Best overall: Lutron Serena Smart Wood BlindsBest solar-powered: MySmartRollerShadesBest roller shades: Lutron Serena Smart Roller ShadesBest conversion kit: Soma Smart Shades 2Best corded: Graywind Motorized ShadesBest budget: Yoolax Motorized Shades
How we picked the best smart blinds
As an experienced tech writer who has written for outlets such as Input and Ars Technica, I know how to spot the difference between a great buy and a waste of money. I’ve also handled and reviewed my fair share of smart tech products, such as 3D printers, smart hubs, and many video game consoles. To determine these recommendations, we consulted expert opinions, technical specs, consumer reviews, and tests conducted by independent specialists to determine what smart blinds are best for you based on your price point and desired features.
The best smart blinds: Reviews & Recommendations
After that breakdown, you hopefully have a fairly good idea of what you’re looking for in smart blinds. Below, we’ve selected the best smart blinds in a variety of areas. Whether you’re determined to stick with your existing blinds, or shell out for a fancy new set, we have a good option for you.
Best overall: Lutron Serena Smart Wood Blinds
Why it made the cut: Lutron Serena Smart Wood Blinds offer the best overall package in the smart blind space, from smart features to quality, but you’ll pay a pretty penny for them. Specs Pros
Great aesthetics and materialsGood voice command supportRobust power options
Cons
Very expensiveSome may prefer shades
If you’re not price-conscious, there’s a clear winner in the smart blind space, and it’s the Lutron Serena Smart Wood Blinds. Featuring four stained finishes and four painted finishes, as well as fully customizable size support, it’s almost guaranteed that you can find a style of these modern blinds that works for your window size and decor preferences. They’re also easy to install, as long as you’re comfortable spending 15-20 minutes on a stepladder. (If not, you can also get expert installation, of course.) These smart blinds really come into their own in the extra features department. They support both Alexa and Google Assistant (but not Siri) for smart home setups. They also come hardwired or battery-operated depending on your preference, which is a rarity in the smart blind space. They also have a natural light optimization feature, which automatically adjusts the blinds to maximize the amount of sunshine as the day goes on. The only disadvantage of these blinds is that you have to manually adjust them if you want to raise or lower them directly. If that’s a problem for you, you may prefer shades. Lutron Serena Smart Wood Blinds certainly aren’t the most budget-friendly option in the smart blind space but if you want the best, they’re it.
Best solar-powered: MySmartRollerShades
Why it made the cut: SmarterHome’s MySmartRollerShades are smart shades that carry the whole package at an affordable price. Specs Pros
Great features for priceGood voice command support with schedulingNice materials
Cons
Limited color optionsDoesn’t work with Google Assistant or Siri
The shades come in at least 11 different options, though most of them tend to be on the simpler side. If you have a smart home setup that relies on Google Assistant, these probably aren’t a good pick for you, as the bridge isn’t compatible with it. And the lack of a remote control might rub some people the wrong way, but the app works just fine. If you prefer the binary options offered by a shade rather than blinds, we highly recommend MySmartRollerShades as a great entry-level buy.
Best roller shades: Lutron Serena Smart Roller Shades
Why it made the cut: Lutron Serena Smart Roller Shades justify their high cost with 200+ fabric choices and outstanding smart home integration. Specs Pros
Ridiculously customizableSupports nearly all smart home platformsExcellent materials
Cons
Extremely expensive for roller shades
If you’re building a top-of-the-line smart home setup and you don’t want blinds, Lutron Serena Smart Roller Shades are probably the right product for you. Lutron offers more than 200 fabric choices to suit your ideal home decor, as well as support for almost any window dimension you can imagine. With support for four major smart home platforms and their voice assistants, this is the most versatile pick for those who have already bought into a smart home setup, too. Unlike many of our picks, these roller shades have no real significant downsides—besides the cost, of course. However, given that you’re paying at least double the price of the also-excellent MySmartRollerShades, it’s up to you to decide if the premium features are truly worth it. Either way, they’re quite snazzy. Lutron Serena Smart Roller Shades are the best smart roller shades on the market for smart home enthusiasts. It’s really that simple.
