The best smart home systems in comparison

The best smart home system? If you want to professionally implement home automation, you better rely on a system that has already proven itself in practice. After all, a comprehensive smart home system can cost 500 euros and more. In our test comparison, we present the most popular smart home systems for retrofitting in three categories: simplicity, flexibility and security - because the best smart home system does not ultimately depend on the price, but on personal priorities.

Table of contents Table of contents The best smart home systems in comparison

• In three steps to a personal smart home system
• Tips for choosing the best smart home system
• In focus: list of smart home systems
• Simplicity: The best smart home systems in comparison
• EQ-3 Homematic IP
• AVM FRITZ! Box
• Elgato Eve Smart Home
• Netatmo Smart Home
• Belkin WeMo Smart Home
• Simplicity: the systems in comparison
• flexibility
• Magenta SmartHome / Qivicon
• Samsung SmartThings
• Innogy SmartHome
• Bosch smart home
• Homee smart home
• Stability: The best smart home security systems in comparison
• Lupusec XT1 Plus
• Egardia alarm system
• Gigaset elements Smart Home
• iSmartAlarm
• Audience favorites: The most popular smart home extensions
• Vacuum robot Neato Robotics Botvac D5 Connected
• What does a smart home system cost?
• How does IFTTT work?
• Conclusion: what is the best smart home system?

Table of contents Table of contents The best smart home systems in comparison

• In three steps to a personal smart home system
• Tips for choosing the best smart home system
• In focus: list of smart home systems
• Simplicity: The best smart home systems in comparison
• EQ-3 Homematic IP
• AVM FRITZ! Box
• Elgato Eve Smart Home
• Netatmo Smart Home
• Belkin WeMo Smart Home
• Simplicity: the systems in comparison
• flexibility
• Magenta SmartHome / Qivicon
• Samsung SmartThings
• Innogy SmartHome
• Bosch smart home
• Homee smart home
• Stability: The best smart home security systems in comparison
• Lupusec XT1 Plus
• Egardia alarm system
• Gigaset elements Smart Home
• iSmartAlarm
• Audience favorites: The most popular smart home extensions
• Vacuum robot Neato Robotics Botvac D5 Connected
• What does a smart home system cost?
• How does IFTTT work?
• Conclusion: what is the best smart home system?

The best smart home system accompanies our everyday life inconspicuously, links the individual actuators intelligently and can be controlled intuitively using an app, radio switch or voice assistant.

Many providers have been facing this challenge for several years: Magenta SmartHome, innogy or Samsung SmartThings should have already met most of them in the lively advertising landscape. The promise, for example: More security through smart door sensors that send an SMS in an emergency and make the linked siren howl. And more comfort thanks to an addressable heater that heats up to save energy while we are still circling the block to get a parking space. The possible smart home scenes are innumerable, just like the smart home systems to implement them.

In three steps to a personal smart home system

To find the best smart home for your own needs, it is best to ask yourself the following three questions before comparing the smart home systems:

1. Which areas should my smart home system link?

• Light control (WLAN sockets or smart LEDs)
• Heating control (smart radiator / wall thermostats, underfloor heating)
• Shading (smart blinds / roller shutter control)
• Entertainment (multiroom system, smart TV)
• Security (burglary and fire protection, water detectors, air quality)

2. How do I want to control my smart home?

• Intuitive app for automation
• Smart radio switches (permanently installed, adhesive, portable)
• Voice Assistant (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit / Siri)
• IFTTT (more on meta-apps at the end of the smart home comparison)

3. How flexible do I want to be in the system structure?

• Closed system, with products from one manufacturer
• Partially open system that integrates many cooperating third-party products
• Open system that can be freely designed with proprietary and third-party products

Tips for choosing the best smart home system

Tip 1: A closed or partially open system often has the advantage that the link runs smoother and more stable. The open system, on the other hand, allows a manufacturer-independent selection of smart home products. However, it can happen that devices have to be sent back because they use a different radio variant. In the following comparison of smart home systems, we made it clear which systems are open, semi-open or closed.

Tip 2: In order to enjoy the Smart Home System in the long term, you should take a closer look at the selection. Once you have decided on a system, you can start with a cheap starter package or order the control center with two components to test how the app interface looks and how intuitively you can create smart home scenarios. If in doubt, the smart home system can then be sold again better.

