The idea of a fully affordable smart home devices setup used to sound like a dream only for those with a huge budget. Things have changed. In 2025, you can start building a connected home, complete with smart home automation, without spending a lot of money. You do not need to choose between paying rent and having a smart lighting system.
For price-conscious homeowners, renters, and students, the trick is to focus on value. This guide is here to show you the best budget smart home options available right now—many of them are the best smart home devices under $50—that deliver maximum convenience and function for a low price. This is your practical guide to building an entry-level smart home devices system piece by piece, perfect for anyone who wants a smart home starter kit.
Why Go Smart on a Budget in 2025?
The primary reason people look for cheap smart home gadgets is simple: efficiency and convenience at a low cost. Today’s devices work well with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, giving you hands-free control.
A smart home on a budget delivers real benefits:
- Energy Savings: Simple automation helps reduce wasted power.
- Security: Peace of mind comes cheap with good cameras and sensors.
- Convenience: Control lights, appliances, and temperatures from anywhere with your phone or your voice.
- Scalability: You can start small and add more devices as your needs and budget allow.
The Top 10 Affordable Smart Home Devices
Here are the top 10 affordable smart home devices that offer the best mix of features, reliability, and low cost in 2025.
1. The Smart Plug: Your First Step in Automation
Typical Price Range: $10–$25 (often cheaper in multi-packs)
A Wi-Fi smart plug is the simplest and most cost-effective DIY smart home device you can buy. It turns any ordinary appliance—a lamp, a fan, a coffee maker—into a smart device that you can control with an app or your voice.
- Key Features: Remote control, scheduling, and timer functions. Many good models, like those from Kasa (TP-Link) or Amazon, work without a separate hub.
- Value: Instant automation for less than the cost of dinner. This is a must-have for any smart home starter kit.
- Best Use: Schedule your slow cooker to turn off when you leave for work, or set your holiday lights to turn on right at sunset.
2. Mini Smart Speaker (Echo Dot or Nest Mini)
Typical Price Range: $30–$50
A small smart speaker is often the hub that makes everything else work. The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) or the Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) are perfect examples. They give you a voice assistant to control your plugs, lights, and other devices, and they play music, too.
- Key Features: Voice control for all connected devices, information access, and intercom functions.
- Value: Acts as the brain for your smart home without taking up much space or cash.
- Best Use: Say, “Turn off the living room light,” as you get into bed.
3. Indoor Smart Security Camera (Wyze or Roku)
Typical Price Range: $20–$40
Security does not have to be expensive. Brands like Wyze and Roku offer reliable indoor cameras that stream 1080p HD video and include features like motion detection and night vision.
- Key Features: Live streaming, motion-triggered recording, two-way audio (talk to your pets or a delivery person), and affordable cloud storage options.
- Value: High-quality monitoring for low prices, perfect for keeping an eye on a main doorway or a nursery.
- Best Use: Get an alert on your phone if your dog jumps on the couch while you are out.
4. Smart LED Bulbs
Typical Price Range: $10–$20 per bulb (for basic white)
Smart light bulbs are the easiest way to make your lighting truly smart. Many popular Wi-Fi bulbs from brands like Kasa, Sengled, or Amazon Basics do not require an extra hub.
- Key Features: Dimmable, scheduling, control via app, and voice control. Color-changing options may cost a little more.
- Value: Save money on energy bills and never forget to turn off a light again.
- Best Use: Group all your smart lights and turn them off with one voice command when you leave the house.
5. Smart Entry/Contact Sensors
Typical Price Range: $15–$30 (often sold in multi-packs)
These small, two-piece sensors attach to a door, window, or cabinet. When the two pieces separate, you get an instant alert. They are a core part of any smart home automation security plan.
- Key Features: Instant notification when an entry point is opened, connection to a security system, and small size.
- Value: An extremely affordable way to secure vulnerable points in your apartment or house.
- Best Use: Place one on the main door to notify you the moment it opens, or put one on a liquor cabinet you want to keep closed.
6. Smart Video Doorbell (Wired or Battery)
Typical Price Range: $50–$100 (Wired versions are often less expensive)
A smart video doorbell gives you security and visibility for the most important entry point of your home. Wired versions, such as the Ring Video Doorbell Wired, are often the most budget-friendly, and all you need is an existing doorbell setup.
- Key Features: HD video, motion detection, and two-way talk.
- Value: Monitor packages and see who is at your door from anywhere. It is a big security upgrade for a small price.
- Best Use: Check a live feed if you hear a strange noise late at night, or tell the delivery person where to place your package.