Best conversion kit: Soma Smart Shades 2
Why it made the cut: Soma Smart Shades 2 is by far the best conversion kit aimed at conventional shades on the market. Specs Pros
Very affordableExcellent smart home support (with hub)Trivial installation
Cons
Only works with certain types of shadesMay not work as well as dedicated smart shades
If you’re attached to your existing shades for sentimental reasons—or perhaps due to a rental agreement—don’t fret. Soma Smart Shades 2 is a conversion kit that works on any shades that have a beaded chain. After installing the small motor, you can manipulate your conventional shades via an app, or any smart home assistant you can think of. While this requires the purchase of a separate hub, it supports far more smart home platforms than many of the actual smart blinds out there, which is pretty impressive in its own right. For the price, the Soma 2 has a pretty impressive array of features in its app, including sunrise and sunset mode, quiet wakeup, and daily scheduling. Its power source is primarily charged by solar but it can also be directly connected via USB. Given that the Soma 2 is a small motor, it may not be as powerful as a dedicated pair of smart shades, but it can more than hold its own. Overall, if you want to smarten up your existing shades, the Soma Smart Shades 2 is the way to go.
Best corded: Graywind Motorized Shades
Why it made the cut: Graywind Motorized Shades combine a great price with a stress-free hardwired setup. Specs Pros
Surprisingly affordableDecent feature-setCan opt for cordless setup if you so desire
Cons
App isn’t the bestLess color options than some
If you want a basic smart blind that’s easy to set up and works well out of the box, you should consider Graywind Motorized Shades. Of the hardwired smart roller shades out there, they have some of the highest review scores from consumers and experts alike. They’re also one of the most affordable picks on our list, with even the biggest shades coming in cheaper than the starting price of the Lutron Serena line. Graywind Motorized Shades are a great buy for consumers who want an uncomplicated smart shade that doesn’t break the bank or require fiddly configuration.
Best budget: Yoolax Motorized Solar Shades
Why it made the cut: Yoolax Motorized Solar Shades offer the best overall value for price of any smart shade out there. Specs Pros
Very reasonably pricedSupports most popular smart home platformsExtremely high ratings from customers
Cons
Limited color optionsSlightly more expensive than ultra-budget options
We’ve highlighted a number of products that are aimed at customers who are willing to pay high prices for extreme quality. But if you’re an average person looking to cover five or six windows with smart shades for a reasonable cost, Yoolax Motorized Solar Shades are a very good bang-for-your-buck product. They offer the essential features of a cordless smart shade—customizability, voice assistant support, and app control—for a price that begins at less than $200. If you want a simple cordless smart shade and you don’t mind basic color options, you should definitely consider Yoolax.
Things to consider before buying smart blinds
There’s a surprising amount of variance in the smart blind market, so it’s important to have a basic idea of the set-up you want before you go shopping. First off, you obviously need to measure the dimensions of the window space you plan to cover, as that will have a big impact on your price point. If it’s a non-standard size, you’ll need to look for a brand that supports custom sizing, which will cost a bit more than the budget options. All of our below picks offer fully customized sizing. Additionally, if you’re attached to your existing blinds—or your lease won’t let you change them—you’ll need to look at conversion kits that are compatible with your set-up. That’ll save you a ton of hassle in the long run. Also, smarting up your dumb blinds will likely end up being a lot less expensive than buying new ones altogether, but they might not work quite as well as the alternative.
Blinds vs. shades—know the difference
This might seem obvious to some, but it’s important to go over the difference between the two major kinds of window coverings before we go any further. Blinds are slats that are tilted open or closed, or raised altogether. They can be vertical or horizontal, but most consumers prefer horizontal. They are generally made of hardy materials like wood, aluminum, and vinyl. Shades are a single-piece window covering that can be raised or lowered. Generally speaking, electric blinds allow a better degree of light control than shades, but shades are much better at darkening a room completely.
You’ve got the power
One of the biggest differences between smart blind options is their power source. These days, most smart blinds use rechargeable battery packs. While remembering to charge these batteries can be a hassle, they remove the need for tangled cords. For those who prefer hardwired options, there are plenty of corded smart blinds out there on the market, and they’re usually a little bit cheaper than the wireless alternative. In addition to this, many of the cordless battery options can be recharged with solar power, which is convenient if your windows get a lot of sun. There are also smart blinds that work exclusively with motors that work off solar energy alone, which means no removable batteries or cords at all.
How smart is smart?
Final thoughts about the best smart blinds
If you’re looking for a quick, unobtrusive way to upgrade your smart home, the best smart blinds could be exactly what you’re looking for. You can replace your current window coverings with brand new remote control blinds or convert your current setup. Either way, it will add a level of comfort and customizability that your manual blinds can’t match.