In focus: list of smart home systems

We examine the following smart home systems in this article:

• EQ-3 Homematic IP
• AVM FRITZ! Box
• Elgato Eve Smart Home
• Netatmo Smart Home
• Belkin WeMo Smart Home
• Magenta SmartHome / Qivicon
• Samsung SmartThings
• Innogy SmartHome
• Bosch smart home
• Homee smart home
• Lupusec XT1 Plus
• Egardia alarm system
• Gigaset elements Smart Home
• iSmartAlarm

• Philips Hue

• Heating control tado
• Vacuum robot Neato Robotics Botvac D5 Connected
• Logitech Pop

Simplicity: The best smart home systems in comparison

EQ-3 Homematic IP

EQ-3 is one of the early manufacturers of smart home components and supplies numerous smart home systems with its hardware. The company's own smart home system is called Homematic IP and is as unpretentious as it is functional. That means: With Homematic IP there is not a lot of bells and whistles, no fancy design, just solid, inexpensive smart home components with a sophisticated app. The smart home system is just as suitable for beginners as for advanced users.

Various entry-level kits allow you to quickly get into the smart home: for example, heating automation, smart lighting control and burglar protection. With more than 80 available components, the system can be expanded almost arbitrarily. Appropriate modules ensure that the underfloor heating and shading can also be controlled using an app or voice assistant. Concealed solutions can also be implemented with Homematic IP, so that the house can be professionally automated in the long term. With the Smart Home implementation, the Homematic IP user is supported by a large online community.

Overview: Compatible devices for Homematic IP.

Homematic IP Smart Home in comparison

Type: closed smart home system

Base station required: Yes / Homematic IP Access Point

Radio standard: 868 MHz band (proprietary)

Areas of application: security system, heating control, indoor climate, light control, household appliances, shading

Voice assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, Siri

IFTTT compatible: No.

Photo: homematic IP / Amazon

benefits	disadvantage
+ affordable components	- only Homematic IP products can be integrated
+ many extensions
+ large online community

Test votes for Homematic IP:

Techtest.org. says: "A good German app, quick and uncomplicated operation / setup and a high level of security, you really can't complain about what eQ-3 has done."

Chip.de rates: “Homematic IP convinced in the test as a smart entry-level system for controlling the heating, sockets and more. Thanks to the Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support, voice control is also possible without any problems."

AVM FRITZ! Box

The Berlin-based manufacturer AVM has considered killing two birds with one stone and has transformed its Internet router, the FRITZ! Box, into a smart home center. This eliminates the additional investment in a control center that is required for most smart home systems in comparison. The FRITZ! Box uses the DECT ULE (Ultra Low Energy) standard to save energy. Practical so that the battery-operated smart home components rarely need to be recharged.

So far, there are unfortunately only a few compatible components from AVM itself: Two smart plug connectors ensure the switching of power supply units via the MyFritz! App or depending on the position of the sun, as well as the evaluation of the power consumption. The radiator thermostat Fritz! Dect 301 allows you to preheat the apartment while on the go - if a window is open, the heating is automatically shut down. By using an open radio standard, third-party DECT ULE Smart Home devices can also be integrated into the FRITZ! Box Smart Home. For example, the Magenta Smart Home devices that use DECT ULE are compatible with the FRITZ! Box. More than 80 compatible components can currently be linked using DECT ULE / HAN FUN.

Overview: Compatible DECT ULE devices for FRITZ! Box Smart Home.

AVM FRITZ! Box Smart Home in comparison

Type: Open smart home system

Base station required: No (if FRITZ! Box is available)

Radio standard: DECT ULE / HAN FUN

Areas of application: security, heating control, indoor climate, light control, networking of classic household appliances

Voice Assistants: Alexa via Sketch

IFTTT compatible: No.

Photo: AVM

benefits	disadvantage
+ no gateway required if a FRITZ! Box is available	- few proprietary components
+ open radio standard DECT ULE / HAN FUN	- only DECT ULE devices with HAN-FUN are compatible
+ local smart home without external Cloud connection	- no automation depending on GPS data
	- If-then automations are only limited possible

Test votes for AVM FRITZ! Box Smart Home:

Teltarif.de is surprised: “The connections work and come about straight away. Contrary to expectations, we can really connect all components to the FRITZ! Box.”

Elgato Eve Smart Home

Elgato Eve has set itself the task of developing a smart home system especially for Apple HomeKit or the Home App. So it is no wonder that Eve Smart Home devices optically fit perfectly into the home of every Macian. The Elgato Eve components are all reminiscent of a bright white iPhone icon. The manufacturer has only been active in the smart home market since 2016, so the components available so far are manageable.

Is it still worth getting started with Elgato Eve? For Apple fans who are ready to dig a little deeper for the high-quality components: definitely! With Siri you can already control the heating (Eve Thermo), catch burglars red-handed (Eve Door & Window) and illuminate the living room (Eve Flare). And of course, all of this can be linked to other HomeKit-compatible devices via the Home app.

Overview: Eve Smart Home for more living comfort.

Elgato Eve in comparison

Type: Closed smart home system

Base station necessary: no

Radio standard: WLAN

Areas of application: security, lighting control, heating control, networking of classic household appliances

Voice assistants: HomeKit, Siri

IFTTT compatible: No.

