The Best Google Home-Compatible Smart Home Devices of 2021

The Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell camera is the best video doorbell you can buy. The battery-powered front door camera offers one of the largest viewing angles of any video doorbell we’ve ever tested, works well with Google Assistant, and offers multiple options for installation, making it a versatile choice to safeguard any front door.

Arlo’s wireless doorbell offers a generous 180-degree field-of-view and records in a 1:1 square aspect ratio that provides a head-to-toe video of who is at your front door. The doorbell camera comes with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to six months on one charge, or you can hardwire it to your existing doorbell wiring. It is complete with a 12x digital zoom, HDR video, night vision, and custom motion zones to prevent false notifications.

Most video doorbells, including the Nest Hello, require a paid plan to access the best features, and we think Arlo’s Smart subscription services are worth the ongoing investment. The Arlo Premier Plan, which starts at $2.99 a month, includes 30 days of cloud storage, smart alerts that differentiate between people, vehicles, animals, packages, and other motion, gives visitors the ability to leave a voicemail at your doorbell if you’re unable to answer the door, and more.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart video doorbeells.

There are plenty of great smart bulbs to choose from, but if you want one that's best for Google Home devices, it has to be the Philips Hue. We've tested the Hue system multiple times now and it continues to impress us with its ease of setup and use. With a robust suite of features and an intuitive app, it really is the gold standard of smart light bulbs. The only downside is that you'll need a separate hub to make the bulbs work. While extra hardware (and the associated cost) is inconvenient, it's a small price to pay for bulbs that work this well.

If you're looking for something less expensive, we'd recommend the Eufy Lumos 2.0, which offers good voice control and app response times over WiFi and cellular connections, and it integrates with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa without having to install a hub. The cost per bulb was among the most affordable we tested, and there's no need to spend extra money and space on a hub to get the connectivity you want. So, despite the wonky setup process and mild learning curve, this is a good bulb for the money and a great pick for those in need of a basic Google Home-compatible white smart bulb that won't cost a lot.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart light bulbs.

Google's Nest Learning Thermostat (third-gen) takes our award for the best smart thermostat thanks to its sleek, intuitive design and robust set of smart features, including compatibility with Google Assistant. Changing the temperature is as simple as rotating the thermostat's dial. You can use the app to set a traditional time-of-day schedule—far simpler than most non-smart thermostats—or let the Nest learn your daily habits and adjust the temperature automatically.

Like many other smart thermostats, the Nest can save you energy by adjusting the temperature when you aren't home, as determined by your phone's location and the Nest's built-in motion sensors, and it's also compatible with the energy-saving plans and rebates offered by many utility companies. You can adjust it with your voice using Alexa or Google Home and even get reminders when it's time to change your HVAC filter.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart thermostats.

If you're interested in smart lighting but don't want to go through the hassle of replacing every one of your bulbs, you need the best smart dimmer. With an easy-to-use and responsive app (plus compatibility with Google Home) the Lutron makes the transition to a smarter home an easy process.

Lutron’s Caséta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch Starter Kit received high marks for being able to work with the wiring found in older homes—something that's not necessarily true for other dimmers. This boils down to the Lutron switches not needing a neutral power line, which isn't common in older buildings. The system isn't cheap, but it's certainly a lot more affordable than rewiring your home.

The only downside to this system is that it doesn't truly support three-way switches (where you have multiple switches for the same light). Instead, the company offers Pico wireless remote kits to mount its remotes over additional switch boxes. It's not the most streamlined workaround, but it does make the system compatible with three-way setups.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart in-wall dimmer switches.

The Leviton Decora Smart Switch (Wi-Fi) is the best smart switch on the market. Setup was a breeze and connecting it to Google Home couldn't be simpler. The companion app, "My Leviton," works reliably on both Android and iOS.

During testing, the switch scored perfect marks for responsiveness and remote control functionality. Plus, because it supports Wi-Fi, there's no need for any extra hubs or hardware, making this an affordable option to boot. The features include support for three-way switches, meaning you can have multiple smart switches control the same light, which isn't something most competitors can do. If you're looking for the best smart light switch that works with Google Assistant, this is it.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart in-wall switches.

One of the most well-known smart locks on the market also happens to be the best option for Google-enabled smart homes. With the Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt, you can store and remember up to 100 permanent, temporary, or recurring passcodes

There's a lot to love about our top pick, the Schlage Encode. For starters, it works with Google Assistant. And, thanks to the app’s interactive step-by-step guide, installation and troubleshooting are a breeze. The lock and accompanying app are simple and intuitive to use, jam-packed with useful features, and they had the fastest lock and unlock times. The cherry on top? The lock has Wi-Fi built-in, which means no hub is required.

With a reliable and intuitive app, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt can give you some peace of mind when it comes to your home security and knowing who's at the front door.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart locks.

The latest Roku Ultra works with Google Assistant, supports 4K/HDR (including Dolby Vision), Dolby Atmos sound and an impressive selection of streaming services, including Apple's own TV app, HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and thousands more.

Roku’s interface has become slightly more cluttered with ads than it used to be, though these are primarily for the Roku Channel, a free ad-supported streaming service that includes mostly basic cable-level movies and TV shows. Otherwise, the interface looks just like it has for the past few years. It's relatively easy to navigate, and Roku makes it even easier with voice control and dedicated buttons on the remote control for four major streaming services (typically Netflix and some mix of Hulu, Disney+, and a few others). As you might guess, along with Alexa support, the Ultra allows for playback control of select apps using Google Assistant.

