart homes.
Summary
Smart home devices do not have to be expensive. There are several options available for under $25 that can help with daily tasks. These products include smart plugs, light bulbs, and basic sensors. Many of these devices work with voice assistants and phone apps. They can help make things a little easier at home without spending a lot of money. If you are looking to try out smart home technology, these options can be a way to get started.