Photo: Elgato

benefits	disadvantage
+ no gateway required	- iPhone or iPad required
+ Interaction with Apple HomeKit devices	- high-priced
+ simple plug'n'play principle	- limited ecosystem

Test votes on Elgato Eve:

Chip.de says: "Although Elgato leaves a solid impression in the test, the range of functions is still very limited."

Netatmo Smart Home

Netatmo climate monitoring is a classic in smart home circles: temperature, humidity, air quality, CO ₂ and volume can be conveniently accessed via the app. The French smart home system can now do much more than just warn of severe weather. For the garden, a rain gauge and an anemometer have been added, for the interior there are smart thermostats, roller shutters / blinds actuators and a WLAN surveillance camera that detects faces. An alarm siren and a smart smoke detector, which can be coupled with emergency lighting, also ensure safety. The Netatmo system also communicates directly via the more electricity-intensive WLAN, no extra gateway is required for this.

In contrast to Elgato eve, the Netatmo system is even more open to links. The devices can be voice controlled via HomeKit, Amazon Echo and Google Home and integrated into various smart home automations via IFTTT. The open system also means that Netatmo does not offer one, but four different smart home apps that control different subsystems: HomeCoach, Security, Energy and Weather.

Netatmo Smart Home in comparison

Type: Closed smart home system

Base station necessary: no

Radio standard: WLAN

Areas of application: security, lighting control, heating control, climate monitoring, shading

Voice assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, Siri

IFTTT compatible: Yes

Photo: Netatmo

benefits	disadvantage
+ no gateway required	- high-priced
+ compatible with HomeKit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa	- various smart home apps
+ simple plug'n'play principle
+ modern app design

Test votes for Netatmo Smart Home:

Androidpit.de sums up: "While the Netatmo sensors were initially more or less toys for hobby meteorologists, they have now become an important sensing instrument in a mature smart home ecosystem."

Chip.de writes: "Netatmo Welcome convinced in the test as an uncomplicated, easy-to-use smart home camera."

Belkin WeMo Smart Home

Belkin WeMo makes the smart home a little easier compared to AVM. The WeMo Smart Home uses WiFi, so it can be operated with any internet router as a control center. Since WLAN is a very electricity-intensive radio standard (which is why it is usually not used for smart home networking), WeMo only offers smart home devices that are directly connected to the power grid. As a result, the system is limited to a few components, including light dimmers, WLAN plugs, switches and night vision surveillance cameras.

Nevertheless, the Belkin WeMo Smart Home remains interesting. For beginners, it covers the most important smart home features in terms of light control and burglar protection and can be linked to many other services via IFTTT. For example, the light turns off when we leave the house or we receive an email when the coffee filter needs to be changed (in conjunction with Mr.Coffee coffee machine). The Nest thermostat and Osram Lightify LEDs are also compatible with Belkin WeMo. The whole thing can then be controlled by voice via Alexa, Google Assistant or HomeKit / Siri.

Overview: Compatible devices for Belkin WeMo.

Belkin WeMo Smart Home in comparison

Type: Partially open smart home system

Base station necessary: no

Radio standard: WLAN

Areas of application: security system, lighting control, household appliances

Voice assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, Siri

IFTTT compatible: Yes

benefits	disadvantage
+ no gateway required	- few proprietary components
+ many IFTTT applets for creating If-then automations	- limited ecosystem
+ simple plug'n'play principle	- HomeKit compatible only via WeMo Bridge
+ do not replace batteries
+ Hobbyists integrate all low-tension devices via the WeMo Maker
+ intuitive app

Test votes for the Belkin WeMo Smart Home:

Cyberport says: " A plus point is the simple and intuitive operation of the system."

Gdgts.de writes: "Setup is quick and thanks to IFTTT the nerd gets his money's worth too."

Additional WeMo components are available from the manufacturer's website

Simplicity: the systems in comparison

	EQ-3 Homematic IP	AVM FRITZ! Box	Elgato Eve	Netatmo Smart Home	Belkin WeMo SmartHome
Type	closed	open	closed	closed	partially open
Wireless	868 MHz band	DECT ULE / HAN FUN	WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS	WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS	WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
Base station	Yes / Homematic IP Access Point	No (if FRITZ! Box is available)	No	No	No
Areas of application	Security system, Heating control, Indoor climate, Light control, Domestic appliances, Shading	Safety, Heating control, Indoor climate, Light control, Networking of classic household appliances	Safety, Light control, Heating control, Networking of classic household appliances	Safety, Light control, Heating control, Climate monitoring, Shading	Security system, Light control, domestic appliances
Alexa	Yes	Yes about sketch	No	Yes	Yes
Google Home	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
HomeKit	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Siri	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
IFTTT	No	No	No	Yes	Yes

Flexibility: The best smart home systems in comparison

Magenta SmartHome / Qivicon

German Telekom is behind Magenta SmartHome. The large corporation has been investing a lot of energy in the expansion of its smart home system for some years now, doing many things right and only a few things wrong. Magenta offers different starter sets for every taste, each of which includes a control center called Qivicon Homebase. The Qivicon homebase supports not just one, but four radio standards: Homematic, Homematic IP, ZigBee and DECT ULE. The starter sets can be supplemented at any time with components from Magenta SmartHome or from third-party manufacturers.

