The list in brief
1. Best overall
2. Best wired smart switch
3. Best for Wiz lighting
4. Best universal smart switch
5. Best for simplicity
6. How to choose
7. How we test
Smart lighting is a great way to upgrade your home. Turning them on or off with your voice really feels like living in the future. But sometimes you just want to press a button or flick a physical switch. Call us crazy, but we reckon there’s still a time and place for the humble light switch.
But what if they could be made just a bit more intelligent, just like the best smart lights that they're designed to control? That’s where the smart light switch comes in. Some are wireless, acting as a convenient and portable switch for your smart lighting system, which can either snap onto a magnetic dock on the wall, or come with you to any room in the home. Others are wired, replacing your existing switch and bringing smart control to the light bulbs already fitted to your property.
Smart light switches tend to be relatively cheap (at least compared with some of the pricier smart bulbs and LED light strips like the Philips Hue Lightstrips), as well as being compact and very easy to use. They are also simple to install and set up, and even those that replace your existing wired switches only require a very basic understanding of domestic electricity.
We've tested plenty of smart light switches and dimmers on the market, so we used our expertise to guide you through finding the best one for your needs. Our list should have something for different needs and budget.
Some of the switches in this guide are designed to work with specific lighting systems, but we also included a couple that work differently, by controlling the non-smart lights you already own like the Tapo Smart Switch, which replaces your existing wired wall switches and works as a regular light switch but also connects to the internet for remote control of your lights via smartphone or voice assistant.
Lastly there’s the SwitchBot Bot, which is a device that attaches to almost any switch (for illumination or otherwise), then pushes or pulls it using an electric motor. Controlled by an app or voice assistant, it’s a versatile way to add smart functionality to almost any switch in your home.
Alistair Charlton is a freelance technology and automotive journalist based in London. His career began with a stint of work experience at TechRadar back in 2010, before gaining a journalism degree and working in the industry ever since. A lifelong car and tech enthusiast, Alistair writes for a wide range of publications across the consumer technology and automotive sectors. As well as reviewing dash cams for TechRadar, he also has bylines at Wired, T3, Forbes, Stuff, The Independent, SlashGear and Grand Designs Magazine, among others.
The quick list
Want to get straight to the best smart switch for your needs? Use our quick round-up below to immediately find a smart light switch that suits you – and you can read more about it by jumping to our full write-ups and explanations using the links.
Best smart light switch overall
The compact and stylish Philips Hue Tap Dial tops our list because it brings extra functionality – and a satisfying dimmer dial – to Hue lighting systems.
Best wired smart switch
A replacement, wired light switch that controls your lights as normal, this also has app and voice assistant control. Installation is easy, but some DIY skills are required.
Best for Wiz lighting users
Simple and compact, this adds more functionality to Wiz smart lighting systems. It's a nice addition for any Wiz users, though some extra features would be welcome.
Best for controlling anything
As well as conventional lights, this little motorized robot can be configured to control almost anything. Not the most attractive device, but still a highly versatile one.
Best for simplicity
A back-to-basics button that can cycle through presets or turn all of your lights off at once, this is a must-have accessory for any Hue smart lights system.
Read more below
The best smart switches of 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best smart switch overall
The ultimate controller for Philips Hue smart lighting systems, the Tap Dial has four buttons and a rotating dial for picking between different preset scenes and adjusting brightness. Despite all of its features, the Tap Dial is a relatively compact lighting controller that attaches magnetically to an included wall plate.
Available in black and white, the Tap Dial has a premium feel and is highly customizable, thanks to the option for assigning two controls to each of the four buttons. Add in the dimmer dial and you have a total of nine control options from a single, wireless switch. We like how the buttons can be assigned to individual lights, rooms, floors, zones or even an entire home, making it easy to quickly change the lighting anywhere in your property.
As with other Hue products, the Tap Dial is easy to set up within the Hue smartphone app. Although a great option for owners of large and complex Hue lighting systems, those with simpler smart lighting systems might want to consider the smaller Hue Wireless Dimmer Switch instead.
