The Best Google Home-Compatible Smart Home Devices of 2021

Our favorite smart doorbell we tested is the Google Nest Hello Smart WiFi Video Doorbell. It excels at delivering alerts right away from over WiFi when you’re at home or cellular data when you’re out and about. This doorbell also offers the best video and audio quality of any doorbell we tested, facial recognition alerts for familiar faces, package delivery notifications, and more useful features that will make you feel secure.

Video quality is one of the most important features to look for in a smart video doorbell, and the Google Nest Hello really delivers on that front. A smart video doorbell is just like having a home security camera, so you want the quality to be superb, and the Google Nest does not disappoint. The Nest Hello captures video in 4:3 format, whereas Ring records in a 16:9 format (more of a wide-screen look). The advantage that Nest has, according to Google, is that this view is “designed to show people head to toe.”

Within the Nest app, you have the option to control the night vision settings. When night vision is on, the video records in black and white. Even so, the video is clear and it’s easy to make out what’s going on outside the front door. As for the audio, we were able to clearly communicate with whoever was at the front door without any audio issues while at home and out and about. The doorbell also comes with several pre-recorded responses, available in 13 different languages, that you can select if you're unable to get to the door.

And, although a paid Nest Aware subscription is required to access some of these features, the plan really enhances what this doorbell can do. Currently, Nest Aware subscriptions start at $5 per month or $50 for one year of 24/7 continuous recording and five-day storage per camera. However, a new Nest Aware subscription will be available starting in 2020 starting at $6 a month or $60 annually for one home, instead of per camera. The paid service also includes intelligent alerts (like facial recognition) and the ability to create clips and timelapse videos to review or share with friends and family. Like Ring and Eufy, you can customize activity zones to avoid any false motion detection alerts.

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

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. However, the Eufy app can be difficult to use: it took us a few minutes to figure out how to even dim the bulb.

The Lumos 2.0 had 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.

Do you want to be able to change the temperature in your house while you're out and about? Think about investing in a smart thermostat.Our top pick, the Emerson Sensi Touch WiFi Thermostat had the most straightforward installation, the best user experience, a touch screen, and full integration with all of the major voice assistants, including Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Google Home integration requires you to download the free Wink app as an intermediary. Once Wink is up and running, Google Home works perfectly.

If you want the same functionality as the Sensi Touch thermostat, in a less expensive package, check out our value pick, the Emerson Sensi WiFi Programmable Thermostat, which is why it's one of the best Google Home devices you can buy.

Caveat: almost all smart thermostats require a C-wire; be sure your heating/cooling system is compatible before buying a smart thermostat.

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 a smart dimmer. For the best of the best, Lutron is the place to go. 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 (WiFi) is the best smart switch on the market. Setup was a breeze and connecting it to the Google Home couldn't have been simpler. The companion app, "My Leviton," worked reliably on both Android and iOS.

During testing, the switch scored perfect marks for responsiveness and remote control functionality. Plus, because it works over WiFi, there's no need for any extra hubs or hardware, making this an affordable option to boot.

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 anyone looking to use Google Home. With the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi 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 WiFi 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 Roku Ultra (2019) is our favorite streaming device right now. The newest model of Roku’s Ultra works with Google Assistant, supports 4K HD, and HDR content. It also comes with Roku’s most advanced remote, and a button on the box will force your remote to make a noise so you can find it in the cushions.

The Roku Ultra comes with a pair of JBL headphones that you can use with the private listening feature on the Roku remote. The Roku remote also offers a couple of new features like fast channel launch and other personal shortcut buttons to access your most-loved content more quickly.

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

You might not be familiar with Eufy yet, but don’t let that scare you off. The up and coming home automation company is actually a sub-brand of well-known electronics maker Anker. You know, the guys who make third-party iPhone cables, USB battery packs, and Bluetooth speakers.

Eufy’s Smart Plug Mini is an extremely affordable, pint-sized unit that interfaces well with Google Assistant. In our testing, it was quick and reliable, and its WiFi connection showed great range. When we disconnected and moved it across the house, it reconnected quickly. Its looks aren’t anything special—it’s a white bar with gently rounded corners and a tiny blue status LED—but we liked how compact it is and that it’s compatible with Google Home. No matter where you place it, it won’t block an adjacent socket.

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

The iRobot Roomba i7+ works with Google Home. 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.

LG's C9 series of OLED 4K/HDR smart TVs is the best TV of 2019—and it works with Google Assistant. If you haven't heard, OLED panels are kind of the bee's knees for the avid TV watcher. Each pixel turns "on" and "off" automatically, meaning when OLED TVs display black, they display actual black. Likewise, when they display a color, it emits from the pixel directly, giving it a more pure and unfiltered appearance than traditional LED/LCD TVs.

The LG C9 is available in three sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, and 77-inch. It delivers a justifiable price tag alongside all the same excellent OLED picture quality, 4K resolution, High Dynamic Range and Dolby Vision specifications, LG's friendly "webOS" smart platform, and more.

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

As long as you don’t mind it being tethered to a power outlet, the Google Nest Cam Outdoor is the best smart outdoor security camera you can buy. If you have a Google Assistant-enabled smart display like the Google Nest Hub Max, you can say a voice command like, “Hey Google, show me the [camera name]” and the live feed will appear on the screen.

That said, it's definitely a case of getting what you pay for, because the Nest Cam Outdoor is also one of the most expensive options we tested. While the upfront price is comparable to rivals, a subscription to the awesome Nest Aware cloud storage starts at $5 a month.

The Nest Aware storage subscription totally makes this camera. It adds tons of super useful features, including notifications that differentiate between people and pets; customizable activity zones that prevent areas with frequent, benign motion from triggering alerts; and the ability to create clips that you can share with family, friends, or law enforcement.

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