The list of compatible devices is particularly long due to the many radio languages ​​of the base station, but only the manufacturers with whom Qivicon has a cooperation agreement can be involved. This in turn restricts the system somewhat, but also makes it more stable. What you rarely find in a smart home comparison: The app for the mobile control of Magenta SmartHome is chargeable (from 4.95 euros). And even if you are willing to pay the subscription, only Telekom customers benefit from warnings via SMS. In an emergency, users of other mobile service providers “only” receive push messages via the Internet.

Overview: Compatible devices for Magenta Smart Home.

Magenta SmartHome in comparison

Type: Partially open smart home system

Base station required: Yes / Qivicon homebase

Radio standard: Homematic, Homematic IP, ZigBee and DECT ULE

Areas of application: security, lighting control, heating control, climate monitoring

Voice assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

IFTTT compatible: No.

Photo: Qivicon

benefits	disadvantage
+ long compatibility list for a lot of flexibility	- App subscription with monthly costs
+ many different entry packages	- SMS service only for Telekom customers despite a subscription

Test voices for the Magenta SmartHome:

Housecontrollers writes: “Overall, the Magenta SmartHome did a good job in our long-term test. [Magenta SmartHome] turns out to be useful in everyday life because it is intuitive to use and easy to configure."

Homeandsmart.de says: " QIVICON connects individual systems with the overarching platform and thus creates a very extensive smart home system."

Prices and availability of Magenta SmartHome:

The Qivicon Smart Home Center costs around 140 euros in the Magenta SmartHome Shop

Samsung SmartThings

Samsung SmartThings has the vision of connecting the entire household with an app and controlling it comfortably with the Smart TV or using a voice assistant. The whole thing should be as simple as possible to implement. While Samsung devices such as Smart TVs, refrigerators and music systems are in the foreground, the Samsung SmartThings Smart Home is also open to third parties. The control center SmartThings Hub speaks the radio languages ​​Z-Wave and ZigBee - two common protocols that allow the integration of various smart home devices.

While much more is possible in America, in Germany Netgear, August, ring, Philips Hue and Honeywell can be controlled with the Samsung SmartThings app. If you want to find your way into the Samsung Smart Home System, you can also start with simple security functions. Just like Magenta SmartHome, there are also motion detectors and water detectors that indicate unusual activities by pushing a message on the smartphone.

Compatible devices for Samsung SmartThings in the overview.

Samsung Smartthings Smart Home in comparison

Type: Partially open smart home system

Base station required: Yes / SmartThings Hub

Radio standard: Z-Wave and ZigBee

Areas of application: security, lighting control, heating control, climate monitoring, multimedia, kitchen appliances

Voice assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

IFTTT compatible: Yes

Photo: Samsung

benefits	disadvantage
+ long compatibility list for a lot of flexibility	- Many compatible third party smart home devices are currently only available in the USA
+ Networking household and multimedia

Test votes for Samsung SmartThings (previously from the USA):

Trustedreviews.com writes: "The excellent automation, a long list of compatible devices and Alexa support make it the most flexible system I've ever used."

Thewirecutter.com says: “The versatile, highly compatible control center is able to build a sophisticated do-it-yourself smart home system. Technically savvy can also program complex automation.”

Innogy SmartHome

Like Homematic IP, the Smart Home System from RWE is designed more functionally rather than to score points with its design character. The innogy SmartHome headquarters uses a system-specific 868 MhZ radio protocol so that the Innogy Smart Home System is particularly suitable for those who want to move within an ecosystem. This does not necessarily have to be a disadvantage, because innogy has everything from the dimmable adapter plug to the heating control to the flush-mounted roller shutter actuator that needs proper home automation - a total of around 60 smart home products.

Thanks to numerous collaborations, it is also possible to control third-party smart home devices via the innogy app and to integrate them into smart home automation, including the Netatmo weather station, the Samsung Smartcam, the smart ENTR door lock from Yale and the Philips Hue light control. The icing on the cake of the system: The SMA Solar Technology photovoltaic inverter is compatible with innogy and ensures that significantly more hours of sun can be used.

Overview: Compatible devices for innogy SmartHome.

