Smart Home

Do You Need a Hub for Smart Lights?

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It depends on the technology. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth smart bulbs work without a hub. Bulbs that use Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Thread generally need a hub (or a compatible smart speaker/router that has one built in).

No hub needed

  • Wi-Fi bulbs — connect straight to your router and app. Easiest to start with; fine for a few bulbs. Downside: lots of bulbs can clutter your Wi-Fi.
  • Bluetooth bulbs — pair directly to your phone, but only work in range and usually for one user.

Hub recommended or required

  • Zigbee / Z-Wave (e.g. Philips Hue) — need a hub, but it’s more reliable at scale, faster, and doesn’t burden your Wi-Fi.
  • Thread / Matter — need a Thread border router, which is increasingly built into smart speakers, hubs, and some routers.

Which should you choose?

Your situation Best pick
Just a few bulbs, keep it simple Wi-Fi bulbs (no hub)
Whole-home, reliability matters Zigbee/Thread + hub
Already own a recent smart speaker Check if it’s a built-in hub

See our smart home hub for setup guidance, and compare smart bulbs and hubs on Amazon.

Do Smart Plugs Use Electricity When Off?

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Yes — but barely. A smart plug draws a tiny amount of standby power (typically around 1 watt or less) even when the connected device is switched off, because it stays connected to Wi-Fi to receive commands. Over a year that’s usually well under a dollar or two in electricity.

Why it uses any power at all

A smart plug is always listening for your app, voice assistant, or schedule. Keeping the Wi-Fi radio and controller alive uses a small trickle of standby (vampire) power. That’s the trade-off for remote control and automation.

Do smart plugs actually save money?

They can — if you use them to cut off other devices’ standby draw. TVs, game consoles, chargers, and coffee makers can each waste several watts doing nothing. Automating them off overnight typically saves far more than the plug itself consumes.

Getting the most from them

  • Put them on the biggest standby wasters (entertainment centres, old electronics).
  • Use schedules and “away” routines to cut power automatically.
  • Check plug ratings — don’t exceed the amperage for high-draw appliances like space heaters.

Learn more in our smart home hub, and browse smart plugs on Amazon.