8 affordable alternatives to pricey smart home gadgets

Nest Learning Thermostat

2022 is not a year to be splashing out: with the cost of living getting higher and higher, we’re all looking at trying to save and spend less this year. Sadly, this means that that flash home gadget you had your eye on might have become just out of reach, price-wise. If you were hoping to treat yourself to one of home tech’s cult new smart gadgets but have suddenly found it’s no longer within your budget, all is not lost! Luckily, with the market becoming more and more diverse, there is a range of affordable alternatives to everything from smart doorbells to Amazon Echos. This means you can still get the gadget you want without the hefty price tag—a win-win! We’ve found that, if you’re willing to compromise on brand or a few of the flashier features, you can make big savings on your smart home device. Read on for our pick of the best cheaper alternatives to expensive smart home gadgets…

Amazon Smart Thermostat instead of Nest Learning Thermostat

A smart home thermostat is a great way to have complete control over your home heating and cooling as well as helping you save money on your energy bills. While Google’s Nest Learning device is the market leader (and I had the chance to review Nest Learning Thermostat here), Amazon’s Smart Thermostat is a fantastic alternative and comes in at less than a third of the price. Integrated with Alexa, it provides the artificial intelligence you need to lower your energy costs and can be controlled via the Alexa app.

Wiz smart lights instead of Philips Hue

Want to use your smartphone to create the perfect lighting at home bit don’t want to break the bank on Philips Hue bulbs? Try Wiz smart lights! These cheaper alternatives connect directly to your home WiFi, meaning they can be controlled even when you’re not in the house and offer 6 million different colors as well as Tunable White and dimmable settings. I reviewed Wiz smart bulbs and you can dive deeper on those here, or check out the full review on Philips Hue’s starter kit.

Nest Mini/Echo Dot instead of full-size Google Nest Audio or Alexa Echo Show

If you want a smart home speaker but don’t want to spend big bucks, why not consider one of the smaller versions of Google or Amazon’s classic gadgets? The Amazon Echo Dot is about half the size of its full-size counterpart and comes with almost all of the same functionalities; likewise the Google Nest Mini is a smaller, slightly less powerful, cheaper version of the Nest Audio.

Wyze Cam V3 mini instead of Google Nest Cam

Wyze Cam V3

At five times the price, the Google Nest Cam, which I reviewed is a significant investment compared to the Wyze Cam V3 (also written up in full here). If your home security needs are fairly simple, the Wyze is a great affordable alternative to Google’s model. Boasting a robust range of features, the subscription fees are also considerably lower than those of Nest Aware and you get one free month with purchase!

Roku Streaming stick 4K instead of Apple TV box

The Roku streaming stick 4K  is a serious contender for best streaming stick and is markedly more affordable than Apple’s alternative, the big and boxy 4K Apple TV. With its super fast connectivity, a great interface and a voice-controled remote that will even help you locate it when it gets stuck behind the sofa cushions, we highly recommend this smart TV device! Both reviews are linked up here or you can shop them below.

Ring Video Doorbell Wired instead of Ring Video Doorbell 4

Ring is king when it comes to smart doorbells and its video devices are some of the best on the market. I have had the opportunity to review almost all of them, including the Ring Video Doorbell Wired and the Ring Video Doorbell 4. You can save a considerable chunk of money by opting for the wired version, which is the brand’s cheapest smart doorbell and connects to an existing doorbell rather than working independently like the brand’s other models. Hunting for Ring discounts can’t hurt either!

iRobot i3 EVO instead of iRobot j7+ vacuum-only robots

iRobot’s Roomba smart vacuum cleaners are up there with some of the most coveted home gadgets. Save on yours by opting for the more affordable iRobot i3 EVO model, which is slightly less powerful and has a slightly lower battery life but still delivers most of the same functionality as the iRobot j7+. I reviewed both and you can read the full reviews for full details.

Yeedi Vac 2 Pro instead of Ecovacs Deebot x1 Omni

Coming in at a fraction of the price, the Yeedi Vac 2 Pro is a fantastic alternative to the seriously pricey Ecovac Deebot when it comes to hybrid mop and vacuum bots. Powerful and efficient, I reviewed Yeedi Vac 2 Pro and found it’s is a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality smart floor cleaner without the hefty price tag. Did we mention it has a self-emptying function and 200 minutes of runtime? It does have some downsides you should be aware of so click above to read the review. Or go right to my top robot vacuum and mopping pick after my in-depth review; the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni.