Ultimate HomeKit Compatible Window Shades Buying Guide: Transform Your Smart Home Today!

The best smart shades (also called automatic curtains) used to be luxury gadgets found only in high-end hotels or the homes of the rich and famous. Nowadays, they are more affordable and accessible than ever. You can measure up, order, and install them yourself. We've spent years testing smart shades and retrofit options to smarten up your regular shades, blinds, or curtains. From made-to-measure smart shades to retrofit curtain bots, these are our favorite WIRED-tested drapes for your windows.

Automated motorized shades may sound frivolous, but they offer practical benefits. Beyond scheduling and voice commands, you can enjoy greater privacy, regulate the temperature by keeping the sun out or the heat in, and be gently awoken by natural light. But even our favorite smart shades have their pitfalls, so let's start with some tips so you can avoid them.

What Do You Need to Know Before Buying Smart Shades?

When choosing smart blinds and shades for your home, there are several factors to keep in mind to ensure you make the right choice for your needs and setup.

Tailor-Made vs. Off-the-Shelf

Few things look smarter than perfectly fitted shades in a window frame, and few things look worse than shades that don’t quite fit. If you’re lucky enough to have window sizes that match the exact proportions of off-the-shelf shades then go for it, but most folks will be better served by going the made-to-order route. You should measure, measure, and measure again, then ask someone else to measure and compare your results. The only way to avoid unsightly gaps or the horrible discovery that your shade is just a bit too wide for the space is to measure up properly. This is less of an issue if you decide to go the outside mount route.

Inside or Outside Mount

For the cleanest look, you should install your shades or blinds in the window frame. Measure the depth and account for window handles or anything else that might collide with the shade. Think about where you can drill holes to fit the mounting brackets and whether your chosen spot can handle the weight of a shade. An outside mount doesn’t look as good, but it is easier to install and can cover the window completely to block more light. Inside-mounted shades always have small gaps that light can get through. If you are after a pitch-dark bedroom, combining inside mount shades with curtains is the best way to go.

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Material and Finish

You can get shades and blinds in so many different styles. Take your time choosing the material and color you want and think about the opacity. If you just want a privacy shade for a street-facing living room, then choose something that lets a lot of light through. If you’re trying to conserve or block heat or reduce noise, a thicker shade can help. For the neatest look, it’s worth thinking about a valance that will cover the top of the shade (some manufacturers offer these as an added extra).

Power

Smart shades and retrofit smart blinds and curtains all require power. Most come with a rechargeable battery and they can generally be charged in situ with a long enough cable (if you don’t have an outlet close, use a power bank). Some shades take standard batteries you can swap in and out, though we recommend rechargeable batteries for these. Small solar panels are another common option that will keep your shades topped up, but you might not like how they look from the outside. In any case, always fully charge the battery before installation.

Connectivity

Most shades come with a remote control. But to put the smart in smart shades you need a hub that your shades can connect to. This will allow you to control the shades from your phone or using voice commands. Think about your current smart home setup and preferred voice assistant when you are shopping for shades to ensure compatibility. You can sometimes connect to shades via Bluetooth, but it is flaky, low range, and slow compared to Wi-Fi or Zigbee. Most of these devices require another device called a hub, which plugs into your router or into a wall outlet to connect to Wi-Fi and enable smart functionality. Each Wi-Fi hub is slightly different, but they all help extend the connection range, allow for new features via firmware updates, and support adding dozens of branded devices. For instance, one Lutron Caséta Smart Hub can handle as many as 75 Lutron devices.

The SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Roller Shades, the SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Cellular Shades, and the Leviosa Roller Shades I tested are exceptions to the standard Wi-Fi-enabled devices we mentioned above. These smart window coverings operate via a communications standard called Matter, and they use Thread wireless rather than Wi-Fi. Instead of a traditional Wi-Fi hub, you’ll need a device that supports Matter and that can act as what’s called a Thread border router. Fortunately, most current smart speakers have that technology built in; they include the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen), the Apple HomePod Mini, and the Google Nest Hub Max, as well as other connected devices, such as the Nanoleaf Shapes decorative lighting panels and the Samsung Q90C TV.