The remote also has a headphone jack so you can plug in any old pair of headphones and instantly have wireless audio for whatever you're streaming—perfect for late-night binge-watching, especially if you share a living space with someone who goes to bed early. (You can also do this with the Roku app for your smartphone.)

For more, check out our roundup of the best media streaming devices.

The iRobot Roomba i7+ supports voice control via Google Assistant, which can be used to start, stop, pause, and resume vacuuming. It was the first robot vacuum on the market to empty itself—a vacuum in the charging base suctions everything out of the bin into a sealable bag. That means you don't have to see, touch, or smell what your robot vacuum picks up. The i7+ can even make virtual maps that can track cleaning cycles and keep the vacuum from entering individual rooms.

For more, check out our roundup of the best robot vacuums.

The TCL 6-Series is one of the most value-packed TVs around, thanks to a robust offering of features and picture quality that punches well above its weight. It supports voice control, so you can ask Google Assistant to help you find a show or movie to watch, change channels, and more useful features. The TCL 6-Series is available in three sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, and 77-inch.

It delivers bright, colorful 4K picture during both SDR and HDR content, thanks in part to the TV’s quantum dots, making it a great option for folks whose living rooms receive a fair amount of ambient light. The inclusion of quantum dots also makes for rich, well-saturated colors, particularly during HDR content. Being a Roku TV, the TCL 6-Series comes equipped with our favorite streaming platform right out of the box. Its software is sleek, easy to use, and offers access to a vast library of apps.

For more, check out our roundup of the best TVs.

For the best outdoor security camera that works with Google Assistant, the Arlo Pro 4 is the way to go. Touting a 160-degree viewing angle and 2K video, the Pro 4’s video quality is just as clear at night as it is during the day thanks to the camera’s color night vision output. It also has a built-in spotlight that illuminates when motion is detected and a smart siren that can be triggered remotely or automatically.

There are no wires to fiddle with, as this camera includes a mount that can easily be screwed in on the exterior of your home. A subscription to Arlo’s Smart Plan (starting at $2.99/month) is the best way to get the most out of the Arlo Pro 4. Included in Arlo’s paid plans are 30-day video history; 2K cloud recording; activity zones; advanced object detection for people, cars, and packages; and other useful features you’ll want access to.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart outdoor smart security cameras.

The Bose Home 300 is a fantastic smart speaker with the versatility to allow users to choose between Alexa or Google Assistant for control of basic playback.t offers intuitive manual control thanks to handy preset buttons on the top of the speaker, and it supports audio streaming over Bluetooth, AirPlay, Wi-Fi, or via an old-school auxiliary cable.

Through its app and smart assistants, the Bose Home 300 can play music from a large number of streaming services, such as Spotify, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora, and even Apple Music via Airplay or Bluetooth. The compatible music and podcast sources will vary a bit depending on which smart assistant you choose (you can only use one assistant at a time, however it is very easy to switch in the Bose app).

Though not any larger, this speaker is much louder than most other smart speakers we’ve tested. While the audio quality isn't what we'd call exceptional, it is clear and relatively full for its size, providing a major improvement over more basic smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo Dot or Google’s Nest Mini.s.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart speakers.

For an indoor security camera that plays nice with Google, the SimCam 1S is a fantastic pick. Great for any room of the home, it features a svelte, pod-shaped aesthetic that’s perfect for setting up on a shelf or desk, with the ability to rotate 360 degrees manually or automatically, depending on your preference.

It’s a good alternative to the often pricier, subscription-based cameras on the market thanks to its reliability, attractive design, and lengthy list of features. The SimCam records in crisp 1080p HD, which should help offer peace of mind that, if a crisis occurs, this watchful eye in the room is keeping track of it all. It can also record in total darkness, thanks to its active infrared option. The camera utilizes powerful AI to detect faces, pets, cars, and more. It offers storage that is local, eliminating the need for pricey subscription fees. Simply store all your footage on your home PC and view it later at your convenience.

The SimCam 1S is a simple-yet-powerful take on the typical security camera. It offers secure encryption, reliable recording, and a host of great options without breaking the bank.

For more, check out our roundup of the best smart indoor security cameras.

The Meross outdoor smart plug is rugged, weather resistant, easy to use/control, and it has status lights that are legible from a distance. Since this outdoor outlet has two sockets, you can plug more than one thing at a time and control it via the Meross app or using Google Assistant.

Additionally, the plug is very responsive, easy to set up, and we love that we could see at a glance whether both outlets are turned on thanks to prominent indicator lights. The only missing feature is reporting of energy consumption.

The Meross app makes it simple to create scenes. For example, you can set the smart plug to turn off when you are away from home or turn on when you get up in the morning. These scenes are triggered by using voice controls with your smart assistant. ("Okay Google, good morning" will trigger your morning scene). Routines will either power the plug on or off according to a schedule or turn your plug off after a specified amount of time. The app’s settings tab contains helpful guides to walk users through setting up the plug with Google Assistant. From looks to functionality, this plug is just pleasant to work with.

For more, check out our roundup of the best outdoor smart plugs.