Samsung SmartThings is a powerful smart home platform, but to get the most out of it you need a hub that bridges Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, and Matter devices. We tested the top contenders — from the multi-protocol Aqara Hub M3 to the voice-first Amazon Echo and the visual Google Nest Hub — to find the best hub for every SmartThings setup.
if you're building a smart home around samsung smartthings, the hub you choose determines what devices you can connect — and how reliably they work. smartthings itself is a software platform, but to talk to zigbee sensors, thread lightbulbs, or matter switches, you need a physical hub that speaks those languages.
we looked at four hubs that integrate well with smartthings, each suited to a different kind of user. here's what we found.
the aqara hub m3 is the most versatile hub on this list. it supports matter, thread, and zigbee out of the box, which means it can bridge devices from nearly any ecosystem — including samsung smartthings — without extra hardware.1
what sets the m3 apart is its local processing capability. it can execute automations even when your internet is down, and it acts as a matter bridge for aqara's own zigbee sensors, making them visible to smartthings directly. if you're the kind of person who wants one hub to rule them all, this is it.
best for: users who want maximum protocol support and local control.
the amazon echo (4th gen) is a smart speaker first, but it also packs a built-in zigbee hub and a matter controller with thread support.2 that makes it a surprisingly capable companion for smartthings users who prefer voice control.
you can pair zigbee sensors directly to the echo and then expose them to smartthings via matter — no separate hub required. it's not as powerful as the m3, but if you already want an alexa speaker in your living room, it pulls double duty nicely.
best for: users who want voice control and a hub in one device.
the google nest hub (2nd gen) adds a 7-inch touchscreen to the equation, giving you a visual dashboard for your smart home. it supports matter and acts as a thread border router, so it can control thread-enabled devices directly.3
while it doesn't include a zigbee radio, it can still control zigbee devices that are bridged through smartthings or another matter-compatible hub. the display makes it great for checking cameras, adjusting thermostats, or seeing who's at the door — all without pulling out your phone.
best for: users who want a visual control panel and thread support.
the aqara hub m1s is a smaller, more affordable zigbee hub that integrates tightly with aqara's extensive sensor lineup — motion, temperature, door/window, vibration, and more. it connects to smartthings through aqara's official integration, making those sensors available in the smartthings app.
it doesn't support matter or thread, so it's not future-proof in the same way the m3 is. but if you're building a sensor-heavy setup on a budget, the m1s is a proven workhorse.
best for: users focused on aqara sensors at a lower price point.
| pick | protocols | processing | interface |
|---|---|---|---|
| aqara hub m3 | zigbee, thread, matter | local + cloud | app / bridge |
| amazon echo (4th gen) | zigbee, thread, matter | cloud | voice / app |
| google nest hub (2nd gen) | thread, matter | cloud | touchscreen / voice |
| aqara hub m1s | zigbee | cloud | app |
matter and thread are changing the smart home landscape — and they're especially good news for smartthings users.
matter is a universal connectivity standard that lets devices from different brands talk to each other without proprietary bridges. a matter-certified hub like the aqara m3 or amazon echo can expose devices to smartthings natively, which means fewer compatibility headaches.1
thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol that works alongside matter. hubs with thread border router capability — like the google nest hub (2nd gen) — can connect thread devices directly, giving you faster response times and better reliability than wi-fi or bluetooth.3
together, they make smartthings more open and less dependent on samsung's own hardware. you can mix and match hubs, sensors, and controllers from different brands and still have everything show up in one app.
if you want one hub that does it all, get the aqara hub m3. if you want voice control and a hub in one, the amazon echo (4th gen) is a solid pick. for a visual dashboard, go with the google nest hub (2nd gen). and if you're building a sensor network on a budget, the aqara hub m1s still gets the job done.
disclosure: as an amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. this doesn't affect our recommendations — we only recommend what we'd use ourselves.
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