Innogy Smart Home in comparison

Type: Partially open smart home system

Base station required: Yes / innogy SmartHome headquarters

Radio standard: 868 MhZ radio protocol (proprietary)

Areas of application: security, lighting control, heating control, climate monitoring, shading

Voice assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

IFTTT compatible: Yes

Photo: innogy

benefits	disadvantage
+ large, proprietary range	- After 24 months, the deployment costs the app service 15 euros a year
+ many different entry packages

Test voices for innogy SmartHome

Homeandsmart.de sums up : " The innogy SmartHome system leaves a good impression overall - both in terms of hardware and functionally."

Technik-review.de writes: “The system is particularly impressive in terms of its variety of functions. People who already have an existing Philips Hue system, Alexa from Amazon or even a heating system from Buderus at home will be very happy here.”

Bosch smart home

Similar to the Magenta SmartHome system, the control center of the Bosch Smart Home System is equipped with numerous radio standards in order to be as accessible as possible for many non-manufacturer Smart Home devices. However, the well-known device manufacturer is not yet using its connections. In addition to Philips Hue, only Buderus heating systems and Amazon Alexa are compatible with the Bosch Smart Home Controller. The manufacturer's own smart home products mainly focus on heating control, burglar protection and video surveillance. Flush-mounted actuators for lighting and blind control are now also available. In comparison, the Bosch Smart Home System is still very young and will soon adapt to the competition in terms of performance.

The Bosch Smart Home looks better than the components of innogy or Magenta SmartHome. The 360 ​​° indoor camera and Eyes outdoor camera stand out. In the event of an alarm, the Bosch Smart Home System triggers the siren of the smart smoke detector. Accordingly, an alarm unit is saved. Another practical gimmick is the universal switch Flex, which as a portable switch can trigger up to four smart home automations without having to take the smartphone with you.

Compatible devices for Bosch Smart Home in the overview.

Bosch Smart Home in comparison

Type: Partially open smart home system

Base station required: Yes / Bosch Smart Home Controller

Radio standard: 868 MhZ radio protocol, ZigBee, Homematic IP

Areas of application: security, heating control, shading

Voice assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

IFTTT compatible: Yes

Photo: Bosch

benefits	disadvantage
+ many proprietary components	- currently not very compatible with products from other manufacturers
+ Many external potential in the future Integrate devices
+ Winner of numerous design awards
+ sophisticated, intuitive app
+ compatible with Buderus heating systems

Test votes on Bosch Smart Home

Caschy's blog writes: “In my opinion, Bosch is doing everything right so far with its system. […] The app is great because every function is well explained and helpful tips are given when teaching new devices."

Techstage.de sums it up: “The strengths lie clearly in the extremely simple setup and configuration. In the test, we also found the system to be very reliable.”

Homee smart home

The German manufacturer Homee is pursuing a completely different strategy compared to the Smart Home systems presented so far. Instead of building our own ecosystem, Homee only wants to provide us with the perfect smart home control center that is open to all smart home devices available on the market and flexibly interconnects them in smart home automation systems. The smart home control center has a modular structure: the first module is the BrainCube, which communicates with the associated app via WLAN. Additional radio cubes can be placed on it using magnets, each adding a radio standard to the Smart Home System. ZigBee, Z-Wave and EnOcean are currently available.

Another special feature of Homee Smart Home is the support of multiple system roles. The chief homee can configure, the homee can add devices and the small homee can only use the system. Another advantage of Homee compared to many other smart home systems: Voice assistant Alexa is supported natively. This means that the command "Alexa, start floor lamp" is sufficient to do this (instead of "Alexa, open [Skill] and start floor lamp"). The floor lamp can even be given several names so that the system responds to different voice commands.

Overview: Compatible devices for homes.

homee Smart Home in comparison

Base station required: Yes / Homee

Radio standard: WLAN, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Enocean

Areas of application: All

Voice assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

IFTTT compatible l: No.

Photo: homee

benefits	disadvantage
+ countless compatible products	- are only the devices tested by homee guaranteed compatible (to the list)
+ native Alexa support	- More research is needed to find out put together your own smart home system
+ different system roles	- No starter pack that is a cheap one and would allow quick entry
+ large homee community for ideas and questions

Test votes on homee

Tchgdns.de writes: "The installation and set-up is kept super simple and thanks to the extensive home telegrams there are almost no limits to home automation."

Mobilegeeks.de is convinced: "I would recommend Homee to every smart home beginner who does not want to familiarize himself with complex systems."

