Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to SafariWhen comparing SmartThings vs Insteon Hub Pro, the Slant community recommends SmartThings for most people. In the question“What are the best smart hubs?” SmartThings is ranked 1st while Insteon Hub Pro is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose SmartThings is:
If for whatever reason SmartThings loses access to tethered power it can still function for 10 hours on a battery.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Includes a backup battery in case power fails
If for whatever reason SmartThings loses access to tethered power it can still function for 10 hours on a battery.
Pro Compatible with a wide variety of devices
A full list of supported devices can be found here.
Pro Has a Marketplace for user-submitted custom code
Adding extra code is as simple as copying and pasting the user submitted code. This allows for much added functionality and customization options.
Pro Offers a detailed way of setting up scenes
Pro Automatic home/away mode
When all connected devices leave the house, SmartThings automatically goes into 'away mode'. Once a device comes back in range, it will toggle to 'home mode'. You will need to configure what these modes do (whether it be locking the doors, turning the lights on/off, changing the thermostat's temperature...), but it's great that this is done automatically when you arrive home or leave.
Pro The hub is small and can be hidden easily
While it needs a wired connection to your router, this hub is fairly small and can easily be tucked away somewhere out of sight.
Pro Mesh network allows for further ranges
HomeKit connects via bluetooth inside the home (to reach out of the home they require an Apple TV), and each connected device will pass along the information to the next device. This creates a 'mesh' network, where all the points relay the message along. This helps to extend the range of the network further than what would be possible if the hub connected to each device individually.
Pro Fully supports Apple's HomeKit
HomeKit is Apple's smart home ecosystem and is tightly integrated with Siri. It provides scenes, which you can describe as groups of actions that all take effect with a single command. For example (once configured), sauing "Hey Siri, Goodnight" could turn all your connected lights off, lock your doors, turn your thermostat down a few degrees, and turn on your connected security camera.
Cons
Con Custom access isn't currently supported
Custom access is supported by other smart home ecosystems, but not with SmartThings. Custom access allows for things like configurable unlock codes for smart door locks, or allow access to certain SmartHomes products to certain users.
Con Pairing a device is more involved than it needs to be
Con Companion app can take a while to get used to
Con Slow updates
While HomeKit has been steadily evolving and adding new features, Insteon has been very slow to add these features into it's hub. Expect to wait for any new features that Apple rolls out in the future.
Con Only iOS is supported
This hub was created specifically with HomeKit in mind, which only works with iOS devices. There is no Android, Windows, or web app support. The only way to control products connected to this hub is through an Apple device.
Con Limited to Insteon and HomeKit devices
While there are doezens of other standards available (WeMo, Nest, and SmartThings to name some of the bigger ones), the Insteon Hub Pro only works with their own devices as well as devices which are HomeKit compatible. This reduces your choice when it comes to buying new smart home products, where other hubs support multiple ecosystems allowing for the best selection of smart home gadgets.
