There are numerous big brands producing Matter devices, ranging from TP-Link and Google to IKEA and Honeywell. But there are also smaller companies producing innovative products we’d be remiss not to keep our eyes on. Here are five we encourage you to check out.
1. Hubitat
When we think of Matter controllers (the devices that connect to and manage all of our other Matter devices, we typically think of those tied to the major commercial smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. But there are other, smaller options as well.
Hubitat Elevation is a hub you can purchase solely to serve as a Matter Controller, one that keeps your data stored locally. You can pair the Hubitat Elevation with a phone app and still access your hub when you’re away from home. I don’t have firsthand experience with this hub, but I'm happy to see companies that aren’t massive conglomerates attempting to make viable hubs.
2. Nabu Casa
Hubitat’s hub may be local and more private than the cloud-connected options from the likes of Google and Samsung, but it’s a private project from a small company. If it shuts down, you’re left having to transition to a new hub.
Home Assistant is an open source project that, as open source code, can live in on perpetuity—but installing it yourself can be intimidating. Nabu Casu is a small company formed by the project to facilitate the sell of hubs that come with Home Assistant preinstalled. I have reviewed Home Assistant Green from Nabu Casa, and that’s the hub currently powering my smart home.
3. Flic
Smart home automations are fun, but they’re also often only available to the person who knows how everything works. Flic’s goal is to make those automations accessible to everyone. The company produces Bluetooth-connected buttons that can trigger these automations as easily as a light switch.
These buttons are battery powered, so you can place one by your bed, in closets, on coffee tables, or wherever you see a need. Check out our review of the Flic Button 2 and the Flic Twist to get a full idea of what to expect.
Flic Twist
The Flic Twist is a powerful smart home controller that combines a button, dial, and 12-mode selector to control up to 24 triggers and 12 dimmers from a single device.
4. Level
Most smart locks rely on internet connectivity, but there are a growing number of Matter-enabled options that can be controlled locally. Level is one such option. But this company’s locks stand out from the Yales, Locklys, and SwitchBots of the world. Level locks are designed to look just like basic key locks. You can unlock them via your phone, but no one would know just by looking at them.
These locks even support Matter-over-Thread. Now if only Level could bring down the price.
5. Eve
Eve makes a wide range of Matter products, from light switches and motion sensors to power outlets and smart plugs. The company originally targeted Apple HomeKit exclusively before pivoting to Matter.
What sets Eve apart is its focus on making sure everything is exclusively done locally. Unlike my TP-Link Tapo light switches, Eve doesn’t provide a cloud-connected option of any kind. That’s not only a privacy win, but it means these are smart home products being built to last since they aren’t tied to Eve making servers online in order to function.
Going Small Matters
One of the promises of Matter is its ability to invite smaller companies into the smart home ecosystem. You don’t need to have the clout to convince everyone to integrate with your unique platform—just create something cool that can communicate with the open Matter standard. The next great hub may not come from Apple or Google. It may just come from a tiny company you’ve never heard of.
