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Smart home hub challenges

J wonder

New member
Joined
Aug 3, 2025
Messages
4
I currently run two SmartThings V2 hubs at different sites because I believed Zwave range wouldn't cover both....switching between locations in the app has been annoying. I picked up two Hubitat C8 hubs for the new house, hoping their mesh networking would solve this but Hubitat's support for popular WiFi devices feels awkward, and the app isn't very intuitive. Since SmartThings can now manage multiple hubs in one place, what real benefits does Hubitat offer?
 
Hubitat rocks if you're all about tweaking things locally and setting up crazy advanced rules. If you just want stuff to work with a ton of devices and an easy-to-use app, SmartThings might still be your best bet
 
I currently run two SmartThings V2 hubs at different sites because I believed Zwave range wouldn't cover both....switching between locations in the app has been annoying. I picked up two Hubitat C8 hubs for the new house, hoping their mesh networking would solve this but Hubitat's support for popular WiFi devices feels awkward, and the app isn't very intuitive. Since SmartThings can now manage multiple hubs in one place, what real benefits does Hubitat offer?
I'd say flexibility and the satisfaction that you managed to set things up properly. I'm not the kind of person that likes to spend ages trying to fiddle with these things, so personally, I'd stick with SmartThings, but if you're happy to fiddle with Hubitat i think you can get a bit more out of it.
 
Hubitat's got speedy local processing and handles Z-Wave tech like a champ. But hey, if you're all about WiFi gadgets or dig SmartThings' multi-hub setup, stick with what you know! Hubitat's really shines when you're rocking a lot of Z-Wave stuff and want to keep things local.
 
Hubitat is good if you want things done locally, better privacy, and more control over your automations. It's perfect for complicated setups, but just so you know, it's not as easy to use as SmartThings.
 
I currently run two SmartThings V2 hubs at different sites because I believed Zwave range wouldn't cover both....switching between locations in the app has been annoying. I picked up two Hubitat C8 hubs for the new house, hoping their mesh networking would solve this but Hubitat's support for popular WiFi devices feels awkward, and the app isn't very intuitive. Since SmartThings can now manage multiple hubs in one place, what real benefits does Hubitat offer?
Hubitat's main draw is 100% local control. It runs everything on the hub itself, so your lights, rules, and security devices will work even if your internet is out. But yes, the trade-off is what you noticed.. it's a less polished app and more work to get Wi-Fi devices integrated. It's a choice between the easy, cloud-connected feel of SmartThings and the absolute reliability and control of Hubitat, which often requires a more DIY approach.
 
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