Amazon Echo stopped listening·Google Nest stopped listening·Apple HomePod stopped listening·Your home is now private·Internet went down — automations still running·No cloud subscription required·Amazon servers offline — your lights still work·Local-first setup complete·Amazon Echo stopped listening·Google Nest stopped listening·Apple HomePod stopped listening·Your home is now private·Internet went down — automations still running·No cloud subscription required·Amazon servers offline — your lights still work·Local-first setup complete·

LOCAL · PRIVATE · ALWAYS ON

Smart Home Reviews
Written by Engineers

They're always listening. Amazon, Google, Apple — every command uploaded, logged, and used. Yours doesn't have to be. We review gear that runs 100% on your network, no cloud required.

Amazon EchoGoogle NestApple SiriRing CloudNest Cam Local Control ✓

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Trusted by 12,000+ engineers & tinkerers

Cloud vs Local

☁ Cloud (them)

Amazon EchoRECORDING

Google Nest HubRECORDING

Ring DoorbellRECORDING

🏠 Local (yours)

Home AssistantLOCAL ONLY

Zigbee DevicesLOCAL ONLY

ESPHome SensorsLOCAL ONLY

Privacy Protected

Zero data leaves your home

Why Local? The honest answer.

The cloud isn't a feature. It's a business model. Here's what it costs you.

Stop Being Recorded

Amazon, Google, and Apple voice assistants are always listening — by design. Local smart home runs on your hardware. No wake word, no mic, no upload.

Works When Internet Dies

Cloud smart home = if AWS goes down, your lights stop. Local = your automations run on your LAN, 24/7, internet or not. We've seen AWS outages knock out millions of homes.

No Subscriptions. Ever.

Ring charges a monthly fee to view your own footage. Nest Aware for motion alerts. Hue for advanced features. Local gear — you own it, you run it, you pay once.