The Best Affordable Smart Home Gifts

Whether your giftee rents or owns their dwelling, you can help transform it into a high-tech atmosphere that makes their daily life easier. With app, voice, and motion-controlled devices, a smart home is achievable for anyone, even if you’re on a budget. These tech products are both convenient and affordable, making them the perfect presents for your loved ones who enjoy modern living.

_{Prices are accurate as of November 15, 2024. Subject to change.}

Govee Smart Light Bulbs

Govee makes great smart home tech, particularly smart lighting. This is a solid intro kit for anyone just dipping their toes into the world of smart home or as an addition to an existing setup. Using the Govee app — or a Google Home or Alexa device — your giftee can control their light’s brightness, color, or temperature and set timers and routines with their phone or voice. They can also sync them with their music to change the color and brightness based on sounds, a fun trick for parties.

Amazon Echo Dot

Maybe your giftee could use a helping hand or wants to try out a smart assistant without a camera-enabled smart display lurking in the kitchen. The Amazon Echo Dot is an affordable, small, and easy-to-use option that plays music, audiobooks, and podcasts and answers all of their burning questions. Perhaps the best thing about this product is its ability to control other smart home devices. If your loved one has a smart fan, bulbs, or thermostat, they’re likely compatible with the Echo Dot.

Amazon Echo Dot Kids

Designed for kids ages 3 through 12, this smart device works similarly to the Amazon Echo Dot, with a few child-safe differences. There are parental controls, filters for explicit music, and kid-friendly Alexa responses, so parents don’t have to worry about the content it delivers. This version of the Echo Dot also comes with one year of Amazon Kids+ for free, which includes audiobooks, interactive games, morning routines, and silly voice changes. Little ones who receive this gift can make Alexa sound like a dragon, owl, or their favorite Disney characters.

Google Nest Mini

Smart home fans tend to be Amazon or Google people. Google’s devices are as easy to set up and use as Alexas are and the Nest Mini is typically under $50. Like the Echo Dot, it’s small and camera-less but can answer questions, set routines, control other smart home devices, and play music or podcasts.

Blink Video Doorbell

People love Ring cameras, but they can be pricey. This more affordable alternative has all the features needed to bring a sense of safety to someone’s home. Perfect for someone who gets a lot of visitors — both wanted and unwanted — the Blink video doorbell can be connected to an existing doorbell or used wirelessly. Through the app, your giftee can check on who’s there before letting them in, or use the two-way audio and video footage even if they’re miles from home.

Wireless Door Bell

Maybe your giftee doesn’t want a camera-equipped doorbell like the Blink, but still needs to know when visitors arrive. They’ll appreciate this affordable option with an easily installable plug-in receiver. It has five volume levels and 52 melodies, so whoever receives it will be in full control of their visitor alert experience.

Furbo Mini Pet Camera

This camera system is great for someone who has a pet and wants to see what they’re up to when they’re not home. It has a monthly subscription fee, which you may want to include as a part of your gift — you could pay for a few months or gift them a full year — but they’ll be alerted when their pet barks or meows, vomits, goes to the bathroom, and if there’s a home emergency. 

Amazon Smart Thermostat

For that homeowner in your life who’s always too hot or cold, this smart thermostat is compatible with Amazon Alexa. It’s also environmentally friendly, utilizing energy when CO2 usage may be lower. Your gift recipient can even save $50 a year on electricity by switching to smart home technology! What’s better than a gift and cold hard cash?

Wall-Mounted Space Heater

This energy-efficient space heater can be controlled from a mobile device, so your giftee can stay toasty without leaving the couch. With three heat modes and a timer, it ensures that the ambiance in a room is just right. It’s also wall-mounted so it can’t be accidentally knocked over.

Bluetooth Karaoke Machine

This color-changing karaoke machine comes with two microphones so the music lover in your life can sing duets all night long. It’s also portable, so it can go wherever the party leads.

GoveeLife Mini Air Purifier

Equipped with a HEPA smart filter, this ultra-quiet air purifier can be controlled through the Amazon Alexa you might also be gifting. There’s even an aromatherapy feature that pairs well with essential oils. For a little less than $50, you can give the gift of clean (and fragrant) air.

Food Warming Mat

This holiday season, get the party host in your life a food-warming mat. Perfect for serving buffet-style meals, this kitchen appliance has six adjustable heat settings and a six-hour timer built in. It heats up in just 10 seconds and can even be set to keep food boiling. Now, they’ll never have to serve cold food again!

TP-Link Wi-Fi Extender

No one should go into 2025 with slow internet. For those who work from home or otherwise have a device-packed house, consider gifting a Wi-Fi extender for easily running all their devices at once. They can say goodbye to dead zones and buffering streaming services.