While there are plenty of resources giving smart device reviews available on the internet, this is the first and only collection of smart device reviews specifically for a short-term rental or Airbnb scenario. If you are looking to set up smart devices and automate your vacation rental or Airbnb, check out our list of devices we recommend for this purpose.
About These Smart Device Reviews for Short-Term Rentals
Unlike generic smart home reviews, this page is a curated collection of smart device reviews specifically evaluated for short-term rental hosts and Airbnb use cases.
Every device listed here has been reviewed through the lens of what actually matters to hosts and property managers, including:
- Reliability across frequent guest turnovers
- Compatibility with automation platforms and hubs
- Support for remote management and monitoring
- Battery life, fail-safe behavior, and offline recovery
- Guest usability without requiring apps or accounts
Short-term rentals place very different demands on smart devices than owner-occupied homes. Devices that work well for a homeowner can fail quickly in a rental environment due to frequent use, connectivity issues, or lack of remote control options.
This collection exists to solve that gap.
What Makes These Reviews Different
Most smart device review sites focus on consumer features, aesthetics, or ecosystem lock-in. Our reviews are written specifically for:
- Airbnb hosts
- Vacation rental owners
- Short-term rental property managers
- Anyone automating guest access, climate control, safety, or utilities
Each review considers real-world rental scenarios such as:
- Automated guest check-in and check-out
- Preventing energy waste between bookings
- Water leak detection and response
- Lock reliability when codes are changed frequently
- Network stability for remotely managed properties
Where applicable, we also note whether devices integrate well with calendar-based automation workflows, which is critical for hands-off rental management.
Recommended vs. Alternative Devices
Some devices on this page are marked as Recommended.
These are devices we’ve found to be:
- The most reliable for short-term rental use
- Easiest to automate and manage remotely
- Best suited for frequent guest turnover
Other devices may be listed as Alternatives or reviewed for comparison purposes, especially when they:
- Serve a niche use case
- Offer a lower-cost option with trade-offs
- Are popular consumer devices that hosts often ask about
For a shorter, opinionated list of what we recommend most often, see our Recommended Devices for Short-Term Rentals.
Device Categories Covered
This review collection includes smart devices commonly used in vacation rentals, including:
- Smart locks for guest access management
- Smart thermostats for automated climate control
- Smart plugs and switches for lighting and appliances
- Water leak sensors and smart shut-off valves
- Smart hubs and networking equipment
- Sensors and safety devices
Each category is evaluated based on how well it supports automation, reliability, and remote control in a rental environment.
Keeping This List Up to Date
This page is updated regularly as new devices are released and existing models are discontinued. Devices that no longer meet short-term rental requirements may be deprecated or replaced over time.
If you’re building or upgrading a smart home for a short-term rental, this page serves as a living index of real-world device reviews, not just marketing specs.