Blog

Practical guides for getting off Big Tech smart home platforms and onto something you actually own.

Guide

Shelly + Home Assistant: The Complete 2026 Integration Guide

How to integrate Shelly devices with Home Assistant. Covers relays, plugs, energy monitors, and the best automations to build with them.

January 8, 2026 10 min read
Guide

Tuya + Home Assistant: The Complete 2026 Integration Guide

Three ways to connect Tuya devices to Home Assistant: cloud, local, and fully flashed with ESPHome. Pick the method that fits your comfort level.

December 18, 2025 14 min read
Buying Guide

Best Zigbee Hub for Home Assistant in 2026: Every Option Compared

Comparing SkyConnect, Sonoff, ConBee, SLZB-06, and more. Which Zigbee coordinator should you actually buy for Home Assistant?

October 29, 2025 12 min read
Buying Guide

Matter Devices: Every Matter Compatible Smart Home Device Worth Buying in 2026

The complete guide to Matter smart home devices. Lights, plugs, sensors, locks, thermostats, and switches that actually work across every platform.

February 17, 2026 12 min read
Guide

Alexa + Home Assistant: The Complete 2026 Integration Guide

Three ways to connect Alexa and Home Assistant. From the easy Nabu Casa route to free DIY Lambda setup, plus using Echo speakers as announcement devices in your automations.

February 6, 2026 14 min read
Comparison

Home Assistant vs OpenHAB: Which Smart Home Platform Should You Pick?

An honest comparison of the two biggest open source smart home platforms. Ease of use, integrations, automations, stability, and who each one is for.

March 15, 2026 12 min read
Guide

Nest Thermostat + Home Assistant: The Complete 2026 Setup Guide

Connect your Nest Thermostat to Home Assistant with this step-by-step guide. Covers all models, cloud vs. Matter setup, and when to consider replacing your Nest entirely.

January 16, 2026 10 min read
Setup Guide

Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi: Complete 2026 Setup Guide

Everything you need to go from an empty Raspberry Pi to a working smart home. Pi 4 vs Pi 5, shopping list, installation, first automation.

March 3, 2026 12 min read
Guide

Philips Hue + Home Assistant: The Complete 2026 Integration Guide

Two ways to connect your Hue lights to Home Assistant: keep the bridge or go Zigbee direct. Setup steps, scenes, automations, and what happens after the Google shutdown.

December 11, 2025 12 min read
Guide

Zigbee vs WiFi for Smart Home: Which One Should You Pick?

Comparing Zigbee and WiFi for smart home devices: reliability, range, cost, privacy, and when to use each. Most homes benefit from both.

November 24, 2025 10 min read
Guide

Home Assistant Compatible Devices: The Complete 2026 Guide

Which smart home devices work with Home Assistant? Our guide covers lights, locks, sensors, cameras, thermostats, and more, with specific brand recommendations and protocols to prioritize.

November 5, 2025 12 min read
Beginner

Home Assistant for Beginners: The Complete 2026 Getting Started Guide

New to Home Assistant? Everything you need to know: what hardware to buy, how to install it, your first automation, and the common mistakes to avoid.

October 8, 2025 12 min read
Guide

7 Best Google Home Alternatives in 2026 (That Actually Work)

Google Home is dying. Here are 7 real alternatives for your smart home, from Apple HomeKit to Home Assistant, with honest pros, cons, and migration tips for each.

September 22, 2025 12 min read
Urgent

Google Assistant Is Shutting Down. Here's What Smart Home Owners Actually Need to Do.

Google is killing Google Assistant on March 26, 2026. Your voice commands, routines, and automations will stop working. Here's the full timeline, what devices are affected, and your real options.

August 14, 2025 12 min read