Reviewed by the HomeSmartSetup team · Last reviewed June 2026. We’ve run SmartThings, Hubitat, and Home Assistant side by side; the picks reflect that testing. HomeSmartSetup may earn a commission from links on this page — it never changes what we recommend.
A hub earns its place when you outgrow Wi-Fi gadgets — when you want Zigbee or Z-Wave sensors, cross-brand automations, or a home that keeps working when the internet drops. The wrong question is “which hub is best”; the right one is “how much local control do I want, and which radios do my devices use.” Here’s how the 2026 hubs actually differ, with real prices.
SmartThings Station — the best all-rounder
The Samsung SmartThings Station ($99) is the hub we recommend to most people: it supports Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi in one box, has a huge device-compatibility list, and a friendly app. It leans on the cloud for some automations, but it’s the lowest-friction way to unify mixed-brand gear.
Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro — local control, internet-proof
The Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro ($179.95) processes everything locally with built-in Matter, Zigbee, and Z-Wave radios and no cloud requirement — so your lights and locks keep automating during an ISP outage. It’s the pick for reliability and privacy, with a steeper learning curve than SmartThings.
Home Assistant Green — maximum power, open source
The Home Assistant Green ($219) is the enthusiast choice — open-source, endlessly flexible, integrates with practically everything, and runs entirely on your hardware. Budget for a learning curve; in return you get automations no closed ecosystem will match.
Aqara Hub M3 — the multi-ecosystem bridge
The Aqara Hub M3 runs HomeKit, Alexa, Google, and Home Assistant simultaneously with six native radios — useful if your household is split across ecosystems. The Aqara M100 at $29.99 is the cheapest way to add Zigbee/Thread and a Matter bridge to a starter setup.
The hubs compared
| Hub | Price | Radios | Local control? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmartThings Station | $99 | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi | Partial | Most people |
| Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro | $179.95 | Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave | Yes (full) | Reliability/privacy |
| Home Assistant Green | $219 | Via add-ons (huge) | Yes (full) | Power users |
| Aqara Hub M3 | ~$130 | 6 radios, multi-platform | Mixed | Mixed ecosystems |
| Aqara M100 | $29.99 | Zigbee/Thread + Matter bridge | Mixed | Cheapest entry |
Do you even need one? A real scenario
If every device you own is Wi-Fi or Matter-over-Thread, an Echo Dot ($50) or Apple TV ($129) already acts as your controller — no dedicated hub needed. The moment you add Zigbee or Z-Wave sensors (cheaper, longer battery life, no Wi-Fi congestion), a hub pays off. A 12-sensor home on Zigbee runs reliably on a $99 SmartThings Station; the same on Wi-Fi would choke your router. For internet-proof automations, the $179.95 Hubitat is the upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a hub at all in 2026?
Not if everything is Wi-Fi or Matter-over-Thread — an Echo, Nest Hub, or Apple TV covers it. You need a dedicated hub for Zigbee/Z-Wave devices, complex cross-brand automations, or guaranteed local control during outages.
Which hub survives an internet outage?
Hubitat Elevation and Home Assistant process locally and keep automating offline. SmartThings and cloud-first hubs (like the Echo Hub) lose some functions during ISP outages.
What’s the cheapest way to add Zigbee?
The Aqara M100 at $29.99 adds Zigbee/Thread and a Matter bridge to an existing setup — the lowest-cost on-ramp.
More: see building on Apple HomeKit and our no-hub renter setup.
