Push the button and make your sensible residence give you the results you want
Good residence buttons are a giant factor now. You could assume that, as we transfer away from distant controls, switches and apps and in direction of a voice-controlled sensible residence, you’d haven’t any want for an additional bodily controller in your home.
Nonetheless, the brilliance of the very best sensible residence buttons lie of their simplicity, and multi-functionality from a single press.
Positive, you may flip your bed room gentle on with the swap on the wall like your grandpa used to; however can that swap additionally flip off any lights you’ll have left on downstairs, activate your whole safety cameras, set your alarm and tune into some sleeping sounds in your sensible speaker? It can’t.
Until it’s a sensible gentle swap, after all, however that’s a unique story.
That’s the place the present crop of sensible buttons are available. With a easy faucet, double faucet or lengthy press (or possibly a twist) you may set off an array of sensible residence scenes and automations.
Positive, you would ask Alexa or the Google Assistant to kick begin these routines and management your sensible gadgets, however generally it’s a lot simpler to simply push a button – particularly as you may strategically place them (and transfer them) round the home to the place they are going to be most helpful.
Plus, loads of sensible buttons – together with the likes of Hue and Flic – may even act as triggers for sensible residence routines and automations inside your chosen sensible residence ecosystem these days anyway.
Learn on to search out out extra…
Good buttons: What to contemplate earlier than shopping for
Good buttons are nonetheless a reasonably new-ish concept, and the market isn’t precisely bursting on the seams with choices. Nonetheless, even when extra contenders do come to the social gathering, they received’t actually do rather more than the present providing can.
When you transcend a button that gives just a few scenes on the faucet of a button, you’re getting into the realm of a distant management, and that may be lacking the purpose.
However manufacturers like Flic are getting round this by cleverly integrating further controls corresponding to twists and even gestures.
What you do want to contemplate, although, is what sensible residence gadgets and platforms the sensible button you’re considering of shopping for faucets (see what I did there?) into.
Does it assist HomeKit scenes? Can it kick begin an Alexa Routine? Will it combine with the way you already run your sensible residence? Will it present a key management in your most vital sensible system?
We detailed a few of these elements in every entry beneath, and extra data will be sought out from every producer. We’ve lived with the above examples for some time now, and so they simply work.
You’ll infrequently have a click on (or double, or triple, or lengthy press) go unnoticed and, on the odd event this does occur, no button beneath is extra responsible than another of this misbehavior – we discovered them to be just about on a par when it got here to reliability.
The most effective sensible buttons 2025
Listed here are our picks for the very best sensible buttons you should utilize in your sensible residence, whether or not you’re attempting to manage a single equipment, otherwise you’re seeking to arrange extra concerned routines and programs.
Finest total sensible residence button: Flic 2
Flic has been within the sensible button recreation longer than most – it first went reside on Indiegogo in 2014, smashing its $80,000 goal and elevating virtually $1 million. The Flic 2, which additionally started life as a crowdfunding marketing campaign, is well essentially the most button-like sensible button, weighing lower than 10g.
The primary-gen Flic system was nice and the sequel is even higher. The vary of tech it’s appropriate with is large – highlights embody Hue, Lifx, Sonos, Ecobee, Ikea Trådfri, WeMo and a complete lot extra – and the gaps will be stuffed with IFTTT and Logitech Concord controls and recipes as properly.
Just like the (now discontinued) Logitech Pop, it’s a easy one, two or lengthy faucet management technique.
Flic permits you, fairly simply, to program routines and actions as easy or as sophisticated as you require. The arduous bit is remembering precisely what every press of every button does.
The app can also be jam-packed with ‘enjoyable’ (i.e. naff video games) and extras; essentially the most helpful being the ‘discover my telephone’ perform that performs a loud alarm via the Flic app in your smartphone. It’s additionally appropriate with a variety of health platforms – you can begin and cease a Strava run with it, for instance. It even comes with a little bit belt clip so you may put on it out and about.
It’s less expensive than a few of its rivals as you don’t have to fork out for a hub – it could possibly work by simply utilizing your telephone as its gateway.
Now, that has its flaws, after all – it’s worthwhile to enable the app to run always and it’ll solely work if it’s in Bluetooth-range of your telephone – and that’s why Flic gives a hub to pair as much as the Flic buttons (from $100 / £100).
The Flic sensible residence button additionally has an enormous weapon in its arsenal: it could possibly act as a set off for Alexa Routines.
You would create a morning routine that, after a click on on Flic button, reads the information from an Echo Present, tells you what’s in your schedule, turns the sensible safety alarm off, and switches on a sensible plug within the kitchen to get the espresso maker fired up.
Whereas we’ve highlighted the Flic 2 right here due to its simplicity you may additionally need to take into account the superb Flic Twist, which provides a dial across the sensible button to increase the quantity of inputs you may program.
Turning a dial is rather more intuitive and pure for sure management behaviors; assume gentle dimming, quantity adjusting, blind positions and the like.
After which there’s the upcoming Flic Duo, the newest sensible controller from Shortcut Labs.
