You don’t need to be an expert or commission a professional to get the smart home you’ve always dreamed of. The Ultimate Guide to the Smart Home is brought to you by the tech experts at TechHive and PCWorld, and provides reviews and buying advice on all of the top consumer-level smart home gear. From smart speakers to security cameras to smart thermostats, we’ve got you covered!

A basic introduction to the smart home • You don’t need to be an expert or spend a fortune on cutting-edge gear, these first steps will lay a foundation you can build on.

How to choose the right DIY smart home system • What do you value most: Convenience or security? Maybe you can have both.

How to choose the right DIY home security system • What’s more important to you, security or convenience? Maybe you can have both.

Installing a smart home system: Do it yourself, or hire a pro? • A certain degree of pride comes with building out your own smart home system, but there’s no shame in hiring a pro.

Best smart home systems for a connected domicile • Your home is only as smart as the hub that orchestrates everything behind the scenes. Whether you want a generalist automation kit or a security-savvy alarm system, these DIY tools are the best of the bunch.

Best all-around smart home system: Samsung SmartThings Hub • With massive device support and a simple interface, it’s hard to beat SmartThings to anchor your smart home.

Best security-focused smart home system: Ring Alarm • It’s strictly for home security today, but every bit of the infrastructure needed to build this into a robust smart home system is already in place.

Which smart speakers deliver the best combination of digital assistant and audio performance? • With models based on Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Cortana, and others to come, we’ll help you find just the right model for you.

Best bang-for-the-buck smart speaker: Amazon Echo Dot (2nd generation) • The least-expensive Echo does everything its pricier siblings do, but you should add an outboard speaker to play music on one.

Best smart speaker for most people: Amazon Echo Spot • Excellence marks the Spot.

Best smart speaker for playing music: Google Home Max • But Sonos might have more to fear than Amazon (ditto for Apple).

Best smart speaker with a large display: Lenovo Smart Display • Look out Alexa, there's a new sheriff in town.

Best smart thermostat: Reviews and buying advice • Sure, you could buy a Nest Learning Thermostat and call it a day. But there are so many smart thermostats to choose from. We'll help you pick the right one.

Best smart thermostat: Ecobee 4 • Our favorite smart thermostat gets just a little smarter.

The most stylish smart thermostat: Nest Learning Thermostat • The product that made thermostats cool is not without its flaws.

Honeywell Lyric T5 smart thermostat: Not as advanced as some, less expensive than many • The Lyric T5 lacks motion sensors and fancy algorithms, and it doesn’t work with some HVAC components, but you might decide its price tag makes up for it.

Best home security camera: Keep an eye on the home front • A boom in wireless security cameras is inspiring a movement in home surveillance. Follow our guide and read our reviews to find the best option for you.

Best indoor home security camera: Arlo Pro 2 • The second-generation Arlo Pro comes with higher resolution, improved motion detection, and more flexible installation options.

Best outdoor home security camera: Nest Cam IQ Outdoor • Nest follows the blueprint of the Nest Cam IQ indoor camera with its second outdoor model.

Best outdoor security camera/floodlight combo: Maximus Camera Floodlight • Brand X is doing more to earn attention.

Best budget home security...