Sure, smart lightbulbs are cool and all, but there's no getting past the fact that they can be very expensive per bulb. Kitting out a single room can easily cost over $100, so the cost of replacing all the lighting in your home with smart bulbs will blow most people's budgets out of the water. But, with smart light switches, you can actually build out your smart home while using the standard (and much more affordable) light bulbs you already have laying around.
Say you have a room with eight lights in it. If they're all controlled by a single light switch, you can suddenly make them all work like smart lights by simply replacing that light switch with a smart one. This gives you scheduling, remote control, and plenty of other perks for a whole room full of lights all for the same amount of money you may have paid just to grab a single smart lightbulb. Combine a few of these with some smart plugs, and you can really build out a smart home without having to replace many actual appliances. So, if you're ready to make your home smarter with just the flip of a switch, check out some of our favorites.
TL;DR – These are the Best Smart Light Switches:
- Lutron Caséta Smart Home Dimmer Switch
- Kasa Smart Light Switch
- Philips Hue V2 Dimmer Switch
- Zooz Z-Wave Plus S2 Wall Dimmer Switch
- GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus
- WeMo 3-Way Light Switch
- Lutron Caséta Smart Home Plug-in Lamp Dimmer
- Eve Light Switch
- Lutron Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer
- C by GE Wire-Free Dimmer
1. Lutron Caséta Smart Home Dimmer Switch
Best Smart Light Switch
The Lutron Caséta Smart Home Dimmer Switch is definitely not the cheapest option, but there's a reason it's the best. With this switch, you're not going to run into a bunch of limitations in the hardware it's compatible with or how you can use it. The Lutron Caséta switch simply wires into your existing light switch wiring without needing a neutral wire. This will quickly add some smarts to non-smart light bulbs, like dimmable LED and CFL bulbs.
You can control the lights you've connected using the dimmer switch on the wall, Lutron's Pico remote control, or a host of other methods. The Lutron Caséta supports a bunch of integrations, including Amazon's Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Ring. Beyond the hands-on controls, you'll be able to say "hello" to voice control. Plus, you can set up scenes to quickly adjust many lights at the same time, or you can run automation on a schedule or in response to your GPS coordinates. And if your Wi-Fi goes down, the system doesn't rely on it, so all your lights should continue to work as planned.
2. Kasa Smart Light Switch
Best Budget Smart Light Switch
Just as a smart plug can be an affordable way to turn one appliance into a smart appliance, a budget smart light switch is a convenient way to take a whole roomful of lights (assuming they’re on the same circuit) and give them the gift of smarts. The Kasa Smart Light Switch is a solid accomplice toward this goal costing under $20. This option, therefore, makes it easy to kit out multiple rooms or different light groups with their own switches. And, it works with standard light switch wiring to keep installation simple. You will need a neutral wire, but the Kasa app guides you through the entire process, so even the least technologically inclined can figure it out.
The Kasa Smart Light Switch is part of TP-Link’s robust smart home ecosystem, making it easy to control and simple to pair with Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. You'll also be getting the convenience of voice control with those smart assistants. Through the Kasa app, you can create scenes to quickly change lighting for multiple devices, and you’ll even be able to set up schedules or control them remotely. Plus, an "away mode" will randomly turn on lights when you're out of the house to prevent intruders. However, at this low price, you will miss out on dimming capabilities.
3. Philips Hue V2 Dimmer Switch
Best Smart Light Switch for Philips Hue Users
The control of your smart lights from anywhere by just pulling out your phone is one of the big perks on offer, but it’s not always convenient to need your phone when you may just want to turn the lights off when walking out of the room. If you’re in the Philips Hue ecosystem, you’ve likely got some great lights on your hands, and the Philips Hue V2 Dimmer Switch provides a convenient way to control them without always needing to dig out your phone.
The switch works wirelessly, so there's no need for professional installation or dealing with any confusing wiring. It's simple to attach the wall plate anywhere with the included adhesive, and the controller itself mounts onto the wall plate magnetically, letting you carry it around the house or even magnetically attach it to another surface as you need. This provides easy controls with an on/off button at the top, two buttons for increasing or decreasing brightness, and a fourth button to cycle through scenes. Plus, it can even work with a few lights while still not requiring the Philips Hue Bridge.
