What is Matter? The Smart Home Standard Explained
Matter is a unified smart home connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). It enables smart home devices from different manufacturers to work together seamlessly — regardless of which ecosystem you use.
Why Does Matter Exist?
Before Matter, smart home devices were fragmented across ecosystems. A device that worked with Apple HomeKit might not work with Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Consumers had to check compatibility lists before every purchase.
Matter solves this by providing a single, open standard that all major platforms support. If a device is Matter-certified, it works with:
- Apple HomeKit / Home app
- Google Home
- Amazon Alexa
- Samsung SmartThings
- And many more platforms
How Does Matter Work?
Matter runs over standard networking protocols that are already in your home:
Wi-Fi
For high-bandwidth devices like cameras and displays
Thread
A low-power mesh network for sensors, locks, and lights
Ethernet
For wired devices like hubs and bridges
Bluetooth LE
Used for device commissioning (setup)
What Devices Support Matter?
As of 2026, thousands of devices are Matter-certified across dozens of categories including smart lights, locks, thermostats, sensors, plugs, blinds, and more. The CSA maintains the official registry of all certified products.
MatterCatalog tracks every CSA Matter-certified product — currently over 2,800 devices from 200+ brands.
Matter vs. Other Standards
| Feature | Matter | Zigbee | Z-Wave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-platform | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited |
| Local control | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| IP-based | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Hub required | ❌ Not always | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Open standard | ✅ Yes (CSA) | ✅ Yes (CSA) | ⚠️ Proprietary |
How to Set Up a Matter Device
- 1. Check your hub/controller — Make sure your Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, or SmartThings hub supports Matter.
- 2. Scan the QR code — Every Matter device comes with a setup QR code or numeric pairing code.
- 3. Add to your app — Open your smart home app and scan the code. The device will be commissioned via Bluetooth LE.
- 4. Use it — The device now works locally on your network, controllable from any Matter-compatible app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Matter free to use?
For consumers, yes — there's no subscription or fee to use Matter devices. Manufacturers pay for certification through the CSA.
Do my existing smart home devices support Matter?
Some manufacturers have released firmware updates to add Matter support to existing devices (like Nanoleaf, Eve, and Philips Hue). Check with your device manufacturer or browse our catalog to see which devices are certified.
Does Matter work without internet?
Yes! Matter operates locally over your home network. Your devices will continue to work even if your internet goes down.
What's the difference between Matter and Thread?
Thread is a networking protocol (like Wi-Fi), while Matter is an application-layer standard that runs on top of Thread, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet. Think of Thread as the road and Matter as the language spoken on it.