Ecosystems
Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant: the ecosystem you pick shapes what works together and how you control it. Learn what sets each one apart, then choose the one that fits how you live.
- Apple Home
- Google Home
- Amazon Alexa
- SmartThings
- Home Assistant
Apple Home
HomeKit, Siri and the Home app: private, polished, Apple-only.
17 articles Visit hub Google Home
Nest speakers, displays and the most conversational assistant.
11 articles Visit hub Amazon Alexa
Echo everywhere, and the widest device support of any ecosystem.
1 article Read the explainer SmartThings
Samsung's hub-first platform, with deep Zigbee and Matter support.
13 articles Visit hub Home Assistant
Open-source, local-first, endlessly customisable. Monthly releases.
14 articles Visit hub Device ecosystems
Systems that run inside yours
These run their own hub, app and accessories, and work with whichever platform you picked. You do not choose between them and Apple Home or Google Home. You use both.
Device ecosystem Philips Hue
Its own Bridge, app and accessories. The most complete smart lighting system you can buy here.
Works with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and SmartThings 6 articles Visit hub 
Device ecosystem Shelly
Relays, dimmers and energy meters that fit behind the switches and fittings you already have.
Works with all five 7 articles Visit hub Releases
This month in your ecosystem
What changed in each platform, in plain English. New rundown every month.
December 2025 
August 2026 
August 2026 
June 2026 
August 2026 
Apple Home
Multipack accessory pairing
Google Home
It remembers what you just said, A warning before you save a dud, Save a clip in two taps
Amazon Alexa
It actually understands Australians, Australian services from day one, Your existing Echo probably qualifies
SmartThings
Faster reconnection after a power cut, New Matter 1.5 device types, Knob control for Zigbee and Hue lights
Home Assistant
One device entry per integration, Vibration and moon conditions, Batteries weighted by size
Start here
What is each ecosystem?
New to one of these, or all of them? The five-minute versions, jargon translated as we go.
What is Apple Home?
Apple Home is Apple's built-in smart home app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Here is what it does, the home hub you need to run it, and who it suits.
5 min read
What is Google Home?
Google Home is Google's free smart home app for Android and iPhone. Here is what it does, the Nest hub you need, and how Gemini fits in.
4 min read
What is Amazon Alexa?
Amazon Alexa is Amazon's voice assistant and smart home platform, built around Echo speakers. Here is what it does, the hardware, and how Alexa+ fits in.
4 min read
What is SmartThings?
SmartThings is Samsung's cross-brand smart home platform. Here is what it does, the hub you need, and why it supports more protocols than its rivals.
4 min read
What is Home Assistant?
Home Assistant is free, open-source software that runs your smart home locally, with no cloud and no lock-in. What it does, what you need, and who it suits.
5 min read
Go deeper
Get the best from yours
Already committed? The settings, automations and add-ons that take each platform from fine to great.
Apple Home automations and their limits
Apple Home automations run on a hub in your house: arrivals, departures, times and accessory triggers. What each trigger can do, and where the honest ceiling sits.
Getting more out of Home Assistant
The first month after setup is where a Home Assistant house either settles in or drifts. Apps, HACS, backups, automations, and the maintenance commitment nobody puts on the box.
Shelly and Matter: supported devices, setup and limits
Gen4 Shellys ship with Matter on by default; Gen3 needs a firmware update and a toggle. Which devices support it, what your network needs, and how to pair with Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa.
Buying guides
Best products for each
Our tested picks. Everything here has run in a real Australian home, not just on a spec sheet.
The cheapest way into Apple Home with Thread
The HomePod mini at A$199 is the cheapest Apple device that is both a home hub and a Thread border router. The A$299 Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi) is dearer and routes no Thread at all.
Which SmartThings hub should you buy?
The SmartThings hub choice turns on one question: do you need Z-Wave? Only the Aeotec Smart Home Hub still carries it, and in Australia you need the ANZ variant. If not, you may already own a hub.
Best hardware for a Home Assistant hub
Home Assistant doesn't come with its own hardware. Here's how to choose between Home Assistant Green, a Raspberry Pi and a mini PC, and which radios you'll need on top.
Which Shelly energy monitor do you need?
Shelly's meters split on three questions: how many circuits, one phase or three, and whether you have solar. Of the ones we carry, only the Pro models measure what your panels export.
Head to head
Which Shelly energy monitor do you need? Should you run Shelly on Zigbee or Wi-Fi? Philips Hue Bridge vs Bridge Pro Does a Samsung TV replace a SmartThings hub? Apple Home vs Home Assistant Apple Home vs Google Home SmartThings vs Home Assistant Home Assistant Green vs a Raspberry Pi: which to build on Home Assistant Green vs Yellow: which to buy now
Not sure which ecosystem is yours?
Apple, Google, Alexa and the rest, compared on privacy, price and how much tinkering they ask of you.