Light Switches

Smart switches and dimmers are, honestly, the better choice over smart bulbs for most rooms. They replace your wall switch, work with whatever bulbs you already have, and nobody can accidentally "break" your automations by flipping a switch. The switch is the smart device.

The neutral wire question comes first. Most smart switches need a neutral wire in the switch box. Houses built after the mid-1980s usually have them. Older homes often don't. Before you buy anything, pull off a switch plate and check. If you don't have neutrals, your options are limited but they exist -- Lutron Caseta doesn't need a neutral and is rock solid. Inovelli and some Zooz models also have no-neutral options.

Dimmer vs. on/off: Get a dimmer whenever your fixture supports it. Just make sure your LED bulbs are dimmable -- non-dimmable LEDs on a smart dimmer will flicker or buzz. Most brands publish compatibility lists. Check them.

Single pole vs. 3-way: If your light is controlled by one switch, that's single pole. If it's controlled from two locations, that's 3-way. You'll need a switch that supports 3-way wiring (sometimes requiring a companion switch) or a system like Lutron Caseta that uses a wireless Pico remote at the second spot. This is the most common installation headache.

Top protocol options:

• Lutron Caseta -- Uses its own RF protocol. Needs the Lutron bridge, but it's the most reliable system you can buy. No neutral required. The gold standard.
• Zigbee/Z-Wave (Zooz, Inovelli, Jasco) -- Great with SmartThings, Hubitat, or Home Assistant. Power-user friendly.
• WiFi (Kasa, Leviton, Meross) -- No hub needed. Good for a couple of switches; less ideal at scale.

Not sure which switch fits your wiring? Our switch finder tool walks you through a few quick questions and recommends compatible options.