When comparing WeMo Insight vs iHome iSP5, the Slant community recommends WeMo Insight for most people. In the question“What are the best smart switches?” WeMo Insight is ranked 1st while iHome iSP5 is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose WeMo Insight is:
IFTTT (if this then that) allows you to set up conditional automations. So you can turn on or off devices attached to the switch based on conditions like time of day, your location or any trigger from 300+ services.
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Pros
Pro Very configurable thanks to IFTTT
IFTTT (if this then that) allows you to set up conditional automations. So you can turn on or off devices attached to the switch based on conditions like time of day, your location or any trigger from 300+ services.
Pro App has a simple button widget
Pro Integrates with Google Home
Pro Easy installation
The installation instructions are fairly basic - just connect to the switch's Wi-Fi, go into the WeMo app, make the connection, and then swap over to your regular Wi-Fi (if it works the first time).
Pro Get notified when the switch is activated
You can set up the Insight to send you app notifications when the switch is turned on or off based on set rules. So you can, for example, get notified only between 9am and 5pm while you are at work, and turn off notifications while you are at home.
Pro Good companion app
The WeMo app is simple to use, and provides quite a bit of information at a glance as well. There's a large power button to open/close the switch, as well as a timer which indicates how long the switch has been on for. It also shows data such as average on time each day, average cost and more.
Pro Can send reports about energy usage
You can get on demand reports of energy usage as well as set up Insight to email daily, weekly or monthly reports of energy usage.
Pro Scheduling allows switch to operate automatically
Scheduling can be done on either a weekly basis (same schedule for the whole week) or you can configure each day individually (e.g., the weekend can have a different schedule than the weekdays).
Pro Integrates with Alexa
Through Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa (found on the Amazon Echo ling of products) you can control the switch via voice.
Pro Third party hardware integration
WeMo is one of the leading Internet of Things ecosystems, and can integrate with a wide variety of other products that also support the WeMo standard.
Pro Support for rules
Rules determine when your lights are on and off (think of it like scheduling for events instead of times).
Pro Compact, so it allows access to other plugs
This is one of the few smart switches which are small enough to not block surrounding plugs. That means that you still have access to all of your plugs, which is very important especially in older homes where accessible wall plugs can be limited.
Pro Sleek design
While the other smart switches clearly look like an internet-connected product (read: eyesore), the iHome iSP5 doesn't share the same ugliness. It is compact and sleek looking, without extra buttons and a bunch of flashing lights. It has a single small LED, a white front, and a grey band running around its sides.
Pro HomeKit enabled
HomeKit is Apple's smart home ecosystem, with deep integration with Siri. Controlling the switch is as easy as saying "Her Siri, turn the living room lamp on" as you're approaching your house. You can also group together different products which will all jump into action together: once configured, saying "Hey Siri, go to bed" can turn off all the lights, enable the security system, lock the doors, and turn down the thermostat with just the single command.
Pro Integrates with Wink
Wink is an ecosystem that has compatibility with many products. Buying a Wink-compatible device means you have a wide selection of other devices that it will work with.
Pro Voice activation through Amazon's Alexa
Alexa is an always listening voice assistant baked into Amazon's Echo series of products. These devices were all very well received, and can pick up voice actions from surprising distances. They will also allow anybody to control the lights (or whatever else might be plugged into this switch) without the need to setup an app on their phone.
Cons
Con Poor Android app
The in-app performance is poor - it lags and studders. Performing any actions takes a couple seconds to register, and the overall experience is bad. This could be due to the Wi-Fi connection, or it could just be a poorly optimized app.
Con Buggy setup
The setup process sounds simple enough - connect to the switch's Wi-Fi network to pair, and then swap back to your regular Wi-Fi. In practice, the connection is spontaneous. It takes a number of tries to set up the connection successfully.
Con Power button can be distracting
When the switch is on it illuminates the power button which can be distracting. Especially at night or when watching a movie. And there's no way to turn off the power button without turning off the switch.
Con Blocks other plugs
This switch is compact as far as smart switches go, however it is still large enough to block the other outlet on a typical 2 slot wall outlet.
Con Works only with devices that use more than 2 watts of power
Con No yet compatible with SmartThings hub
SmartThings is Samsung's smart home ecosystem. The WeMo Insight isn't compatible with Samsung's software.
Con No HomeKit support
Con Android support is limited
Clearly, the Android app was an afterthought. From setting it up to controlling it - even the features available. This is an iPhone first product, with Android support added in after the fact.
Con Can't track energy usage
This is simply a well designed on/off switch, and offers no energy usage stats.
Con HomeKit features don't work on Android devices
HomeKit is created by Apple and has no Android integration.
