Best Matter Smart Hubs & Bridges 2026
The top 7 Matter-certified smart hubs and bridges, expert-reviewed and ranked. Connect your Zigbee, Bluetooth, and legacy devices to the Matter ecosystem with the right hub.
🏠 Quick Picks
Do You Need a Matter Hub?
Many Matter devices — smart plugs, lights, locks — connect directly to your network via Wi-Fi or Thread. But if you have Zigbee or Bluetooth devices, you need a hub to bridge them into the Matter ecosystem. Hubs also serve as Thread border routers, extending the mesh network that Thread devices rely on.
Think of a Matter hub as a translator: it takes devices that speak Zigbee or Bluetooth and makes them fluent in Matter, so they work with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings simultaneously.
What We Look For
- Protocol support — Thread border router, Zigbee gateway, Bluetooth bridge, IR blaster
- Device capacity — how many child devices can it support?
- Reliability — Ethernet > Wi-Fi for hubs that stay always-on
- Ecosystem breadth — how many devices does the hub's brand offer?
- Local processing — automations should run even when the internet is down
Aqara Smart Hub M3 (Matter Controller)
by Aqara
✅ Pros
- • Thread border router + Zigbee gateway in one device
- • Matter controller — orchestrates automations locally
- • Supports 128+ Aqara child devices
- • Built-in IR blaster for legacy device control
- • Excellent app with advanced automation rules
❌ Cons
- • Best experience requires Aqara ecosystem devices
- • Premium price for a hub
- • Ethernet required for most reliable performance
The Aqara M3 is the most capable Matter hub on the market. As both a Thread border router and Zigbee gateway, it bridges Aqara's massive sensor ecosystem into Matter while serving as a local automation controller. If you're building a serious smart home, start here.
SwitchBot Hub 2 (Matter Bridge)
by SwitchBot
✅ Pros
- • Bridges all SwitchBot devices into Matter
- • Built-in IR blaster controls TVs, ACs, fans
- • Built-in temperature and humidity sensor
- • Touch buttons on the device for quick scenes
- • Compact, attractive design with LED display
❌ Cons
- • Wi-Fi only — no Thread border router functionality
- • IR control requires line-of-sight placement
- • Some advanced features require SwitchBot subscription
The SwitchBot Hub 2 is the Swiss Army knife of smart hubs. It bridges SwitchBot's affordable ecosystem (blinds, locks, curtains, bots) into Matter while adding IR control for legacy devices. The built-in thermometer and touch buttons are nice bonuses.
SwitchBot AI Hub (Matter + Thread)
by SwitchBot
✅ Pros
- • Thread border router — future-proofed for Thread devices
- • AI-powered automation suggestions
- • Bridges all SwitchBot devices into Matter
- • Built-in IR blaster + temp/humidity sensor
- • Supports both Wi-Fi and Thread simultaneously
❌ Cons
- • Most expensive SwitchBot hub option
- • AI features still maturing
- • Newer product with less community feedback
The SwitchBot AI Hub is the next-gen upgrade over the Hub 2, adding Thread border router support and AI-driven automation. If you're starting fresh with SwitchBot, this is the one to get. The Thread support alone makes it worth the premium.
Philips Hue Bridge (Matter Bridge)
by Philips
✅ Pros
- • Rock-solid reliability — the gold standard for smart lighting hubs
- • Exposes all Hue lights as Matter devices to any platform
- • Supports 50+ Zigbee light/accessory devices
- • Wired Ethernet connection — never drops off Wi-Fi
- • Massive ecosystem of Hue-compatible lights and accessories
❌ Cons
- • Only bridges Philips Hue/Zigbee devices — not a general-purpose hub
- • No Wi-Fi or Thread radio
- • Older hardware design — no built-in sensors
If you have Philips Hue lights, the Bridge is essential — it brings your entire Hue ecosystem into Matter. The Ethernet connection makes it the most reliable hub on this list. Not a general-purpose hub, but unbeatable for Hue lighting.
SONOFF ZB Bridge Ultra (Zigbee + Matter Gateway)
by SONOFF
✅ Pros
- • Excellent value — full Zigbee-to-Matter bridge under $30
- • Wired Ethernet for maximum reliability
- • Bridges SONOFF's vast Zigbee sensor lineup into Matter
- • Supports up to 64 Zigbee child devices
- • Compact design powered via USB-C
❌ Cons
- • Limited HomeKit support compared to Thread-based hubs
- • No Wi-Fi radio — Ethernet only
- • SONOFF eWeLink app less polished than Aqara/SwitchBot
At under $30, the SONOFF ZB Bridge Ultra is the most affordable way to bring Zigbee devices into the Matter ecosystem. If you have SONOFF sensors and switches, this is a no-brainer. The Ethernet connection ensures rock-solid uptime.
Meross Smart Matter Hub (MSH450)
by Meross
✅ Pros
- • Cheapest Matter hub available — incredible value
- • Bridges Meross Bluetooth devices into Matter
- • Compact, plug-and-play setup
- • Works with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home natively
- • No subscription required
❌ Cons
- • Only bridges Meross ecosystem devices
- • No Thread or Zigbee radio
- • Limited to Bluetooth range for child devices
At just $22, the Meross Hub is the cheapest way into Matter. It bridges Meross's growing lineup of plugs, sensors, and garage openers into Matter. Perfect as a secondary hub for Meross-heavy setups.
MOES Matter Zigbee Gateway Hub
by MOES
✅ Pros
- • Bridges MOES/Tuya Zigbee devices into Matter
- • Affordable entry point for Zigbee-to-Matter bridging
- • USB-C powered — modern and convenient
- • Supports voice control via Alexa, Google, Siri
- • Wired Ethernet for reliable connectivity
❌ Cons
- • HomeKit support is indirect via Matter bridge
- • MOES app has steeper learning curve
- • Tuya ecosystem dependency for some features
The MOES Gateway is a solid budget option for bringing Zigbee devices into Matter. If you've invested in Tuya/MOES Zigbee devices, this hub gives them new life in the Matter ecosystem without replacing anything.
Matter Hub Buying Guide
Hub vs. Bridge — What's the Difference?
A bridge translates non-Matter devices (Zigbee, Bluetooth) into the Matter protocol so they appear as native Matter devices. A hub does everything a bridge does plus acts as a local automation controller, Thread border router, or both. Most products on this list are technically bridges, but the best ones (Aqara M3, SwitchBot AI Hub) are full-featured hubs.
Thread Border Router — Why It Matters
Thread is the future of smart home connectivity — low-power, mesh networking, instant response. But Thread devices need at least one Thread border router to connect to your network. Apple HomePod Mini, Apple TV 4K, and some smart hubs (Aqara M3, SwitchBot AI Hub) act as border routers. More border routers = stronger Thread mesh.
How Many Hubs Do You Need?
Most homes need 1-2 hubs. If all your devices are Wi-Fi or Thread, you might not need a hub at all — just a Thread border router. If you mix ecosystems (Aqara sensors + SwitchBot blinds + Hue lights), you may need one hub per brand. The good news: Matter makes them all work together regardless.
Wired vs. Wireless Hubs
For always-on hubs, Ethernet is king. The Philips Hue Bridge and SONOFF ZB Bridge Ultra use Ethernet and are the most reliable hubs we've tested. Wi-Fi hubs (SwitchBot, Meross) are easier to place anywhere but can occasionally drop connection during router restarts.