One of the most satisfying smart home devices to see in action are smart lights. The thrill of dimming bulbs and changing colors with an app or voice commands has yet to wear off, and it’s one of the easiest products to set up, schedule, and troubleshoot. But what if you want to add smart capabilities to an existing light fixture? If you’re dealing with a ceiling fan, sconce, or some other pre-wired bulbs, you’ll just need to invest in a smart light switch.
These web-connected products come in multiple gang box sizes, and are sold by many different companies. Not all switches are created equal though, and we wanted to round up the best options for those with Alexa, Google Home, and HomeKit ecosystems. So we’ve done just that!
Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch
Best smart light switch overall
- Simple to set up
- Gentle dimming feature
- Needs neutral wire
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility: | Alexa/Google Assistant |
| Hub required: | No |
| Neutral wire needed: | Yes |
The Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch is a great all-rounder that is well priced and highly suitable for many situations. You’ll need a neutral wire to set it up but other than that, the Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch is pretty straightforward as it’s a standard wall plate size and there’s no need for complex switch wiring. Once set up, it works well as both a dimmer switch and a regular switch with gentle dimming being perfect for keeping the kids happy at night.
The Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch also has some great smart features as you can easily set up a timer or countdown schedule, as well as set up an Away mode which keeps potential intruders on their toes as it looks like you’re still home by randomly turning the lights on and off throughout the day.
Voice controls are also useful with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support, while there’s always the option to control brightness levels set scenes for different types of ambience, and group together other Kasa devices. It’s all pretty extensive stuff for a surprisingly cheap switch.
GE CYNC Smart Light Switch
Best for older homes
- Simple to set up with no neutral wire required
- Minimalist design
- No dimmer function
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility: | Alexa/Google Assistant |
| Hub required: | No |
| Neutral wire needed: | No |
With no need for a neutral wire, the GE CYNC Smart Light Switch is well suited for older homes. It just needs a ground wire and 2.4GHz and you’re all set. It’s simple to install on your own whatever the age of your home making it an instantly appealing option.
Once set up, you can easily control your lights from the switch or through the Cync app. The latter makes it possible to arrange scheduling or scenes so you can set up a routine where your lights come on at a set time of day, while you can also create a sense of ambience which works well for your mood. The GE CYNC Smart Light Switch works alongside Alexa and Google Home so it’s perfect for fitting into your smart home setup.
It’s also possible to group multiple switches and bulbs together, while you can even turn ordinary incandescent, halogen, and LED bulbs into smart bulbs through this switch. No hub is required which keeps costs down with the only thing you’re missing out on is that the GE CYNC Smart Light Switch is a toggle only — no dimmer.
Leviton Decora Smart Switch
Best for different smart light bulbs
- Extensive smart home support
- Sleek design
- More expensive than others
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility: | Alexa/Google Assistant/Matter/Apple Home |
| Hub required: | No |
| Neutral wire needed: | Yes |
The Leviton Decora Smart Switch is pricier than others but it has extensive functionality. On an aesthetic level, it looks great with color change frames available if you want to get things just right for your living space. It’s also very practical with support for Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home, and also Matter compatibility so it’s going to work well with pretty much everything possible.
Even the My Leviton app is sleeker and more stylish than most others which makes it easier to find what you want to do. Through the app, you can set up schedules so you don’t need to do much with the lights manually. It works with a wide array of bulb and fixture types while you can add on wire-free 3-way/multi-location support if you want via a wireless DAWSC Anywhere Switch Companion.
The switch is a rocker switch that’s fairly large so it’s easy for anyone to use, even those with mobility or joint issues. It’s worth the additional expense if you want some added style and simplicity.
Kasa Matter Smart Light Switch
Best simple smart light switch
- Subtle design
- Guided installation process
- Dimmer costs more
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility: | Alexa/Google Assistant/Matter |
| Hub required: | No |
| Neutral wire needed: | Yes |
The Kasa Matter Smart Light Switch keeps things nice and simple. If you just want a straightforward light switch, this is a great option. It has all the essentials you need. That means voice controls via Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. It’s also possible to use the app to set schedules that suit your home’s needs along with arranging an auto-off timer as needed too. One of our favorite features — an Away Mode — is possible too so you can easily ward off intruders by looking like you’re home when you’re not.
Grouping together lights is also possible through the app while the Kasa Matter Smart Light Switch works well with seemingly all light types. All you need is a neutral wire and a standard wall plate shape with the Kasa Matter Smart Light Switch offering guided installation to streamline the process for you.
We’re particularly pleased to see Matter support as it makes everything play nicer together in the long term, while the Kasa Matter Smart Light Switch will even work offline thanks to LAN controls and Matter. If you don’t want to be the only one in charge of the more complex side of the Kasa Matter Smart Light Switch, there’s Matter Multi-Admin support too so you can grant access to others for managing devices.
Philips Hue Smart Wireless Dimmer Switch V2
Best for Philips Hue users
- Perfect for Philips Hue users
- Incredibly simple installation
- Relatively limited
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Compatibility: | Alexa/Google Assistant/Apple Home |
| Hub required: | No |
| Neutral wire needed: | No |
Philips Hue has tied up the smart light bulb market pretty well by offering some great quality lights. While investing in Philips Hue is rarely the cheapest option, it’s certainly one of the easiest. That’s reflected by the Philips Hue Smart Wireless Dimmer Switch V2 which is perhaps the easiest way to add a dimmer switch to your home. It works wirelessly via battery power so there’s no need to worry about wiring or anything complex.
The Philips Hue Smart Wireless Dimmer Switch V2 doesn’t even need a Philips Hue bridge to work although it’s likely you’ll already own one. All you need to do is mount or stick the dimmer switch wall plate anywhere in your home and take a few moments to pair it. From there, you can toggle through four different light scenes by pressing a button on the switch or you can use the dimmer or regular light switch.
It also works as a remote because it’s magnetic and easily removed, so that can prove pretty useful as well. Simplicity is everything here although bear in mind that the Philips Hue Smart Wireless Dimmer Switch V2 does need you to be using Philips Hue bulbs in your home which can be restrictive in some cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure, you can just pick up any smart light switch and you could be very happy with it, but it makes sense to do some research beforehand. After all, you’ve probably already intensely researched the best smart lamp for your home or similar, so why not keep going? Here are some key factors we considered when compiling this list of the best smart light switches.
- Accurate pricing: It’s an obvious one for pretty much all purchases but it’s important to think about how much you want and can spend on a light switch. While pretty much no smart light switches are prohibitively expensive, no one wants to spend more than they need to. Some smart light switches don’t offer any unique features but carry hefty price tags because of their branding. We took this into consideration and only highlighted reliable, powerful products that are accurately priced.
- Compatibility and ease of use: Some smart light switches work with pretty much all smart light bulbs but that isn’t the case across the board. For instance, Phillips Hue light switches will only work with Philips Hue light bulbs, so make sure you buy something that’s compatible with your light bulb setup. We also looked for compatibility with smart home platforms like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Matter for the best compatibility.
- Stylish:Whichever smart light switch you buy, it’s going to be placed on a wall in your home. You want it to suit the aesthetic of your living space so make sure you consider the style before you buy it. Some switches are more stylish than others but it all depends on your personal taste. It could be worth spending a little more if you really want everything to match up and look good.
This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.