Automation

The number one reason to get smart shades is automation, so make sure you research what is possible when shopping. While any smart shade can be automated to open and close at set times, some can adjust to close at sunset and open at sunrise. You can also have motion sensors to trigger some shades to open when you walk into the room in the morning, or have your shades close automatically when a certain temperature is reached in the room. You may need some extra gadgets for more complex automation.

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Smart window coverings can also help boost your home’s security by making it appear as if someone is home when they’re not (this is especially effective when combined with smart lighting and smart plugs).

Installation guide for motorized blinds

Featured Smart Shades

Here are some of the best smart shades available on the market, based on different criteria:

Best Smart Shades Overall: SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades

For sheer versatility, it’s impossible to look past SmartWings. You can choose every conceivable style, color, size, or smart home ecosystem. There's compatibility with all the major smart home ecosystems, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. Connectivity-wise, Matter (Thread), Zigbee, and Z-Wave are available. Just make sure you choose the right model for your home. I like that there’s no need for another hub since my Apple TV 4K works as a Matter controller and Thread border router.

The SmartWings shades have worked reliably for several months now, look classy, and everyone in my home loves them (apart from the cats, who always seem to get a fright when the shades open or close). On that note, the shades are relatively quiet (no louder than 50 decibels according to my Apple Watch). A couple of times, I have had one of the shades disconnect and show as unresponsive in the Home app, but deleting and pairing again always got them working. The motor was smooth and whisper-quiet, so these shades blend into the background and simply do their thing, without being loud or otherwise distracting.

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Runner-Up: Yoolax Motorized Cellular Shades

Yoolax is another solid option for smart shades and blinds (it's the brand behind Graywind). The company offers made-to-measure shades and blinds in a wide range of styles, colors, and finishes, but smart home compatibility is a bit more limited than our top pick. We opted for a honeycomb shade, which is much thicker than a regular roller shade, but does an excellent job of keeping the sun out, or the heat in, and also reduces sound from outside. Paired with curtains, this shade offers complete darkness. Sadly, smart home compatibility is limited to Amazon Alexa or Google Home. The Zigbee motor can connect directly to a handful of Amazon devices (Echo Plus 2nd Gen, Echo Show 2nd Gen, Echo Studio, Echo Show 10, Echo 4th Gen). If you don’t have one of those or want to use it with Google Home, you will also need a Yoolax hub.

The Yoolax shades work reliably and look smart, though the top section is sizable, and the optional solar panel looks ugly from the outside. The Yoolax app is busy and has some poor translations, but you can schedule your shades for chosen times, based on the sunset and sunrise, or even use geolocation to have them close when you leave home. Voice commands with Alexa are probably the easiest way to control these shades. The motor is relatively loud, sometimes going above 60 decibels.

Best Upgrade: Lutron Caseta Smart Shades

I've used Lutron's pricey made-to-measure Serena shades in my living room for more than a year-they were simple to install and set up, and I have never had a single connectivity issue. They reliably open and close twice a day, 30 minutes after sunrise and sunset. But I don't think you need to go for the Serena series anymore, now that Lutron has introduced the cheaper Caseta smart shades.

I've had the Caseta shades installed in my bedroom for more than three months now, and the experience has been almost identical and flawless. I highly recommend you snag Lutron's smart hub so you can connect the shades to your smart home ecosystem of choice: Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or SmartThings. There's no Matter support, but in my experience, the few Matter products I've tried have been more trouble than they're worth, and the connectivity experience with Lutron has been seamless.

The motors are a tiny bit louder than the Serena series (I measured 51 decibels), but you'll only hear them in a silent room. I chose the blackout roller shade, and they do an effective job of blocking out light. However, I chose an inside mount, so some light bleeds around the edges. I don't need total darkness to sleep, so it's not a problem for me, but you can choose an outside mount, which should solve this. I also prefer Lutron's approach of using D alkaline batteries, which allow these shades to last roughly two years worry-free. That's not as long as the three to five years of the Serena series, but that's plenty for me. The shades will move at half speed when it's time to replace the batteries. Lutron is known for its luxe smart home offerings and is one of the most reliable connectivity systems available today. If you have any other Lutron equipment, or if you're starting from scratch, it makes sense to go with Caseta.