4. Zooz Z-Wave Plus S2 Wall Dimmer Switch
Best for Z-Wave Smart Home Appliance Users
Zooz’s dimmer switch is a bit more involved than the other smart light switches on this list, but that’s because it boasts a few other skills that most smart light switches don’t offer. If you have a multi-point control setup at home, this is the light switch for you. The Zooz Z-Wave Plus S2 Wall Dimmer Switch works with any 3-way, 4-way, or 5-way setup, as well as the existing on/off switches in that setup. Just be sure a neutral wire is present for a smoother installation.
This dimmer switch uses the Z-Wave protocol, which utilizes low-energy radio waves to communicate with other Z-Wave smart devices. It acts as a repeater, so it can extend your Z-Wave network's range to the next room. That means it does need a certified Z-Wave hub to connect with Alexa. Other features include on/off notifications on your phone whenever someone taps the switch, a hacker-proof security protocol, and an optimized dimmer designed to eliminate dimmer-related flickering. Best of all, it uses what Zooz calls its Smart Tap technology, which lets users tap the switch to control their lights – like double-tapping for full brightness.
5. GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus
Best Z-Wave Smart Light Switch
Some of the best smart home gadgets rely on a special connectivity standard called Z-Wave. If you've invested in these products for their long-range and low-power connectivity, don't worry, you're not left out when It comes to light switches. The GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus smart light dimmer switch is ready to fit seamlessly into your smart home setup. And, thanks to the way Z-Wave works, adding this dimmer switch into your home will only further expand the signal strength throughout your home.
This smart light switch is simple to install thanks to a compact enclosure and its ability to automatically detect line and load wires to configure itself appropriately. So, you aren't going to need an electrician to get it working. You can also set this switch up next to three additional switches. With it, you'll get full dimming control over your lights from completely off to full brightness. Plus, you can set up schedules and alerts, as you've come to expect from smart switches. There's even voice control as the GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus supports Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant. Just be sure you've got a Z-Wave certified hub.
6. WeMo 3-Way Light Switch
Best affordable 3-way switch
If you’re looking for something that’s simpler to install and understand than the Zooz Z-Wave Plus S2 Wall Dimmer Switch, then the WeMo 3-Way Light Switch is a terrific solution for your 3-way setup. This not only works perfectly with smart assistants without the use of a hub, but its installation is easy enough to avoid hiring an electrician. You simply need to watch the instructional video the company provides, and follow the steps. Most people should be able to figure it out, and you just need a neutral wire.
Whether it’s through voice, the physical switch, or WeMo’s app, there’s flexibility in its controls as well. You can set lighting schedules, use Away Mode, and even group control multiple WeMo lights (and ceiling fans). Best yet, because of its 3-way feature, it’s perfect for any 3-way setups you have in your home, just as it is with single-pole setups. It may be a bit more expensive than the Zooz light switch, but it’s not a bad price to pay for convenience.
7. Lutron Caséta Smart Home Plug-in Lamp Dimmer
Best for Lamps
Just because you have lighting fixtures at home that are set up so they cannot accommodate a smart light bulb or you are renting a place that prevents you from installing a smart light switch, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of smart home lighting devices. For those with really limited ways to upgrade their homes, the Lutron Caséta Smart Home Plug-in Lamp Dimmer is a solid solution. Its biggest difference from other smart switches is it's similar to a smart plug made specifically for lamps around your house, but it does require a smart bridge. However, it is cheaper than its in-wall counterpart, allows you to control up to 2 plug-in lamps, and offers your usual smart switch features.
The Lutron Caséta Smart Home Plug-in Lamp Dimmer can set up schedules, routines, and personalized lighting scenes. Plus, it even offers Smart Away to turn on random lights when you're out of the house. Smart assistants like Apple HomeKit, Amazon's Alexa, and Google Assitant can all be used in conjunction with the switch, so you also get voice control. It can also replace existing 3-way switches and works with Lutron’s Pico remote.
