Unless you know exactly what someone wants, giving a smart home gift can be tricky. You don’t want to saddle anyone with an unexpected subscription fee, or give them a device built for Alexa when they use Siri instead.
Home tech can still make a great gift, though. You can help someone solve long-standing issues, such as setting schedules for a light, automatically locking a door or keeping an eye on the backyard.
That’s why I’ve rounded up the best smart home devices for gifts, from a $10 tech fix to over $100 for an impressive upgrade. First and foremost, these don’t require monthly fees, and they include options for all kinds of voice assistants.
Note: The “smart” in smart home gifts refers to devices that typically require an app to operate or receive alerts. The good news is that many of them work with apps the recipient likely already uses, such as Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa.
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Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
I’m a fan of several smart thermostats currently on the market, but between high prices and more complex features, they don’t always make good gifts. This Ecobee model, however, is reasonably affordable and designed to be as simple as possible, while also working seamlessly with Siri, Alexa and Google. Ecobee says it can help save up to 23% on yearly heating and cooling costs, which lines up with my own experiences, too. Plus, most people can handle the installation themselves with a little wiring.
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Best for people who need to save money on heating with more thermostat control
Schlage Encode smart lock
There are all kinds of smart locks with many different designs and tricks, which makes picking one hard enough, even if it’s not for a gift. But my bet is on this Schlage Encode lock: It’s especially sturdy and resembles a more traditional deadbolt lock, albeit with a keypad. In my tests with the model, I found it to be very reliable, with handy auto-locking and app controls, as well as notifications, but not too difficult for newcomers to use.
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Best for homeowners who want an easy, reliable security upgrade for their front door
Nest Home Security Camera Gen 3
Nest’s latest indoor camera is made for Gemini for Home and can provide a ton of AI tricks, including daily summaries of what the camera saw or video searching. But that all requires a steep subscription. I’m recommending this cam (also available as an outdoor wired model) because of what you get for free, including six hours of cloud video storage and useful basic AI detection for humans and packages. The 2K resolution and new compact design are just icing on the cake.
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Best for people interested in indoor security who aren’t sure if they want a subscription
There’s a Nest Gen 3 video doorbell, but I prefer this wireless second-generation model as a gift. You can place it anywhere — it works well against door trim — and angle it outward if needed, so it fits just about any porch. Plus, you still get Nest’s free features, including three hours of cloud video storage to review footage and that very handy package detection tool.
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Best for anyone worried about porch pirates or who wants to keep an eye on the entrance
Emporia’s smart plug is extremely affordable, priced at around $10. It provides useful smart features without taking up too much space, attention or setup time. Just plug it into an outlet and download the app. That app lets people track energy use from devices plugged into the smart plug, control it remotely and set schedules for activation. It’s a low-effort upgrade to lamps, indoor fountains, TVs that need to be off by a certain hour and all sorts of other home tricks.
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Best for people who want to track energy use, those unsure about smart home benefits
SwitcBot’s wallet tracker is shaped like a card and made to fit into the average wallet if there’s room. If there isn’t room, it can easily work in the pocket of a nice jacket, a suitcase, laptop bag, backpack or other belongings. There’s no subscription, the battery lasts for years and you get automatic alerts when you leave the item behind, as well as the ability to track it.
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Best for anyone with a wallet, nice jacket or frequently used pack
Aqara mini home security kit
I don’t usually recommend security systems as gifts, as they’re something you should purchase yourself. But Aqara’s tiny camera and included sensors (one for motion, one for access and one for vibration) are an exception. This little kit doesn’t require subscriptions, offers great home compatibility with Apple, Google and Alexa, and is extremely simple to set up. It’s great for keeping an eye on a specific area, such as a study, book room, gun closet or garage.
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Best for people interested in a small security setup to guard a specific room or space
Kidde smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector
Technically, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years or so. If you know someone who could benefit from a new smoke detector, they may appreciate this smart model. It works with the Ring app and Alexa, but can give voice alerts on its own. Users get app notifications when batteries are running low and other useful information, so they don’t have to interpret chirps. Professional fire monitoring is available for a fee, but it’s certainly not necessary.
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Best for people who need to replace their smoke detector and don’t know what upgrades are available
Wiz Connected LED smart bulb
Smart light bulbs make a great gift for people who don’t have a smart home yet. They fit in standard sockets, use long-lasting, energy-saving LEDs and offer smart features like remote control, scheduling (even when you’re away) and voice-assistant support. Affordable options like this Wiz bulb also include full color settings, so people can choose any hue they want. I recommend the two-pack — one smart bulb feels a little lonely.
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Best for anyone who could use a few new light bulbs around their home
GE Cync Dynamic Effects floodlight bulb
I’ve tested many smart floodlights, and I especially love how you don’t need to worry about replacing these LED models very often, as it’s a chore. But my favorite is GE Cync’s four-quadrant floodlight, which can change to four different colors simultaneously for a variety of moods or party lighting. Add in the great app UI and music syncing features and it’s a complete, fun package.
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Best for people who live in a home with lots of floodlights and an open-floor plan
This leak detector doesn’t require any additional hubs or hoops to jump through: You just activate the battery, connect it to the app and put it where you’re worried about leaks, like under sinks, by water heaters, by pipes that may burst in below-zero weather or behind toilets that sometimes misbehave. The app and siren will let you know if water starts leaking.
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Best for anyone with a home and a phone, especially those who get freezing winters
Amazon Echo Spot (2nd generation)
Smart speakers aren’t for everyone and it’s a little presumptuous to give one as a gift, even if you know what voice assistant they prefer. But I’m making an exception for this Alexa-friendly Echo Spot from Amazon. With the screen section it easily doubles as an alarm clock and source of other info like the weather, while the speaker can stream music, answer questions, set reminders and more. If the recipient uses Amazon Prime, they’ll also get the improved Alexa Plus voice assistant for free.
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Best for people looking for a desktop companion or significant alarm clock upgrade
What if the person you have in mind prefers Google Home, Gemini and that specific ecosystem instead of Alexa? Well, Google is set to release another smart home speaker next year, but for now I recommend this small Nest Mini, which fits well on a desktop or hanging on a nearby wall. It can do all the voice assistant tricks, plus stream music from connected services, if you don’t mind a small speaker.
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Best for people who prefer Google’s voice assistant instead of Alexa
Security cameras don’t always make great gifts, but this new 2K Blink Outdoor camera is the rare option that can work for nearly anyone. It has a battery that can last for years, a simple and durable design that can fit anywhere from a fence to an eave, and comes with a Sync Module Core that lets you arrange local video storage. You can get basic person alerts without a subscription, too, so there’s no need for ongoing fees. Two-way audio, color night vision and zooming are all included.
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Best for people who’ve been worried about outdoor security and want a hands-off option
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For more, check out our guide to Amazon tech gifts, the best gifts under $100 and the best home tech gifts for renters.