The Duo isn’t merely a double-up of an everyday Flic button. In case you detach it from its magnetic mount, you may unlock a complete new world of prospects.
Swipes, rotations, and different gestures rework it right into a full-blown distant management in your sensible residence.
No matter Flic you select, the ecosystem and integrations are the identical and the hubs work with all of the buttons on provide.
What we love
- Compact design
- Alexa Routine set off
- Works with out a hub
- Enjoyable extras aplenty
What we don’t love
- App generally is a bit flakey
- Hub prices further
Finest for Philips Hue: Philips Hue Good Button
Philips Hue’s Good Button is the newest addition to Signify’s ever rising vary of equipment. Stick it anyplace to manage the lights in a room, space, or the entire home, and watch because it well adjusts them primarily based on the time of day.
At lower than $20, the Good Button is the least costly possibility from Signify for controlling your Hue lights exterior of voice management or the app. The button comes pre-programed to show the chosen lights on at acceptable brightness/lighting scene primarily based on time of day, with 5 time slots.
All of that is customizable, however properly it simply works proper out of the field, with no programming or scene creating wanted to get you going.
It’s not simply Hue controls although – you may sync the button to your HomeKit setup, the place it could possibly work as a sensible button to manage any HomeKit related system. The most effective use case for HomeKit is to activate a HomeKit Scene, however there are higher sensible button choices on the market if that’s one thing you’re on the lookout for, such because the Eve button we’ve got listed on this information.
Whereas it doesn’t play properly with different gentle bulbs, requires the Hue bridge and has solely restricted management when paired to HomeKit, it’s a terrific addition for anybody invested within the Hue ecosystem on the lookout for a easy, cheap strategy to management lights in a room.
Like Flic, Hue sensible buttons at the moment are in a position to act as triggers inside an Alexa sensible residence system. You’ll be able to configure them to kick begin an Alexa Routine inside the Alexa app, identical to the Flic 2 button.
Additionally, just like the Flic Twist, there may be the choice to go greater with the Hue Faucet Dial however you’re venturing into sensible swap territory there, reasonably than a sensible button.
What we love
- Hue native
- Slick design
- Effectively-priced
What we don’t love
- HomeKit restricted
- Wants Hue Bridge
Finest sensible button for HomeKit: Eve Button
In contrast to Flic’s and Logitech’s sensible buttons, the Eve Button doesn’t allow you to specify particular person sensible tech gadgets, or add a number of devices to a faucet management; it depends on HomeKit to do the heavy lifting.
Dwelling inside the Eve app, which is basically Apple’s House App in numerous garments (you may truly do all the configuration inside the House app, in reality), your single, double or lengthy press choices are reserved to start out HomeKit scenes – and nothing else.
Now, whereas that does sound a bit restrictive in comparison with its rivals, when you’re dwelling in a sensible residence managed by Apple’s ecosystem then it’s truly a terrific setup. Positive, if you wish to simply flip a single sensible gentle on or off, it’s a little bit of a faff to arrange a House Scene for that primary management however, for extra superior chains of occasions, it definitely is smart.
If in case you have a devoted Apple HomeKit hub – i.e. a HomePod or an Apple TV – then the Eve Button will work faultlessly in your home with out points.
Nonetheless, when you’re solely powering your sensible residence utilizing the iOS House app in your iPhone, you’ll want that telephone situated close by for issues to work.
Design-wise the Eve is the bulkiest beast of the bunch, though the anodized aluminum end does look extra premium than the Hue and Flic’s plastic construct.
Because it’s solely Bluetooth LE powering the present, battery life is so long as the coin battery lasts (i.e. a very long time) so that you received’t have to hassle charging it.
What we love
- HomeKit compatibility
- Versatile makes use of
- Lengthy battery life
What we don’t love
- HomeKit restrictions
- Barely concerned setup
- Barely cumbersome
Finest for Z-Wave programs: Fibaro The Button
The Fibaro Button might seem like a panic alarm – as a result of it’s – however it’s additionally a battery-powered sensible residence button that brings a number of management choices to your sensible residence.
Suitable with any Z-Wave or Z-Wave Plus controller – corresponding to SmartThings Hub or a Homey Professional – and it’ll allow you to handle a large number of gadgets and set off scenes with a easy press, and never simply Z-Wave gadgets too.
The Button acknowledges as much as six completely different actions, starting from one to 5 clicks, in addition to holding the button down, enabling you to manage varied gadgets or provoke advanced scenes effortlessly.
Its design means you may mount it just about anyplace – beside your mattress, underneath a desk, or you would even carry it with you.
Powered by an ER14250 battery, The Button boasts an estimated battery lifetime of as much as two years underneath default settings with typical utilization.
In Panic Mode, every press can set off an emergency scene, making it a useful software for alerting family members throughout pressing conditions.
It’s out there in black, white, crimson, inexperienced, blue, yellow, orange and brown – and there may be additionally a HomeKit model too.