Best-Looking Smart Shades: OmniaBlinds Smart Roller Shades

For a choice of understated, Scandi-style shades, Swedish OmniaBlinds offers a lovely range of fabrics named after world cities. My review shade was the textured and translucent Panama fabric in light gray. This shade affords privacy but allows some light through when the shade is closed, which was perfect for my kitchen. OmniaBlinds also offers blackout shades, and you can request free fabric samples before you buy. I love the look of this shade, and little details like the black brackets, cord, and cylinder weight on the bottom add a touch of class.

OmniaBlinds smart shades rely on Eve’s excellent MotionBlinds motors, so you get Matter support with voice controls and scheduling through Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Samsung SmartThings (I tested with Apple). Remember that you will need a Matter controller, such as an Apple TV or Nest Hub, and good Wi-Fi connectivity. My shade was scheduled to open and close automatically at dawn and dusk, and it worked perfectly. I also appreciate the physical pull cord because it makes it easy for anyone to open and close the shade, should they want to (smart home controls can be problematic).

Over a few months, I have had no issues with the OmniaBlinds shade. They have stayed connected, and both automation and voice control work perfectly. The battery is supposed to last up to a year (mine is still going strong). There aren’t as many customization options as some other shades, though this makes ordering straightforward, and the only thing I missed was a valance option for the top (you will want a snug fit to avoid light leakage). This shade can also be a little noisy when opening or closing, up to around 60 decibels. Prices are relatively high, starting from around $350.

Best Budget Custom-Fit Shades: Canisteo

With a similarly enormous range of shades and finishes, Canisteo is a slightly more budget-friendly option than SmartWings. I decided to test a dual shade for the bedroom, which includes a blackout shade to keep things dark at night and a translucent, light-filtering inner shade for a softer, diffused light during the day. It’s a versatile combo that I highly recommend, but it does almost double your costs. These shades came with special brackets, and it was seriously fiddly to slide them into place. Thankfully, once in, you shouldn’t need to touch them again. There’s a USB-C port and control button at one end, and the Matter code is on the weighted strip at the bottom of each shade. This strip is quite large and has the Canisteo logo on one side, which I do not like, but I appreciate the brush strip on the bottom to prevent any sound when it touches down on your windowsill. There’s an optional metal cassette valance that you can slide over the top for a neat finish and to block any light leakage.

Matter support means you can set up schedules and voice controls with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or Samsung SmartThings. Remember that you need a controller, like an Echo Hub or Apple TV. You can also get the same optional 5- or 15-channel remote for these shades as for SmartWings. It’s a little fiddly if you have to program it, but it should come pre-paired. You will likely want it because the button can be hard to reach, and there’s no cord.

I have only had these shades for a couple of weeks, but so far, so good. They respond to voice controls and open and close on schedule. The battery life is supposed to be between four and six months, and you can buy a solar panel to stick to your window if you don’t want to have to plug in. Operation is impressively quiet (I measured 46 decibels), and I can sleep through this shade opening. These are some of the most affordable custom-fit smart shades on the market, starting from around $120.

How to Get Started with Smart Shades, Blinds, and Curtains

Smart shades, blinds, and curtains look just like regular window fixtures, but they have motors and battery compartments hidden in (or attached to) their top railings.

All of our current picks are made to order. So it can take several weeks for them to be delivered, since it’s unlikely that a company has models with your exact specifications just sitting around.

Each company will ask you a series of questions to create your custom order, including:

Precise measurements: Be sure to check the measurements a few times, and get help if you aren’t confident. If you aren’t exact, the shades might not fit correctly, and they likely can’t be returned.
Transparency and color: Shades typically come in blackout, transparent, and sheer varieties, so you can choose depending on how much privacy and light blocking you want for a particular room or space. They also have different color finishes, so you can pick what works best for your interior design.
Mounting style: Depending on your windows, you may want to mount the shades inside or outside the window frame. Inside-mount models require a certain depth for the brackets to fit. If you’re unsure, outside-mount models are a safer bet, but they don’t fit as closely to the window.
Finishes: Some models may offer an optional valance (a separate piece that covers the top of the window covering, to give it a more-finished look).

These products are DIY, but they do require drilling. Some of them are heavy, and it might help to have a second person on hand to assist.

Each SmartWings Motorized Drapery is available either as plug-in or hardwired for installation, but most models we tested are battery-powered. If you opt to hardwire any window coverings that offer that type of connection, hire an electrician to handle the installation if you have questions.

Choosing the Right Motorized Blind or Shade