Read our full Philips Hue Tap Dial review
The best wired smart switch
We love smart lighting systems here at TechRadar, but what if all you want is to add smartphone or voice assistant control to your existing lights? That’s where the Tapo Smart Switch comes in. This replaces your existing wall-mounted light switch with one that functions in just the same way, but can also be controlled by app and voice.
You’ll need a Tapo hub to make this switch work, which plugs into a spare wall socket and connects wirelessly to both your Wi-Fi router and Tapo accessories like this light switch. From there the switch can be controlled via the Tapo smartphone app, or by speaking to Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant.
The switch can be operated manually, and in this case it’s a single-gang switch capable of turning a single light on and off. When controlled via the app, the switch’s internal mechanism is powered by a pair of included AAA batteries, which are neatly concealed within the switch. Installation is easy enough, but does require a basic understanding of home electrics.
Read our full Tapo Smart Switch review
The best smart switch for Wiz lighting
A switch specifically for Wiz smart lighting systems, the Smart Button is a simple controller that comes with a magnetic plate that can be mounted to the wall using screws or included adhesive strips. The button itself is battery powered and has two buttons for turning the lights on or off.
The switch is easy to add to an existing Wiz system, but has fairly limited functionality. It can only be used to turn the lights on or off with a press, and to raise and lower their brightness with a long press of each button. There’s no option for enabling preset lighting scenes, and we encountered a couple of strange issues with the Wiz app during the setup process.
That said, if you’re looking for a very simple and portable switch for Wiz lighting, this is what you’ll need. We can see it being particularly useful if your traditional wired light switches are poorly located, perhaps behind some furniture, and you want a replacement switch that is easy to install (providing you also have some Wiz smart bulbs, of course).
Read our full Wiz Smart Button review
The best universal smart switch
Now for something a bit different. The Bot by SwitchBot is a little gadget with a robotic arm designed to press (or pull) just about any button or switch around your home. It’s a little bit fiddly to set up, as the moving arm is quite small and you need to position it just right, but once you’ve put the effort in it works really well, at least on the standard single-gang light switch we tried it with.
As well as light switches, the Bot can be positioned to turn on other devices, like fans, heaters, lamps and air conditioning units. As long as the appliance itself powers up and starts working with a press of the power button, and the Bot can be stuck in the right position, it’ll work. This brings smartphone and voice assistant control to lots of otherwise unconnected appliances around the home – as long as you don’t mind an army of rather unattractive Bots stuck everywhere.
Aesthetics aside, we liked the versatility on offer here and how the Bot can easily be scheduled to switch things on and off each day. Be aware that the SwitchBot hub, sold separately, is required for voice control.
Read our full SwitchBot Bot review
The best smart switch for simplicity
Another switch from Philips Hue, but this time it’s the Smart Button. This one really doesn’t need much explaining, as it’s a button that is pretty smart and controls your Hue lights. You can assign two commands to the button, for a brief press and a long press, and that’s about it.
A press can change a certain light (or set/room/zone of lights) to a specific scene, then cycle through a handful more scenes with subsequent presses. Or, the Smart Button can be configured to cycle through a set of scenes depending on the time of day, switching from cool, blue light in the morning and daytime, through to warmer, softer and more yellow/orange shades in the evening and through the nighttime.
A long-press can be used to either dim whichever lights the Smart Button is programmed to control, or turn all of your Hue lights off. The latter can be useful if the Smart Button is fitted by the front door, ready to be pressed when you head out. We’d like to see the option to set a certain scene with a long press, such as one that turns all the lights out apart from a couple of lamps that act as a burglar deterrent, but that isn’t currently possible.
The button itself is small and feels like a high-quality Hue accessory. It’s wireless and attaches to the included wall plate magnetically. You can use either the larger, square plate or a much smaller circular plate that is the same size as the button itself. Both attach to the wall with adhesive strips, or the larger plate can be mounted with screws if you prefer.
