Best Apps to Control Smart Home Devices on Android

Having a smart home is great, but if you need 15 different apps to control each device, the experience becomes frustrating. The best apps to control smart home devices on Android let you unify everything in one place. I’ve tested dozens of them and here are the ones that are actually worth it.

Table of contents

Why do you need a centralized app?

When I started with my smart home setup, I had one app for lights, another for the thermostat, another for cameras, another for plugs… It was chaos. The best apps to control smart home devices on Android solve this problem by unifying control of all your brands in a single interface.

The benefits of centralizing are clear:

• One place to control everything
• Create automations between devices from different brands
• Less battery consumption (one app instead of 10)
• Consistent interface and unified user experience
• Ability to use voice assistants in an integrated way

Pro-tip: Before buying smart home devices, verify they’re compatible with Matter or at least one of the universal apps I recommend. It will save you many headaches in the future.

1. Google Home: The best option for Android

If you use Android, Google Home is probably your best option. It comes pre-installed on many devices and integrates natively with the Google ecosystem.

What I like

• Clean and intuitive interface
• Full integration with Google Assistant
• Compatible with thousands of devices thanks to the Matter standard
• Voice control without additional apps
• Customizable routines (e.g., “Good morning” turns on lights, raises blinds, plays music)

What I don’t like

• Some small brand devices aren’t compatible
• The app can be slow when loading many devices
• Advanced automation setup is limited compared to Home Assistant

Compatibility

Google Home works with practically all major brands: Philips Hue, TP-Link, Xiaomi, IKEA, Samsung, Nest, Ring, Arlo, and hundreds more. With Matter adoption, compatibility has improved enormously in 2025-2026.

2. Samsung SmartThings: The most complete ecosystem

SmartThings from Samsung is one of the best apps to control smart home devices on Android due to its versatility and broad compatibility.

Key features

• Compatible with more than 5,000 devices from 300+ brands
• Powerful condition-based automations
• Integration with Samsung devices (TV, fridge, washing machine)
• Native support for Matter, Zigbee, and Z-Wave
• “Away mode” that automatically activates security

Ideal for

SmartThings shines especially if you have Samsung devices at home. You can see who’s at the door from your TV, receive alerts on your washing machine if there’s a leak, or schedule your robot vacuum from the same app you control your lights.

3. Home Assistant: For advanced users

If you like tinkering and want total control, Home Assistant is the holy grail of home automation. It’s not the easiest to configure, but it offers infinite possibilities.

What is Home Assistant?

It’s an open-source platform you can install on a Raspberry Pi, NAS, or mini PC. Once configured, it lets you control absolutely everything from an Android app or web interface.

Advantages

• Compatible with practically any smart home device that exists
• Extremely powerful and customizable automations
• Huge community with thousands of integrations
• No cloud dependency (everything works locally)
• Completely free

Disadvantages

• Steep learning curve
• Requires additional hardware (Raspberry Pi, ~$50)
• Initial setup can take hours
• Not for users who want something “plug and play”

Warning: Home Assistant is great but I don’t recommend it if you’re looking for simplicity. For most users, Google Home or SmartThings offer 90% of the features with 10% of the setup effort.

4. Amazon Alexa: If you have Echo devices

While Alexa is better known as a voice assistant, the Amazon Alexa app works excellent as a smart home control center on Android.

Strong points

• Very natural and fluid voice control
• Skills (add-ons) for thousands of devices
• Powerful routines with time and location conditions
• Good compatibility with Chinese brands (Tuya, Sonoff)
• Integrated voice purchasing (if you like that)

My experience

I have an Echo Dot in the kitchen and the Alexa app lets me control everything from the couch. The best part is routines: I have one where saying “Alexa, goodnight” turns off all lights, lowers the thermostat, and activates the alarm. It works perfectly.

5. Apple Home (HomeKit): For the Apple ecosystem

While Apple Home is more associated with iOS, there are ways to use it on Android. However, I don’t recommend it as your primary app to control smart home devices on Android.

Limitations on Android

• No official HomeKit app for Android
• Requires workarounds or third-party apps
• Limited compatibility compared to native Android
• Suboptimal experience

Alternative for multi-platform users

If you have Apple and Android devices at home, the best strategy is using Google Home or SmartThings as your main control and setting up HomeKit access only for Apple devices.

6. Tuya/Smart Life: The most accessible option

Tuya is the platform behind many affordable smart home devices from Amazon and AliExpress. Its Smart Life app is one of the best apps to control smart home devices on Android due to its accessibility.

Why it works

• Compatible with thousands of affordable devices
• Simple and intuitive interface
• Basic but effective automations
• Integration with Google Assistant and Alexa
• Ideal for starting in home automation without spending much

Compatible devices

If you’ve bought a $10 smart plug on Amazon, it probably uses the Tuya platform. Brands like Gosund, Teckin, and many others depend on Tuya, making Smart Life almost essential if you’re looking for budget options.

General comparison of the best apps

My personal recommendation

If you ask me which are the best apps to control smart home devices on Android for most users, my answer is clear:

1. Google Home if you already use Android and want something simple
2. SmartThings if you have Samsung devices or want more powerful automations
3. Home Assistant if you’re technical and want total control
4. Tuya/Smart Life as a complement for budget devices

I personally use Google Home as my main app and Smart Life for the cheaper devices. This combination gives me full compatibility with a smooth experience.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Can I use multiple apps at once?

Yes, and it’s common. Many devices work with several apps simultaneously. You can control a plug from Google Home and from Smart Life at the same time without issues.

What if an app stops working?

Matter devices and those using open standards like Zigbee don’t depend on a single app. If Google Home disappeared tomorrow, you could migrate your devices to another compatible app. It’s one of the advantages of the Matter standard.

Are free apps enough?

For 95% of users, yes. The apps I’ve mentioned are completely free. You’d only need to pay if you want premium features like cloud storage for cameras or advanced automation analysis.

Do I need internet to control my smart home?

It depends on the app and devices. Home Assistant works completely locally without internet. Google Home and SmartThings require a connection to work, although some devices can be controlled locally with voice assistants.

Conclusion

The best apps to control smart home devices on Android depend on your ecosystem and technical level. For most users, Google Home offers the best balance between ease and functionality. If you want more power, SmartThings is excellent. And if you’re a tech enthusiast, Home Assistant has no rival. The important thing is to choose one and be consistent with your compatible device purchases.