Verdict
At its sound , the Homey Bridge provides a simple way to tie in disparate equipment under one ceiling , with financial support for Zigbee , Z - Wave , Bluetooth and cloud connectedness . The deficiency of Thread and Matter support is dissatisfactory . Flows ( or procedure , as they ’re more unremarkably called in other organisation ) , can be exceptionally powerful , although most home users wo n’t need the more advanced options . Ultimately , SmartThings with a Hub provides similar feature for free , HomeKit is easier to use , and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant have expert ironware support . All of these systems ward off monthly fee , too .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
With theMattersmart home protocol start up to come to realisation , with its goal to unify the voguish plate , do we really take yet another bright home organisation and hub ?
Homey certainly thinks so with the launch of its Homey Bridge , which gives direct connectivity to Bluetooth , Wi - Fi , Zigbeeand Z - undulation equipment , plus cloud control of multiple other equipment . It ’s a intermixture of the brilliant and the frustrating , and it ’s a far techier and corner product than its competitor . Is it for you ? Read on for my finding of fact .
Design and installation
The Homey Bridge works with the homelike app to convey living for Z - Wave , Zigbee , Bluetooth and Wi - Fi devices that directly connect to it . In many ways that ’s similar to theSmartThings Hub(now made by Aeotec ) . It ’s not a requisite to utilize the Homey Bridge , with plenty of gimmick supported via cloud connections , but adding one expands the reach of devices that can be unite .
Technically , you’re able to get started with Homey for free , but the fee - free version is specify to five link up gadget or few . Realistically , you ’ll necessitate to pay the $ 2.99/£2.49 a month subscription fee to get Homey Premium , which then supports unlimited devices .
Paying may find a spot unusual , but there ’s a quite a little of development and support behind the scenes . If you do n’t want to apply SmartThings , Google Home , Amazon Alexa orApple HomeKit , then it seems only average to chip in to support a rival service of process .
A pear-shaped hub , the Homey Bridge , is power by USB and connects to your abode meshing via its Wi - Fi connection . There ’s no Ethernet option for this gimmick , which is a ignominy , as I broadly find a wired connector more reliable , particularly for a gimmick that I ’ll rely on to manipulate my smart home .
Installation takes just a few minutes , with the Homey app configuring your basic home layout , include setting floors and rooms ( call zones here ) , and gazump up the Bridge .
Before I dive into the rest of the review , it ’s important to recognise between the Homey Bridge and the Homey Pro , which is far more expensive . Both look very similar , but the Homey Pro patronize a all-embracing orbit of apps , so has better hardware support ; the Homey Bridge back most of the prominent names , and is a lot cheaper .
There ’s presently no Thread funding and no Matter support . That ’s a big ignominy , as the other main player stick out affair to one degree or another . Given that Matter is poised to be monolithic , supported by most new products , not having it here is a disgrace .
Device support
As with other voguish home systems , the first thing to do is get started by tally devices . This is easy enough by hitting the ‘ + ’ button at the top of the covert , explore for the manufacturer of your smart devices and then follow the on - screen instructions .
bet on the type of gadget , installation takes one of two forms . For cloud connections , you ’ll be redirected to the manufacturer ’s site , prompted to log - in with your account detail , which links your hardware .
For lineal - connected devices , these need to be couple with the hub directly , follow the instructions . For instance , adding a Zigbee motion sensor , I had to press and hold the couplet release .
support Z - Wave and Zigbee is great , as it massively extends the orbit of devices that you could add . And turn to smaller brands , such as Aqara , mean that it ’s possible to corrupt some comparatively cheap sensors .
ironware funding is generally very full . I witness that both of my smart door locks ( an Ultion Nuki and Yale Linus ) were usable , as were mySomfy Motorised Blinds , Philips Huelights , and Sonos players .
The Bridge also has an IR blaster in it , but it ’s a little inflexible . Rather than being able to programme the hub to activate any equipment , only IR devices in Homey ’s database can be added .
There were some other issue summate equipment . I logged into my Dyson account , which bring in all of my fans , but Homey also decided that my Dyson 360 Heurist robot vacuum cleaner cleaner was also a fan . And , my Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde did n’t exhibit temperature selection controls , so I could n’t adjust the heating output .
After reporting these number to Homey , I uninstalled the Dyson connection , and reinstalled to find that there were now disjoined options for Heurist , Cool and Dyson Link . That let me add my golem one by one , but when I assay to add together all of my fans using the Dyson Link , my heater was no longer selectable . Currently , the hummer is n’t supported , which is a shame .
I essay to add up my SwitchBot Blind Tilt automatonlike blind unfastener , but I just dumbfound an error when lumber into my account ; however , I could connect them directly via Bluetooth , which solved that trouble .
It ’s then a affair of whether or not a gimmick is supported . For example , no Ring machine are on this system , but are in SmartThings and Alexa . at long last , every wise home system suffers from deficiency of supporting for one gadget or another , and Homey is no different . Before you dive in , I recommend download the app and see what is supported .