Read our full Philips Hue Smart Button review
How to choose the best smart light switch for you
Despite being such a simple device, there are a few key questions you need to ask yourself when buying a smart light switch. Firstly, do you want a wireless switch for controlling a smart lighting system like Philips Hue? Or, do you want a wired switch that replaces your home’s existing wall-mounted switches and controls the regular light bulbs already installed?
Once you have that worked out, the next key consideration is which smart home system you use, or plan to use. This is because some smart switches don’t work with every type of smart home platform. If you already own some smart light bulbs, then you’ll generally be restricted to only buying smart switches from the same manufacturer. If you don’t own any smart lighting yet, we recommend you pick a system that is compatible with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit or whichever smart home platform you plan to use.
From there, you’ll need to think about what functionality you want from the switch. Does it simply need to turn a light on and off, but with the option to be controlled remotely from an app or voice assistant? Or, do you need a switch with multiple buttons for power, brightness control and the ability to pick between different preset lighting scenes? How about a wireless button that simply acts as a way to turn the entire lighting system off with a single press? There are switches designed to perform best in each of these use cases, and they are priced accordingly.
For this guide we’ve picked a range of switches that cover off all of these scenarios. Some perform a single task, some have multiple buttons for more granular customization, and others, like the highly versatile SwitchBot, are designed to work with almost any switch in your home.
Frequently asked questions about smart light switches
Can smart light switches control normal bulbs?
Yes, but only some can. As you may have seen from the above products, some are designed to work only with certain smart lighting systems, like those by Wiz or Philips Hue. Others, however, like the Tapo Smart Switch by TP-Link, are designed to control your existing, non-smart lights. They replace your existing light switches and operate just like a manual switch, but with the added ability to be controlled remotely with a smartphone app, voice assistant, or pre-programmed schedule.
Which type of switch you buy depends on what you want from your lighting. Do you want color-changing bulbs, or do you just want remote control of your existing bulbs? If it’s the latter, then a smart switch like the Tapo will be perfect for your needs.
Are smart light switches hard to install?
Some require more effort than others. Wireless switches from companies like Philips Hue come with a base plate that you simply stick to the wall with included adhesive strips, and the switch itself then fixes to the plate magnetically. But we must urge caution here, as if you ever need to remove the wall plate, pulling at it will likely tear the wallpaper beneath and ruin the wall. It may also remove the paint from a painted wall, but that’s somewhat easier to fix. You might want to consider mounting the plate with screws instead.
As for wired smart switches, these require a basic understanding of home electrics. You’ll need to turn off the power at the fuse box, then remove your old switch, detach the wires and fit them to the smart switch. It’s all relatively simple, as long as you’re aware of which wire is which. Someone with basic DIY skills should be able to sway a regular wall switch for a smart one in just a few minutes.
Are smart light switches battery powered?
Yes. Wireless smart switches tend to use either coin-style or AAA batteries. Wired switches also use batteries, so they can operate when there’s no power going to the light fitting itself. In the case of the Tapo Smart Switch mentioned earlier, two AAA are included. They fit inside the switch itself, which then takes up a fair bit of space in the back box, which is where the wires come from inside the wall cavity.
This can make installation tricky, especially if the wires have previously been cut to precisely fit the terminals of the old switch. We managed to fit the Tapo without changing the wiring, but cramming the battery compartment into the back box along with the existing wiring made it a tight fit. For more, read our guide to smart light switch installation.
How we tested these smart light switches
Smart light switches are relatively easy to test. In each case, we added the switch to a lighting system (such as Philips Hue or Wiz), then configured the switch using the companion phone app. We played around with each switch to see what options were available and how it responded to different circumstances. We also set them up with voice assistants and other smart home systems, where applicable.
We experimented with using the switches in different rooms and with different combinations of lighting fixtures. With wired switches, it was a case of removing an old switch and wiring up the smart one, ensuring we carefully turned off the power and fitting the wires to the correct terminals of the new switch.
Each switch was used for several days before we began writing our review, giving us plenty of time to understand how they work and determine what’s good or bad about them.
