Skip to main content

Is it feasible to go all-in with one smart home ecosystem?

Take a minute and think about how much all the smart devices in your home cost: Your smart display, speakers, TV, plugs, cameras, and any other devices you have. Most, if not all, only have a one-time fee, although some add a subscription on top of it. Does the number surprise you?

Now take a second to think about if, instead of having all those various devices, you chose items only compatible with, say, Apple Homekit. How much does that cost rise? There’s also a non-financial price in the form of the other things you’re giving up, such as not having a smart display. Let’s take a deep dive into the costs of only choosing smart home devices compatible with one ecosystem.

HomeKit

A HomePod mini and Apple TV device in front of an iPad with the Home app displayed.
Apple Newsroom

Let’s start with Apple HomeKit. Imagine a house with one smart display, TV (or tv accessory), a couple of plugs, security camera, video doorbell, lights, and speaker. This small list covers what are typically the first accessories people purchase when converting their home to something more intelligent.

For Apple users, that translates to an iPad, Apple TV, Wemo plugs, Logitech Circle View and Circle View Doorbell, Nanoleaf lights, and a couple of Homepod Minis. At the time of this writing, that device set will run you around $1,150. That amount may or may not seem like that much money to cover your whole home with devices, although Google or Amazon would definitely be less expensive.

It’s usually better to avoid buying everything at once, but instead to gradually replace devices as needed. You don’t have to worry much about extra subscriptions with this set. A $5-per-month subscription for iCloud will suffice.

HomeKit’s actual cost comes from its lack of devices. There’s not a true smart display yet, and other devices have what’s known as the Apple tax — paying more money for a product that only works with Apple. The cheapest HomeKit-made speaker is the Homepod Mini at $100, but if you want a better sound, Sonos would be your choice. Again, not cheap. Adding more accessories as they come out — think items like a smart door lock, vacuum or purifiers, security systems, or simply more lights or speakers — raises the cost exponentially.

However, the benefit with HomeKit products comes when you’re already in the Apple ecosystem. You’re able to control all your products through one app, along with setting up automation. The device setup process is relatively easy — just scan a QR code. Lastly, there’s a reasonable expectation that everything will work seamlessly with each other, and if not, there will be decent customer support.

Assistant and Alexa

A Nest Mini next to an Echo Dot 4th Gen.
John Velasco / Digital Trends

Running an exclusively Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa household is way more accessible and less expensive than with HomeKit. Not counting the smaller accessories, Google has its Nest Hub, Chromecast, and Nest Mini for $200. Amazon has its Echo Show, Fire TV, and Echo Dots, which range in price due to the plethora of first-party options, but can easily be around $200. Those same product types cost $600 from Apple.

Another benefit to going all-in on one of these ecosystems is the sheer abundance of third-party accessories that companies come out with all the time. The extra accessories increase the competition in the retail space, which lowers prices for consumers. This also increases the number of companies you can trust to make good products without charging a fortune, such as TP-Link and Blink.

Google Assistant and Alexa have a presence in the smart home space that HomeKit doesn’t have yet. Some of these categories include smart displays, robot vacuums, and more. To enjoy the newest features and products, you’d have to choose Google or Amazon.

All in?

The kitchen and family room of a high-end smart home.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ultimately, the question we have here is, is it feasible? That’s a tricky question to answer. I chose to go all-in with Apple HomeKit due to its simplicity. I didn’t particularly appreciate needing multiple different apps to control my home or having to speak to numerous assistants and figuring out which one managed what device. On the other hand, having all devices together and knowing they work and interact with each other is excellent. If there’s one thing I know I will pay extra for, it’s peace of mind and convenience.

HomeKit isn’t for everyone, though. I have to be patient in knowing that a proper smart display may never come, waiting for Matter to materialize, or just finding deals on the products.

There are other solutions for people wanting to go all-in on HomeKit, including the popular HOOBS smart home server, which allows you to make other outside accessories work within your HomeKit home through backend methods.

For most people, it makes sense to configure your home with either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa if starting fresh. Most new devices will be compatible with one or both ecosystems, and you’re sure to find accessories for any budget. Even those with iPhones can download the Google Home or Alexa apps, so don’t think you’re stuck in the HomeKit world. So yes, going all-in with any smart home ecosystem is possible and even practical in most cases — you just have to know what you may possibly be giving up.

Editors' Recommendations

Keyan Riddick
Keyan Riddick is a freelance writer based in the mountains on North Carolina. When he isn't writing you can find him behind…
U.S. government to launch a new cybersecurity program for smart home devices in 2024
The US Cyber Trust Mark logo on an off-white background.

Smart home devices are only becoming more popular, and it seems they’ve now piqued the interest of the U.S. government. On July 18, the Biden administration announced a new cybersecurity certification and labeling program for smart devices that will help customers find devices that are “safer and less vulnerable to cyberattacks.”

The so-called U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program is intended to get manufacturers thinking more carefully about the cybersecurity of their products and ensure they’re safe for the general public to have in their homes. It’s not expected to roll out until 2024, but the program would cover a wide range of products, including smart refrigerators, smart microwaves, smart televisions, smart thermostats, fitness trackers, and more.

Read more
SimpliSafe now offers live home monitoring with new Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera
The SimpliSafe Smart Alarm Indoor Camera.

SimpliSafe is already one of the best options when shopping for home security solutions, and it’s looking to become even more enticing with the launch of the new Smart Alarm Indoor Camera. Coinciding with the latest product is a new service -- 24/7 Live Guard Protection -- which allows agents to access a live feed of your property for enhanced response times.

The 24/7 Live Guard Protection service is only available on the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera. Previously, SimpliSafe agents could only review recorded footage after an alarm was triggered. Now, the team can monitor a live stream through the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera for improved response times. They can even interact with the intruder thanks to two-way audio, informing them that the police are on the way and that they’re being recorded.

Read more
Aqara launches U100 smart lock with full Apple HomeKit support
A person unlocking the Aqara U100 smart lock with their phone.

The list of smart locks that support Apple HomeKit isn’t quite as impressive as those of Google Home and Alexa, but Aqara has officially added one more to the list with the Aqara Smart Lock U100. Clocking in at $190 and now available on Amazon, the premium smart lock offers full support for Apple HomeKit -- along with tons of cool features that should position it as a top option for smart home enthusiasts.

As you’d expect, the Aqara U100 comes with a keypad that lets you enter a passcode to unlock the deadbolt. However, you’ll also find a fingerprint scanner that can hold up to 50 unique prints and the option to set up Apple home keys to unlock it with your Apple Watch or iPhone. Aqara also tossed in a physical key in case of emergencies.

Read more