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.

77 articles All Learn topics

Lighting Ecosystems Protocols Automation Switches Power

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.

16 articles Visit hub

Device ecosystems

Systems that run inside yours

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 12 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 17 articles Visit hub

Releases

This month in your ecosystem

What changed in each platform, in plain English. New rundown every month.

September 2026

Apple Home

Related alerts arrive as one, Search your clips by typing what you want, Recording up to 4K on supported cameras

Read the rundown September 2026

Google Home

Unlatch and unlock separately, One temperature unit everywhere, Colour temperature by voice

Read the rundown August 2026

Amazon Alexa

It actually understands Australians, Australian services from day one, Your existing Echo probably qualifies

Read the rundown September 2026

SmartThings

The app catches up after a long outage, Firmware for two SiHAS meters, applied for you, Join a different Thread network

Read the rundown October 2026

Home Assistant

A redesigned map, Everyone can edit their own profile, Card visibility gets the full set of conditions

Read the rundown

Soon

Philips Hue

First monthly rundown is on the way.

Soon

Shelly

First monthly rundown is on the way.

Start here

What is each ecosystem?

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

What is Shelly?

Shelly makes smart home hardware for switching, sensing and metering, best known for the modules that hide behind your existing switches. Who makes them, and what to know before buying in Australia.

6 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.

3 min read

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.

7 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

4 min read

Head to head

Not sure which ecosystem is yours?

Apple, Google, Alexa and the rest, compared on privacy, price and how much tinkering they ask of you.

Compare the ecosystems