6 smart-home upgrades with zero monthly fees

The six

1. Smart plugs with energy monitoring. Pick Zigbee or Matter so they work without the maker’s cloud.
2. A local hub. Home Assistant runs on a small box at home, so automations keep working when the internet does not.
3. Battery sensors. Door, motion and temperature sensors are cheap and run for months on a coin cell.
4. A camera that records at home. Check the spec sheet for microSD or home storage before buying.
5. Smart switches or bulbs. Switches keep the wall switch working for guests; bulbs are the easy option for renters.
6. Smart radiator valves. Heat only the rooms you use, on a schedule per room, without replacing your boiler.