The best smart home hub depends on your existing ecosystem and budget, but the Google Nest Hub Max at £150 offers the most balanced mix of display quality, voice control, and compatibility across a wide range of smart devices. If you’re already invested in Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem, the Amazon Echo Show 8 at £179.99 is superior; for budget-conscious buyers, the Google Home speaker at £69 delivers solid voice control and automation without the screen.
Smart home hubs and assistants have become the nervous system of connected homes — they’re the central controllers that tie together lights, locks, cameras, and thermostats. But not all hubs are created equal. Some excel at voice commands, others at local automation, and a few handle multiple wireless standards simultaneously. The key is matching the right device to your existing smart home setup, not buying the fanciest option.
Our Top Picks
Google Nest Hub Max — £150 (Best All-Rounder)
The Nest Hub Max combines a 10-inch touchscreen with Google Assistant, making it the most versatile hub for households with mixed smart home brands. It supports Zigbee, Bluetooth, Thread, and Google’s native protocol, giving it exceptional compatibility. The video call feature and Nest camera integration are genuine strengths if you have Google Nest products.
Amazon Echo Show 8 — £179.99 (Best for Alexa Homes)
If you’ve already committed to Alexa, the 8-inch screen on this Echo Show is larger than most competitors’ base models whilst remaining affordable. It supports Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Amazon Sidewalk, and integrates seamlessly with Ring doorbells and other Amazon-owned smart home brands.
Google Home Smart Speaker — £69 (Best Budget Pick)
Don’t let the lower price fool you. This compact speaker handles voice commands, routines, and automation across Google’s ecosystem just as well as pricier options — it simply lacks a screen. Ideal for bedrooms, kitchens, or as a secondary hub in larger homes.
Philips Hue Bridge — £52.79 (Best for Lighting First)
This isn’t a general-purpose hub, but if your smart home revolves around Philips Hue lights, it’s essential and the cheapest way to unlock advanced automations and remote control. Many people buy one and never look back.
Amazon Echo Hub — £179.99 (Best Wall-Mounted Hub)
A smaller, wall-mounted alternative to the Echo Show 8. Ideal if you want Alexa automation without taking up kitchen counter space. Same Zigbee and Sidewalk compatibility as the Echo Show 8.
Homey Bridge — £70.99 (Best for Multi-Brand Homes)
Homey Bridge is agnostic — it supports 50,000+ smart devices across Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, WiFi, and IR, making it the ultimate choice for homes with mismatched brands. No screen, but exceptional under-the-hood automation and local processing.
Amazon Echo Show 11 — £219.99 (Best Large Display)
The 11-inch screen is noticeably larger, making this better for families who use their hub as a kitchen command centre. Same connectivity as the Echo Show 8, just more screen real estate.
TP-Link Smart Home Control Bundle — £100 (Best Value Bundle)
This bundle includes multiple TP-Link devices (typically a hub plus smart plugs or switches), making it cost-effective if you’re building a TP-Link ecosystem from scratch. Limited to TP-Link’s proprietary Kasa app.
Smart Home Hub with Zigbee WiFi Bluetooth Compatibility — £89.97 (Best Generic Option)
A no-frills multi-protocol hub for buyers who want Zigbee, WiFi, and Bluetooth support without brand lock-in. Lacks a screen or voice control, but solid for pure automation.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Nest Hub Max | £150 | All-in-one control, Google ecosystem | 10-inch touchscreen + Google Assistant |
| Amazon Echo Show 8 | £179.99 | Alexa homes, Ring integrations | Balanced screen size and price |
| Google Home | £69 | Budget-conscious, audio-only control | Compact, affordable, fully featured |
| Philips Hue Bridge | £52.79 | Hue-centric homes | Lowest price, single-purpose reliability |
| Homey Bridge | £70.99 | Multi-brand setups, local automation | 50,000+ device support |
How We Chose
- Protocol support: Prioritised hubs supporting at least Zigbee, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Devices limited to proprietary protocols scored lower unless they offered exceptional value in their niche.
- Price-to-capability ratio: Tested that price matched feature set. A £150 hub must genuinely outperform a £70 option in meaningful ways (screen quality, processing power, compatibility breadth), not just marketing claims.
- Ecosystem lock-in: Favoured hubs with broad brand support and local automation to reduce dependency on cloud services or proprietary ecosystems.
- Real-world usability: Excluded hubs requiring complex setup, unreliable connectivity, or poor mobile app experiences, even if specs looked good on paper.
The Bottom Line
The Google Nest Hub Max at £150 is the best overall smart home hub for most households because it balances a bright 10-inch touchscreen, Google Assistant voice control, and broad device compatibility without requiring existing ecosystem commitment. However, if you’re already deep in Alexa, the Amazon Echo Show 8 at £179.99 is the better choice, and if you’re on a tight budget, the Google Home at £69 delivers nearly identical automation smarts in speaker form. For multi-brand homes with no preference, the Homey Bridge at £70.99 is the most versatile option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest smart home hub that actually works well?
The Philips Hue Bridge at £52.79 is the cheapest hub available, but it only controls Philips Hue lights. For a general-purpose hub supporting multiple brands, the Google Home speaker at £69 is the best budget option, handling voice commands, automations, and broad device compatibility.
What are the best smart home hubs under £100?
Three solid options sit below £100: Google Home at £69 (best for Google Assistant users), Philips Hue Bridge at £52.79 (Hue lights only), and Homey Bridge at £70.99 (best multi-brand support). All three handle core automation tasks; choose based on your existing devices.
Should I buy a smart hub with a screen or just a speaker?
Buy a screen if you use your kitchen as a command centre or want to see camera feeds, recipes, and routines at a glance. The Google Nest Hub Max and Amazon Echo Show 8 justify their higher prices for this reason. Buy speaker-only if you primarily control things via voice or phone app — the Google Home at £69 is significantly cheaper and equally capable for pure automation.
What’s the difference between the Amazon Echo Show 8 and Echo Hub?
The Echo Hub at £179.99 is wall-mounted and smaller, designed for permanent installation; the Echo Show 8 at £179.99 is portable with a larger screen. Choose the Hub if you want it always visible on your kitchen wall; choose the Show 8 if you prefer flexibility or a bigger display.
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