Smart Home on a Budget: Gadgets for Less Than $100

The best thing about smart home technology is its ability to make your life easier and more convenient. The great news is that you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy these benefits.

In order to make it easier for you to upgrade your rental, we put together a list of gadgets that will do the trick and cost less than $100.

Smart Plug

The first on our list of budget smart home devices is the smart plug. It may sound kind of basic and boring, but it is actually one of the most underrated ways to upgrade your home. You can plug it into any outlet and control it remotely with your smartphone or voice assistant. You can use it to turn any appliance on and off including lamps, fans, coffee makers or heaters.

An even cooler feature is that you can also set schedules and routines for your smart plug as a way to automate your home. For example, you can have your coffee ready when you wake up or your lights dimmed when you go to bed. A smart plug is a simple but effective way to make any device smart. You can get one for as low as $20.

Smart Speaker

A smart speaker is a device that can play music, podcasts, audiobooks and more with just your voice command. You can also use it to ask questions, check the weather, set reminders, control other smart devices and more. A smart speaker is like having a personal assistant in your home that can do almost anything you want.

There are a variety of sizes, colors and features for smart speakers, so you will easily find one to fit your needs. You can get one for as low as $35 while the most affordable versions from newer generations will cost you $50 to $100.

Smart Bulb

There is no smart home on a budget that does not include at least one smart bulb. This is a light bulb that you can control with your smartphone or voice assistant. You can change the color, brightness, temperature and mood of your lighting with just a tap or a word. You can also set schedules and routines for your smart bulb to match your daily activities.

For example, you can have your lights wake you up gently in the morning or create a cozy atmosphere in the evening. A smart bulb is a great way to customize your home lighting and save energy. You can get one for as low as $15.

Smart Camera

If you’re focused more on safety, you should definitely include a smart camera on your list of affordable smart home products. This device can record and stream a video of your home to your smartphone or cloud storage. You can use it to monitor your home security, check on your pets, talk to your visitors and more.

You can also get alerts and notifications when something happens in your home, such as motion detection, sound detection or face recognition. A smart camera is a useful tool to keep an eye on your home and family from anywhere. You can get one for as low as $30.

Smart Doorbell

Speaking of safety, another way to keep track of who visits your house is by getting a smart doorbell. This gadget can show you who is at your door on your smartphone or smart display. You can also talk to your visitors, see and hear them from anywhere. You can use it to greet your guests, deter unwanted visitors, accept deliveries and more.

You can also get alerts and notifications when someone rings your doorbell or approaches your door. A smart doorbell is a convenient and secure way to manage your front door from anywhere. The downside is that a few require some (re)wiring work as part of their setup. You can get one for as low as $50.

Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat is a device that can adjust the temperature of your home automatically based on your preferences and habits. You can also control it with your smartphone or voice assistant from anywhere. You can use it to save energy, lower your bills, improve your comfort and more. Like with many of the smart home devices listed here, you can also set schedules and routines for your thermostat to match your daily activities.

For example, you can have your thermostat lower the temperature when you leave for work or raise it when you come back home — or right before you get in, so that it’s warm and cozy as you step in. A smart thermostat is a great investment for your home and wallet. You can get one for as low as $100.