8. Eve Light Switch
Best Smart Light Switch for Apple Homekit
If your home is chock full of Apple products, then it's probably best to grab a smart light switch that'll work seamlessly with them. The Eve Light Switch offers an easy way for you to turn your existing lights into smart lights that work with your Apple devices. The unit installs like a traditional light dimmer but offers Bluetooth LE connectivity to link up with your mobile device. This gives you multiple ways to control the Eve Light Switch, including using Siri voice commands. And, this device easily integrates with HomeKit to use with the rest of your smart home.
The Eve Light Switch can be set to run on a schedule, toggle lights on and off using the app, or just touch the slider to change the lighting in your house. You, of course, can do all of this using your phone, tablet, computer, or HomeKit hubs. And, there's no need to worry about any of your private data getting exposed because Eve doesn't run using the cloud and makes no money off of data sales.
9. Lutron Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer
Best Smart Light Dimmer
The Lutron Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer solves your lack of dimmable lights problems. It offers an easy-to-use method of dimming the lights for anyone in your house, not just the person who has the control app on their phone. You just simply dim it on the wall using the rotary knob. It works with Philips Hue smart bulbs but can also connect with the wide array of ZigBee 3.0-certified bulbs.
The Lutron Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer prevents anyone from accidentally cutting power to your smart bulbs at the switch, as it directly covers a standard light switch and locks it in place. Therefore, you aren't going to ever lose the smart power of the switch. It also only requires a low-power connection, so it can run on its CR2032 battery for up to three years, letting you set it and forget it.
10. C by GE Wire-Free Dimmer
Best Wire-Free Smart Light Switch
The convenience of being able use your phone as a light switch after adding a bunch of hub-less smart bulbs is sometimes soured by the fact that you can't control them as easily with a light switch anymore. While some support smart switches and dimmers like those found here, they often take a little more work to set up than the bulbs themselves, as you have to wire them into the wall. This is not so with the C by GE Wire-Free Dimmer.
At first, this dimmer looks like it wires up to your wall, but it can actually be attached anywhere in your home with simple adhesive, and it's powered by battery for up to two years. Once installed and set up, you can use the C by GE Wire-Free Dimmer to control your C by GE smart devices. The brightness and color temperature of your bulbs can be adjusted, and you can use it to power on and off smart plugs, giving you full-room control. Best of all, you don't need a hub or bridge to do it.
Choosing the best smart light switch for your home
If you haven’t done so before, don’t worry. Finding the best smart light switch for your home, whether you have your own house or you’re renting an apartment, isn’t a hard task best left to professionals. In fact, most of the smart light switches on the market are surprisingly effortless to set up, so you won’t need an electrician to help you, and they’re even easier to use.
However, as with all electronic products, you need to figure out a few things first before you scour the web for the most ideal light switch for you. Besides knowing what your budget is – these smart solutions can set you back anywhere from $20 to $80 – and how many you’ll need, there are a couple of other things you must know.
Type of switch
Like their traditional counterparts, a smart light switch can either be a single pole or 3-/4-/5-way switch. Without getting deep into the technical aspect, this simply means that it either has sole control of one light or group of lights or it shares that responsibility with another three-way switch.
A common three-way switch setup in homes is when you’ve got a switch at the bottom of the stairs and another at the top of the stairs, and both control the same lighting for the first floor hallway. Though quite a few 3-way smart light switches can function as a single pole switch, you need to figure out what kind of switch you’re trying to replace, before you look at any smart options.
Smart assistant connectivity
Some smart light switches require a hub or a bridge to work with smart assistants like Alexa, Cortana and Google Assistant. Surprisingly, this connectivity isn’t readily available in some of the smart switches. If voice control is particularly important to you, make sure you choose one that won’t make you go through hoops to have this functionality.
Smart bulbs
If you already have smart bulbs installed at home, and you’re planning on connecting them to a smart light switch, make sure that they are fully compatible to avoid issues. Some smart light switches actually work better with regular light bulbs, while a few others aren’t compatible at all with any smart light bulbs. On the other hand, the top smart light bulb manufacturers make their own smart light switches that work perfectly with their light bulbs.
Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.
