Samsung SmartThings is the best smart home hub on the market — but it’s a terrible security system. It controls lights, locks, thermostats, and sensors brilliantly. It does NOT offer professional monitoring, has no dedicated siren, and won’t dispatch police when someone breaks in.
That distinction matters. If you want a smart home hub, SmartThings is excellent. If you want home security, you need something else entirely — or ideally, both.
SmartThings at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Samsung (acquired SmartThings 2014) |
| Hub Price | $130 (Station) / $50 (Dongle) |
| Monthly Fee | $0 (no subscription) |
| Protocols | Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Voice Assistants | Alexa, Google Home, Bixby |
| HomeKit | ❌ No |
| Professional Monitoring | ❌ No |
| Cellular Backup | ❌ No |
| Battery Backup | ❌ No |
| Dedicated Siren | ❌ No (third-party only) |
| App Rating | 3.8★ iOS / 4.0★ Android |
| Best For | Smart home automation, NOT security |
What SmartThings Does Well
| Strength | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Protocol support | Zigbee + Z-Wave + Matter + Thread = works with almost everything |
| No subscription | All features free, no monthly fees ever |
| Automation engine | Routines, scenes, conditional logic, edge computing |
| Device ecosystem | Thousands of compatible devices from hundreds of brands |
| Samsung integration | TVs, fridges, washers, air conditioners all connect |
| Matter support | Future-proofed for the new smart home standard |
| Edge drivers | Local processing — devices work without internet |
Why SmartThings Fails at Security
SmartThings has a “Home Monitor” feature that lets you set up intrusion alerts. But it’s a notification tool, not a security system:
| Security Feature | Real Security System | SmartThings |
|---|---|---|
| Professional monitoring | ✅ 24/7 dispatch center | ❌ Phone notification only |
| Police/fire dispatch | ✅ Automatic | ❌ You must call 911 yourself |
| Cellular backup | ✅ Works if Wi-Fi/power cut | ❌ Dead without internet |
| Battery backup | ✅ Hours of backup power | ❌ Hub dies with power |
| Dedicated siren | ✅ 85-105dB alarm | ❌ Must add third-party |
| Entry/exit delays | ✅ Configurable | ⚠️ Basic only |
| Crash & smash protection | ✅ Cloud-based verification | ❌ None |
| Smoke/CO monitoring | ✅ With fire dispatch | ❌ Notification only |
| Insurance discount | ✅ 5-20% typically | ❌ Not recognized |
The critical gap: If someone breaks into your home at 3 AM while you’re sleeping, SmartThings sends a phone notification. A real security system triggers a 105dB siren and dispatches police within 30 seconds.
SmartThings vs Security Systems
| Feature | SmartThings | Abode | Ring | SimpliSafe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hub Cost | $50-130 | $199 (kit) | $199 (kit) | $249 (kit) |
| Monthly | $0 | $0-20 | $0-20 | $0-28 |
| Pro Monitoring | ❌ | ✅ $20/mo | ✅ $20/mo | ✅ $18-28/mo |
| Z-Wave | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Zigbee | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Matter | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| HomeKit | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cellular Backup | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Smart Home Depth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
The Best Approach: SmartThings + Security System
You don’t have to choose. SmartThings excels at home automation; a security system excels at protection. Use both:
| SmartThings Handles | Security System Handles |
|---|---|
| Light scheduling & scenes | Intrusion detection & siren |
| Thermostat automation | Professional monitoring & police dispatch |
| Samsung appliance control | Cellular backup (works during outages) |
| Garage door automation | Smoke/CO monitoring with fire dispatch |
| Complex routines & logic | Water leak alerts |
| Voice assistant integration | Insurance discounts (5-20%) |
Best pairing: Abode + SmartThings is the ideal combo. Both support Z-Wave and Zigbee, so your sensors can work with both platforms. Abode handles security with professional monitoring, while SmartThings manages your broader smart home.
The ADT SmartThings Partnership (2020-2022)
Samsung and ADT briefly partnered to create ADT SmartThings — a combination smart home hub and security panel. The product was discontinued by 2022. The failure highlighted a fundamental tension: SmartThings users want open ecosystems with no subscriptions. ADT wants locked-in customers paying $29-60/month.
Who Should Buy SmartThings
| Buy SmartThings If | Skip SmartThings If |
|---|---|
| You want the best smart home automation | You need professional security monitoring |
| You have lots of Z-Wave/Zigbee devices | You want one system that does everything |
| You’re in the Samsung ecosystem | You want Apple HomeKit compatibility |
| You enjoy tinkering with automations | You want a simple plug-and-play setup |
| You already have a security system | You have no home security at all |
SmartThings Alternatives
| Hub | Price | Protocols | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| SmartThings | $50-130 | Zigbee/Z-Wave/Matter/Thread | Best overall smart home hub |
| Home Assistant | $50-150 | Everything (with dongles) | Power users who want total control |
| Apple Home | HomePod $99-299 | HomeKit/Matter/Thread | Apple ecosystem users |
| Amazon Echo | $25-100 | Zigbee/Matter/Thread | Alexa voice control |
| Abode | $199 (kit) | Z-Wave/Zigbee/Matter | Security + smart home in one |
Our Verdict: 4/5 as Smart Home Hub, 1/5 as Security
SmartThings is excellent at home automation — broadest protocol support, no subscription fees, powerful automation engine, massive device ecosystem. It’s the best smart home hub in 2026.
But it’s terrible for security. No monitoring, no cellular backup, no siren, no battery backup. If security matters, pair SmartThings with Abode (which shares Z-Wave/Zigbee compatibility) or Ring.
FAQ
Can SmartThings replace a security system?
No. SmartThings can send notifications when sensors trigger, but it lacks professional monitoring, cellular backup, battery backup, and a proper siren. A security system triggers alarms and dispatches police automatically.
Does SmartThings work with HomeKit?
No. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, Abode is the only major security system with native HomeKit support, plus it supports Z-Wave and Zigbee devices too.
Is SmartThings still supported?
Yes. Samsung actively develops SmartThings with Matter/Thread support and Edge drivers for local processing.
What happened to ADT SmartThings?
The ADT + SmartThings partnership produced a combined hub in 2020, discontinued by 2022. The open ecosystem philosophy conflicted with ADT’s subscription model.
Can SmartThings sensors work with security systems?
SmartThings Zigbee sensors can work with other Zigbee hubs like Abode. Z-Wave sensors are also cross-compatible.
Is SmartThings better than Home Assistant?
SmartThings is easier to set up. Home Assistant is more powerful but requires technical knowledge. Neither is a security system.
William is a tech buff and former corporate security officer turned cybercrime analyst. Computers have few secrets left for him, but home security and alarm systems… Well, those have plenty of secrets for their users, which William is now uncovering and explaining. His articles on home security helped many people take the matter seriously, invest in highly performing systems, and avoid becoming victims of burglaries.
Nikita says
Not really a security system when you have to do all the monitoring yourself. I almost got suckered into it, but I knew to ask this question. They don’t just give this information up.
Jay says
It’s good to come across a site who provides these detailed reviews and pros and cons. SmartThings seems cheap to me but it may be a good choice. I don’t understand why they don’t provide monitoring though, isn’t that the point of a home security system?