Flexibility: the systems in comparison

	magenta	Samsung Smart Things	Innogy	Bosch smart home	Homee
Type	partially open	partially open	partially open	partially open
Wireless	Homematic, Homematic IP, ZigBee, DECT ULE	Z-Wave, Zigbee	868 MhZ radio protocol	868 mhZ radio protocol, ZigBee, Homematic IP	WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Enocean
Base station	Yes / Qivicon homebase	Yes / SmartThings Hub	Ja / innogy SmartHome headquarters	Yes / Bosch Smart Home Controller	Yes / Homee
Areas of application	Safety, Light control, Heating control, Climate monitoring	Safety, Light control, Heating control, Climate monitoring, Multimedia kitchen appliances	Safety, Light control, Heating control, Climate monitoring, Shading	Safety, Heating control, Shading	All
Alexa	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Google Home	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Homekit	No	No	No	No	Yes
Siri	No	No	No	No	No
IFTTT	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Stability: The best smart home security systems in comparison

While the smart home systems presented so far also integrate security products, there are manufacturers who have focused specifically on the security of their own four walls. The security systems promise more stability thanks to a closed system and often also offer an SMS service that sends a short message in an emergency via the telephone network. The "normal" Smart Home systems in comparison only send a push message or e-mail, for which an internet connection is required to be received. The best four smart home systems on the topic of security with a good price-performance ratio are compared here.

Lupusec XT1 Plus

The German manufacturer LUPUS Electronics offers various smart control centers, which are among the most powerful alarm systems on the market. The Lupusec XT1 Plus smart home control center can integrate up to 80 components that can be controlled locally. A cloud service is also not necessary for remote access via app - a rare matter when comparing smart security systems. In addition to an extensive range of security components, Lupusec XT1 scores with email notification, SMS service and optional security service. Another big plus is the sabotage detection for the smart home components: If someone tamper with the sensors, the alarm system sends us a notification immediately. Since the Lupusec XT1, for example, makes heating thermostats and roller shutter relays controllable via app, the alarm system is also suitable as a fully-fledged smart home system.

Tip: The latest Lupusec XT3 model is the first and so far the only security system to be funded by the KfW bank.

Lupusec XT1 Plus in comparison

Outdoor siren: yes

Security camera: yes

Cloud storage: storage on SD card, FTP server or NAS storage

Burglary protection: window and door contacts, motion detectors, alarm sirens, glass break sensor

Home security: WiFi socket, smoke detector, shutter relay, heating thermostat, flush-mounted switch

SMS service: Yes

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, all IP cameras that allow access to live images via http call

Photo: LUPUS Electronics

benefits	disadvantage
+ mature smart home system	- relatively expensive
+ no cloud connection required
+ SMS service
+ Sabotage detection

Test votes for Lupusec XT1 Plus

Einbruchschutz-und-alarmanlagen.de says: “[Lupusec XT1 Plus] achieved a very good result in our reliability and security assessment […]. It didn't break down, neither malfunction nor false alarm”

Sei-icherer.de says: "Once again, Lupus Electronics shows that you can always improve something - the company keeps an eye on the developments and optimizes the security products accordingly."

Egardia alarm system

Egardia is one of the most popular smart security systems. The reasons for this are an extensive, proprietary Smart Home ecosystem, the reliable functionality as well as email and SMS notification in an emergency. The Egardia control center can integrate up to 160 smart home components. This is particularly exciting when you want to connect Philips Hue lights to the system. So far, the system is still not very compatible with third-party components, but Egardia says it is trying to establish many more partnerships. The Egardia alarm system is a good deal cheaper compared to the Smart Home System from Lupus Electronics. In order to use all functions, for example SMS notification, a subscription of around 7 euros per month must be taken out.

Compatible devices for Egardia Smart Home in the overview.

Egardia alarm system in comparison

Outdoor siren: yes

Security camera: yes

Cloud storage: yes

Burglary protection: opening detector, smoke detector, Panick button, glass break detector, alarm siren

Home security: WiFi socket, water detector, SMS service: Yes

Compatible with: Philips Hue, Conrad Connect

Photo: Egardia

benefits	disadvantage
+ mature security range	- only controllable via Conrad Connect with Alexa
+ compatible with Conrad Connect for expansion with external devices
+ SMS service

Test votes on Egardia

Chip.de says: "The Egardia SmartHome alarm system convinced in the test as an extensive, well-designed and reliable partner for home security."

Einbruchschutz-und-alarmanlagen.de writes: "The system works very reliably in everyday life, there were neither malfunctions nor a false alarm during the test period."

Gigaset elements Smart Home

Gigaset Communications is a former Siemens subsidiary and has specialized in simple home security using radio sensors. Visually, Gigaset elements is one of the most visually appealing security systems, but of course the inner values ​​are more important for a security system. Gigaset elements offers the most important security gadgets that can be controlled using a pleasantly tidy app. At best, the surveillance camera is disappointing. Despite HD resolution, it delivers only moderate images and does not provide an SD slot for local storage or two-way audio. The subscription to cloud storage is pleasantly cheap.

