Guides
Step-by-step tutorials and explainers to build your smart home.
Smart Home Security Is a $10 Billion Scam — Here's What Actually Stops Burglars
The smart home security industry sells fear and subscriptions. After researching real burglary data, testing DIY systems, and talking to actual cops, here's what really protects your home — and what's just expensive theater.
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Matter Protocol Explained: Why It Matters for Your Smart Home
What is Matter protocol? How it works, which devices support it, and why it's the biggest upgrade for smart home compatibility since WiFi.
Read article Build a DIY Home Security System with Raspberry Pi (Under $150)
Build a complete DIY home security system with Raspberry Pi — motion detection, camera alerts, and local storage. No monthly fees.
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Automate Your Garden: Smart Irrigation and Soil Sensors for 2026
Smart garden automation — WiFi soil sensors, automated irrigation controllers, and weather-based watering schedules that save water and time.
Read article Whole-Home Energy Monitoring Changed How I Think About Electricity (And My Wallet Agrees)
I installed a whole-home energy monitor and tracked every watt for 6 months. What I found about phantom loads, vampire devices, and real savings surprised me — and saved me over €480 a year.
Read article I Replaced Every Lock in My House With Smart Locks. Here's What Actually Happened.
After swapping all 5 locks for smart locks, I tested Schlage, Yale, and August side by side for 6 months. Here's an honest smart lock comparison with real numbers, what works with Apple, and the best smart lock for 2026.
Read article Your Ring Doorbell Is Snitching on You — Smart Doorbells That Actually Respect Privacy in 2026
Ring shares footage with police without warrants, stores your data in the cloud, and charges you for the privilege. Here are the video doorbells that keep your footage where it belongs — on your property.
Read article Your Smart Home Hub Is Already Obsolete — Here's What to Buy Instead (2026)
SmartThings, Wink, and proprietary hubs are dying. Matter and Home Assistant changed the game. Here's what actually works in 2026 and what's a waste of money.
Read article Matter Was Supposed to Fix Smart Homes. Three Years Later, It's a Beautiful Disaster
The smart home protocol that promised universal compatibility has delivered fragmentation, confusion, and broken promises. Here's what actually happened to Matter — and what you should do about it.
Read article Smart Home Beginners Guide: How to Start in 2026 (Without Wasting Money)
Smart home beginners guide for 2026 — what to buy first, which ecosystem to pick, and how to avoid costly mistakes. Start for under $100.
Read article Smart Thermostats Don't Save Money (Unless You Do This One Thing)
Smart thermostats promise 23% energy savings — we tested that claim for 12 months. Here
Read article Alexa vs Google Home in 2026: Which Smart Assistant Actually Wins?
Alexa vs Google Home 2026 — honest comparison of smart home control, AI smarts, sound quality, and value. Which assistant wins?
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Best No-Subscription Security Cameras 2026: Stop Paying for Ring Protect
Best local-storage security cameras that record for free — no Ring Protect needed. Reolink, Tapo, and more tested. Save $100+/year per camera.
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Best Smart Plugs in 2026: Top 7 Picks for Every Budget
Best smart plugs for 2026 tested and ranked. Top picks for Alexa, Google Home, and HomeKit — from $5 budget picks to Matter plugs.
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