What we love
- Acknowledges a number of press patterns for numerous management
- Loads of shade choices
- Lengthy battery life reduces upkeep
- Panic Mode provides an additional layer of safety
What we don’t love
- Requires a Z-Wave controller for operation
- Lacks native assist for non-Z-Wave ecosystems
- Not precisely discrete
Finest worth sensible button: Tapo Good Button
The Tapo Good Button is an reasonably priced possibility for anybody trying so as to add easy, customizable controls to their sensible residence, albeit a sensible residence full of Tapo gadgets.
The clue is within the title… coming from TP-Hyperlink’s Tapo vary, it’s designed to work seamlessly with different Tapo gadgets, making it a terrific alternative if you have already got Tapo sensible plugs, lights, or cameras.
Like most sensible buttons, it helps single press, double press, and lengthy press actions, so you may assign a number of capabilities to a single button.
The button is small and battery-powered, so you may place it anyplace and it makes use of an ultra-low-power proprietary wi-fi protocol, working at 868 MHz or 922 MHz, for quick, dependable responses.
However like many gadgets utilizing proprietary protocols, it does require a appropriate Tapo hub – it could possibly’t discuss to your Wi-Fi Tapo plugs and bulbs straight.
That’s one thing to bear in mind when you’re ranging from scratch, although the hub provides further performance like native management and improved reliability in comparison with Wi-Fi buttons.
Whereas it’s nice for primary sensible residence management, it lacks the deeper integrations of extra full choices just like the Flic 2.
It additionally doesn’t work natively with Apple HomeKit, which can be a dealbreaker for some.
Nonetheless, when you’re on the lookout for an affordable and dependable sensible button that works properly inside the Tapo ecosystem, it’s an honest possibility.
What we love
- Finances-friendly and dependable
- Helps a number of press actions
- Compact and battery-powered
- Extremely-low-power wi-fi protocol for quick responses
What we don’t love
- Requires a Tapo hub
- No native HomeKit assist
Finest for the backyard: Senic Pals of Hue Outside Swap
Senic’s Outside Swap is the primary Pals of Hue sensible swap created for exterior use; however it’s not technically a sensible gentle swap – it’s rather more of a sensible button.
There’s no have to hook it as much as wiring or use screws, there are sticky pads within the field and I’ve had mine caught a rendered wall for weeks now and it has stayed in place with no points.
You’ll be able to, if you would like a bit extra reassurance, take off the the rear cowl plate and screw it securely to the wall. The Swap then pops over this base.
There’s no battery; the Senich is powered by EnOcean power harvesting know-how – the movement of the button being pressed (and rebounding) retains the facility topped-up.
To setup you simply use the Hue app and add the Senic Outside Swap as an adjunct. The 4 button setup gives a primary, but efficient, management technique in your Hue bulbs. When establishing within the Hue app, you merely select what you need to occur when every button is pressed, or held.
Subsequently there are 8 inputs in whole however you may prolong this to 12 utilizing third social gathering Hue apps corresponding to iConnectHue, which provides a double-tap into the equation.
The Outside Swap can also be HomeKit appropriate and this open up a world of additional controls corresponding to sensible audio system, heating and extra.
Basically, you may can program the Senic to do virtually something in your HomeKit residence, by way of controls, automations and scenes, though – not like a Hue setup – you might be restricted to simply 4 buttons; there’s no holding technique inside HomeKit utilization.
What we love
- Tremendous easy set up
- Weatherproof
- Nice for Hue
- No want for a battery
- Additional HomeKit smarts
What we don’t love
- Wants a Hue Bridge
- HomeKit controls is simply 4 buttons
FAQs
Good buttons range of their compatibility. Some, just like the Philips Hue Good Button, are designed for particular ecosystems (on this case, Hue). Others, just like the Flic 2, provide broader compatibility via integrations with platforms like IFTTT, Alexa Routines, and Google Assistant. All the time examine the specs of the sensible button you’re contemplating to ensure it really works along with your present sensible residence setup.
Whether or not or not you want a hub is determined by the precise sensible button and its ecosystem. Some buttons, just like the Flic 2, can perform straight along with your smartphone by way of Bluetooth, though a hub is really useful for expanded vary and reliability. Others, just like the Hue Good Button, require a bridge (on this case, the Hue Bridge) to perform. You’ll want to examine the product description to verify hub necessities.
Most sensible buttons are battery-powered, usually utilizing coin cell batteries. Battery life varies relying on utilization and the precise button, however usually, you may count on a number of months or perhaps a 12 months or extra of use earlier than needing to interchange the battery. Some sensible buttons, just like the Senic Outside Swap, use power harvesting know-how and don’t require batteries in any respect.
Whereas they each present bodily controls in your sensible residence, sensible buttons and sensible switches serve completely different functions. Good switches change your present gentle switches and straight management the wiring of your lights. Good buttons, however, are usually wi-fi and will be positioned anyplace. They act as triggers for scenes and automations, controlling a wider vary of sensible gadgets past simply lights. Good buttons provide extra flexibility in placement and performance, whereas sensible switches present a extra conventional wall-mounted management for lighting.