Overview: Compatible devices from Gigaset elements.

Gigaset elements in comparison

Outdoor siren: No.

Security camera: yes

Cloud storage: from 99 cents per month

Burglary protection: window and door contacts, motion detectors, indoor alarm siren

Home security: water detectors, smoke detectors, key finders

SMS service: No.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Philips Hue

Photo: Gigaset

benefits	disadvantage
+ affordable cloud storage	- moderate surveillance camera
+ controllable by voice	- no SMS service

Test votes on Gigaset elements

Techstage writes: "Once the setup is complete, the Gigaset app is attractive, tidy and logical. The operation in everyday life leaves no open questions."

Einbruchschutz-und-alarmanlagen.de sums up: "The system is primarily intended for customers who don't want to lose sight of their home while on the go and for whom simple and inexpensive installation is paramount."

iSmartAlarm

iSmartAlarm was founded in 2012 in Silicon Valley. The basic idea: a simple, inexpensive and smart alarm system that does not entail any contract costs. The company has kept its promise and set up a security system with free cloud storage. An SMS notification in Germany (so far) can only be implemented via IFTTT. Various surveillance cameras can be integrated into the system: iSmartAlarm Spot, iCamera (Keep Pro) and the Nest Cam. What we still miss is water and smoke detectors.

Overview of compatible devices for iSmartAlarm.

iSmartAlarm in comparison

Outdoor siren: No.

Security camera: yes

Cloud storage: free

Burglary protection: window and door contacts, motion detectors, indoor alarm siren

Home security: WiFi socket

SMS service: via IFTTT

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Philips Hue, August Smart Lock, nest cam, IFTTT

Photo: iSmartAlarm

benefits	disadvantage
+ particularly affordable system	- The app is sometimes not well translated into German
+ controllable by voice	- SMS service only via IFTTT
+ many compatible devices

Test voices for iSmartAlarm

sei-icherer.de writes: "The amazing thing is that the iSmartAlarm works excellently and is basically a bargain."

techtest.org says: "The bottom line is that the system works very well and reliably without being too annoying or expensive, hence my fullest recommendation!"

Stability: The security systems in comparison

	Lupusec XT1 Plus	Egardia	Gigaset elements	iSmartAlarm
Outdoor siren	Yes	Yes	No	No
Security Camera	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cloud storage	Storage on SD card, FTP server, NAS storage	Yes	from 99 cents per month	free
Burglary protection	Window and door contacts, Motion detector, Alarm sirens, Glass break sensor	Opening detector, Smoke detector, Panic button, Glass break detector, Alarm siren	Window and door contacts, Motion detector, Indoor alarm siren	Window and door contacts, Motion detector, Indoor alarm siren
Home security	WiFi socket, Smoke detector, Roller shutter relay, Heating thermostat, Flush-mounted switch	WiFi socket, Water alarm	Water alarm, Smoke detector, Key finder	WiFi socket
SMS service	Yes	Yes	No	about IFTTT
Compatible with	Amazon Alexa, all IP cameras that one Access to live images via Enable http call	Philips Hue, Conrad Connect	Amazon Alexa, Philips Hue	Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Philips Hue, August Smart Lock, nest cam, IFTTT

Audience favorites: The most popular smart home extensions

Light control from Philips Hue

We mentioned the smart lighting control more than once in the Smart Home comparison. And there is a good reason for this: Today, a smart home system has little chance of surviving if it is not compatible with the popular light control from Philips. On the one hand, the lighting system conjures up the right lighting mood for every occasion at the touch of a button or by voice command (for example, as an Ambilight for the TV), and on the other hand Philips Hue also serves as a burglar deterrent. When we are on vacation, the smart LEDs simulate our presence. During work, the lighting system communicates with the door sensor, for example, and illuminates the house with bright red light if there is a risk of break-in.

Of course, there are also alternatives to Philips Hue, some of which are cheaper (e.g. Ikea Home Smart), but so far no Philips Hue has been able to hold its own in tests and comparisons. This in turn ensures that more and more smart home systems and gadgets are compatible with Philips Hue - and so the scope for the lighting system increases almost every day.

Philips Hue scenario.

Photo: Philips

Heating control tado °

As far as possible, tado has managed to turn the heating thermostat into a modern lifestyle product. The smart thermostats are strikingly chic, can be controlled via a modern app and heat depending on presence and weather forecasts.

This means that tado is currently the Ferrari among the smart heating controls, closely followed by Netatmo and Elgato Eve Thermo. Here, tado is particularly interesting for all those who use Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to control the Smart Home. Basically, tado is a self-contained island solution that cannot be directly integrated into any of the smart home systems in our comparison.