Be aware that there is a water parting between the Homey Bridge and Homey Pro systems , with the latter patronize a wider range of equipment , such as Govee lights . That ’s a little frustrative and may mean that the Homey Bridge is not the right intersection for you .
The homely app is organize by zones , which can be nested . For example , I have a First Floor zone , with two bedrooms and a lav nest underneath . In term of organisation that ’s great , but gadget organisation could be unproblematic .
New equipment appear in the Zone presently selected , which is fine for a one - off , but annoying when there are multiple lights . My Philips Hue system consist of 31 item-by-item light . Having to select each one and move them into the right geographical zone is time consume and boring .
There ’s no means to radical ignitor into one handy control , as you could do with HomeKit , Alexa and SmartThings . The resultant role is that the app can look very littered .
It ’s also frustrating that some devices do n’t appear . I ’ve receive wireless controls and a motility detector in my Hue system , but they ’re not let on through the cloud link that Homey uses , so I ca n’t reuse them here . If I apply Alexa or HomeKit , I can use these live sensors for bit . In some cases , I have to double up - up on sensors that I already have .
Where equipment are put up , most of the feature that would be available in the producer ’s app are available in Homey , so I could control most of the equipment using a exclusive app .
Features and Flows
Homey can extend beyond its own app with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant . This give interpreter control over any twist connect to Homey , which fathom great , but I did have to be thrifty enable this .
Take my Hue lights , for good example . I have these connected to Homey and to Alexa via the prescribed Hue Skill . When I added the Alexa Homey Skill , all of my Hue lights were double . It ’s the same issue with the SmartThings Alexa Skill and one that ’s really frustrating . Third - party systems such as Homey want to add an alternative to let users choose which gimmick they want to add to Alexa .
I could just tot up the Homey Skill and control my Hue visible light through that , but the Hue Skill is more true and offers more features , so I do n’t want to .
While having a single app for controlling machine is useful , Homey is at its most powerful when automating a smart abode through flow . Routines in any other system , Flows have me see to it my smart base automatically .
For representative , I use my Nuki whorl as a trigger , unlocking my Yale Linus lock and opening my Somfy blind . When I lock the room access , I do the reversal and also turn off my Hue government agency Christ Within .
More powerfully , Somfy rate of flow can have an ‘ And ’ exception : that is , a everyday only go if multiple objectives are strain . For example , using a Fibaro motion sensor , I can have my Hue Light turn on if the luminosity level , measured by the sensor , sink below a sure level , and it ’s between dayspring and sundown . That fashion , if my office staff father dark during the daytime , I can turn the light source on . Only SmartThings can rival Homey for such powerful routines .
Flows do n’t have a natural option to unwrap an action . With SmartThings , I can tell the scheme to turn on a light with motion but turn it off after a situated issue of arcminute without motion . In many example , Homey requires extra activity or additional Flows to do the same thing .
There are points when Homey is just vexing to use . There ’s an option to turn on a chromaticity aspect mechanically , but the app just list panorama figure , not the room they ’re applied to . Given that each raw Hue way gets a set of nonpayment view , all with the same name , trying to opt the right vista that activates in the proper way is very intemperate .
Homey extend further than other smart household system with Logic and Variables . Variables can be set in the app via a Flow or a Webhook postulation . They can be useful for debug or even for activate a Flow when one changes .
As well as user - make variable star , Logic can also take readings from devices . For example , the mass of a Sonos player or the temperature scan by a Dyson fan . Most people wo n’t need to touch this part of the system , but anyone looking to do anything particularly complicated will discover that Homey matches their ambition .
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Should you buy it?
Homey ’s Flows are very powerful , and ideal for those that like to putter with their smart home .
There ’s good documentation in systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home , while the other main systems are devoid to use .
Final Thoughts
At its unspoilt , Homey is a super sinewy home automation system , withZigbeeand omega - Wave financial backing extending the range of gadget that are endure . ironware livelihood is fairly limited . While Homey Pro supports more machine , it ’s expensive and still falls behind Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant .
Then , there are some thwarting share of the app , such as the inability to group light together , whichHomeKitdoes so well . Homey does offer some very sinewy automations , although your average substance abuser wo n’t need these or , indeed , want to pay monthly for them . If you need Zigbee and Z - Wave support , get aSmartThings Hub , and use Amazon Alexa , HomeKit or Google Home for mechanization , as these systems are free .
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We test every chic dwelling house ware we review thoroughly over an extended period of clock time . We use diligence stock tests to compare features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
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FAQs
With the free package you get five gimmick ; it ’s inexhaustible devices with Homey Premium , although there are some limits on the numeral of devices by communications protocol : 240 Z - Wave , 50 Zigbee and unlimited Bluetooth .
The simple reply is mathematical product support . With Homey Bridge , you’re able to only tote up certified products ; the Homey Pro stand third - company hyperkinetic syndrome - ons for a wide chain of devices . Homey Pro is also more expensive .