7. Universal Smart Remote
Typical Price Range: $40–$60
For anyone with a lot of older, infrared-controlled electronics (like a TV, soundbar, or old-school AC unit), a universal smart remote is a huge value. It learns the signals from your old remotes and lets you control those devices with your phone or a voice assistant.
- Key Features: Connects to Wi-Fi, controls a wide range of non-smart IR devices, and allows for voice control of your TV.
- Value: Brings “dumb” media and climate gear into your smart home 2025 system, saving you from buying all new appliances.
- Best Use: Use your voice assistant to turn on your TV and set the volume.
8. Budget Smart Thermostat
Typical Price Range: $80–$120 (look for rebates!)
While some smart thermostats are expensive, there are great budget smart home options, like the Amazon Smart Thermostat or basic models from Ecobee or Nest. These pay for themselves quickly through energy savings.
- Key Features: Scheduling, remote temperature control, and integration with local energy-saving programs.
- Value: Saves money monthly by adjusting cooling and heating based on whether you are home. Also, check for utility company rebates, which can bring the price way down.
- Best Use: Set the heat to automatically lower while you are at work and raise it ten minutes before you get home.
9. Smart Light Strips
Typical Price Range: $20–$40 for a basic kit
Smart light strips (like those from Govee or TP-Link) are long, thin ribbons of color-changing LED lights. They are perfect for adding flair and mood lighting on a budget.
- Key Features: Millions of colors, dimming, scheduling, and easy peel-and-stick installation behind a TV, under cabinets, or around door frames.
- Value: A dramatic and fun lighting upgrade for a very small price.
- Best Use: Mount them behind your main TV to reduce eye strain and make movie night more fun.
10. Simple Motion Sensor
Typical Price Range: $15–$35
Motion sensors are the perfect way to automate lights or security. When they detect movement, they can trigger an action—like turning on a light or sending an alert.
- Key Features: Small, battery-operated, adjustable sensitivity, and simple installation.
- Value: Great for automating actions in high-traffic, low-use areas.
- Best Use: Place one in a closet or pantry to turn on the light when you walk in and turn it off when no motion is detected for one minute.
Building Your Smart Home Starter Kit: Tips for Success
Starting your DIY smart home is easy when you keep a few things in mind:
| Step | Actionable Tip | Why It Matters |
| 1. Choose Your Voice Assistant | Commit to either Amazon Alexa (Echo) or Google Assistant (Nest). | This ensures your devices are compatible and you do not need multiple apps for control. |
| 2. Start with Power and Light | Buy a few smart plugs and smart bulbs first. | These are the lowest-cost, highest-impact devices that give you an instant feeling of smart home automation. |
| 3. Look for “No Hub Required” | Many affordable smart home devices connect directly to your home Wi-Fi. | Skipping the hub saves you $50–$100 upfront, making your smart home on a budget easier to start. |
| 4. Check for Bundles | Brands often sell 2-packs or 4-packs of plugs or bulbs for a much better per-unit price. | This is how you find the best smart home devices under $50 when buying multiples. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the least expensive way to start a smart home?
The least expensive way is to start with a single Wi-Fi smart plug (often under $15) or a basic smart light bulb. These devices are inexpensive, easy to set up, and they immediately let you control an appliance or light with an app on your phone, giving you a taste of smart home automation.
Do I need a central hub for all my cheap smart home gadgets?
No, many modern affordable smart home devices—including plugs, bulbs, and cameras from popular brands like Kasa, Wyze, and Amazon Basics—connect directly to your standard home Wi-Fi network. You only need a central hub if you use devices with protocols like Zigbee or Z-Wave, which are sometimes necessary for more complex setups.
What are some good budget smart home automation examples?
You can create powerful automations with just low-cost devices. For example:
- Security Routine: If the indoor smart camera detects motion while you are away, a smart plug connected to a loud radio turns on.
- “Good Night” Routine: Saying “Good Night” to your smart speaker turns off all the smart bulbs and plugs in the house.
- Timed Coffee: Schedule the smart plug connected to your coffee maker to turn on five minutes before your alarm goes off.
Which entry-level smart home devices offer the best value for renters?
For renters, the best value devices are those that do not require any hardwiring or structural changes. This includes smart plugs, smart bulbs, indoor security cameras, and battery-powered video doorbells. They are easy to install, easy to remove, and you can take them with you when you move.
Can I build a full smart home for less than $300?
Yes. With strategic buying, you can build a great starter system for under $300. You could get a mini smart speaker, four smart plugs, two smart bulbs, and one indoor security camera for a very functional smart home starter kit well within that budget. Focus on simple, single-function cheap smart home gadgets.