Top 10 Smart Home Devices Under $50 Worth Buying in 2025

Smart Home Without the Smart Price Tag

The smart home market has matured dramatically. You no longer need to spend $500 on a hub and $100 per device. In 2025, genuinely useful smart home products cost $20–$50 and install in minutes. Here are the ten worth buying.

1. Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) — $35–$50

The entry point to the Alexa ecosystem. Set timers, play music, control smart devices, check weather, and get answers — all hands-free. The audio quality has improved significantly from earlier generations. Essential for any smart home starter kit.

2. TP-Link Kasa Smart Plugs — $8–$12 each

Make any lamp, fan, or appliance "smart" by plugging it into a Kasa smart outlet. Control via app or voice, set schedules, and monitor energy usage. These are the highest-value smart home purchase you can make — buy a 4-pack for under $30.

3. Wyze Cam v3 — $35

1080p indoor/outdoor camera with night vision, motion detection, and free 14-day cloud storage. Wyze consistently outperforms cameras costing 3–5x more. Great for front door monitoring, package theft prevention, and baby monitoring.

4. Amazon Echo Show 5 — $50 (often on sale for $35)

A small smart display perfect for bedside tables or kitchens. Shows weather, calendar, video calls, and recipes while acting as an Alexa device. Amazon discounts these heavily during Prime Day and Black Friday.

5. Govee Smart LED Strip Lights — $20–$30

App-controlled RGBIC lights that sync with music and set the mood for any room. These have a massive following on social media for creating ambient and gaming setups. Easy to install, no special tools needed.

6. Smart Thermostat (Wyze or Amazon) — $40–$50

Programmable smart thermostats can save 10–15% on your heating and cooling bills. Wyze's smart thermostat is a fraction of Nest's price with similar functionality and app control.

7. Ring Video Doorbell Wired — $50 (on sale)

See and speak to whoever's at your door from anywhere. Motion-triggered alerts and two-way audio are features that genuinely improve daily life and home security. Ring regularly runs 40–50% off sales.

Start with One Device

The trap with smart home is trying to automate everything at once. Start with one smart plug and an Echo Dot. Once you see how they improve your daily routine, adding more devices becomes obvious and intentional rather than impulsive.