So far, anyone who wants to use tado in conjunction with other smart home systems can only do so via the language assistants mentioned and the Conrad Connect interconnection platform. Via IFTTT, tado currently lets you connect with Nest Protect, Neato robot vacuum, WeMo Switch and Philips Hue. Possible example scenario: If the tado heating thermostat changes to home mode after 4 p.m. due to our return home, the living room lighting comes on.

Vacuum robot Neato Robotics Botvac D5 Connected

Connecting vacuum robots to smart home systems is not yet a big topic, although it is actually very practical if the vacuum robot stops vacuuming, for example, when we receive a call at home. This is exactly possible with the IFTTT integration of the Botvac D5 Connected - and a lot more. When we leave the house, the robot vacuum starts to work and when someone rings the ring on the smart doorbell, the robot vacuum pauses so that we don't miss the guest. Of course, the Neato Botvac D5 Connected can also be started by voice command with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The Neato Robotics Botvac D5 is one of the most popular vacuum robots, among other things because of its good price-performance ratio and the above-average suction power. By the way, Alexa is also compatible with many other vacuum robots, including Botvac D3 and D7, Ecovacs OZMO and R-series, Kobold VR200 and iRobot Roomba.

Smart home switch Logitech Pop

Would you like some color in your smart home? Then the Logitech Pop switch is a good alternative to controlling the smart home system via app or voice assistant. The small, colorful switches (also available in subtle white) can be attached to any surface with adhesive tape and last about 5 years before the battery has to be changed. The highlight of the whole: Up to three Smart Home scenarios can be saved on each Logitech Pop Button. For example, press once: the blinds and the heating thermostats raise. Press twice: the music system starts. Hold down the pop button: the blinds move down and the standard lamp lights up. The Logitech Pop Button is compatible with many smart home systems, including Belkin WeMo, Samsung SmartThings, Philips Hue, Apple HomeKit and Sonos Multiroom. The complete list can be found on the product page under the technical data.

What does a smart home system cost?

The starter packages of the Smart Home systems presented in the comparison cost around 120 to 350 euros. This usually covers two functional areas, for example heating control and theft protection. If you include multimedia devices such as multiroom speakers or smart TVs in the calculation, you will of course end up with much higher sums. Depending on how many networkable devices are already in the house, the costs for the smart home vary greatly.

How expensive can the smart home be?

Photo: Qivicon

How much your own smart home really costs depends on three factors:

• How expensive are the individual components of the smart home system?
• Which smart home areas should be covered: light, heating, shading, entertainment, indoor climate and security?
• How many rooms should be smartly upgraded? For example, do you need smart heating in the kitchen or smart lighting in the bathroom?

Calculation example 1

Smart Home System Magenta / Qivicon is installed in a 4-person household with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The smart home areas of heating, shading and security are automated in all seven rooms. In addition, all rooms are equipped with a Philips Hue light control (10 LEDs). The living room and main bathroom each receive a high-quality Sonos WLAN speaker (PLAY: 1 and PLAY: 3). Two Amazon Echo speakers are also installed for voice control.

Investment in the Qivicon Smart Home for the family of 4: around 4, 500 euros

Calculation example 2

An Apple Home Kit is used to install an elgato eve Smart Home system in a single-person household with a bedroom and a bathroom. The smart home areas of heating, security and indoor climate are automated in all four rooms. A HomeKit-compatible multiroom system is already available. Philips Hue bulbs are used in all rooms (6 LEDs), and two Hue light strips are also used for indirect lighting.

Investment in the HomeKit / elgato eve Smart Home for single households: around 1, 200 euros

How does IFTTT work?

IFTTT is a meta-app that combines functions of different apps in if-then functions. For example, the Neato robot vacuum starts to suck when the location detection of the Android smartphone notices that we have left the house. Different smart home devices can also be linked to one another: If the Arlo surveillance camera detects activity, the Philips Hue lamps in the hallway switch on. The if-then automations cannot be put together freely, but are predefined in so-called applets (see photo). After logging in, you can simply search for the desired smart home device on the IFTTT website, then all the available links for the system are displayed.

Photo: IFTTT

Alternatives to IFTTT

The following meta apps are in German and, unlike IFTTT, allow you to create your own if-then functions. A list of compatible smart home systems and applications can be found on the corresponding websites or the app descriptions linked here.

• Apple HomeKit
• Conrad Connect
• iHouse 2
• Gideon Smart Home
• Muzzley

Conclusion: what is the best smart home system?

The best smart home system meets your own needs for simplicity, flexibility and security and is therefore an individual matter. The comparison of smart home systems has certainly shown that getting started with a smart home can be easy. Once you have decided on a smart home system, you only have to follow the compatibility tables of the manufacturers and can put together your own personal smart home. We hope that our Smart Home test comparison 2019 will serve as a helpful decision-making aid.

Alina Günder