What is Matter?
Matter is an open, universal smart home standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and over 550 other companies. It launched in 2022 with one goal: make smart home devices work across all major platforms without brand lock-in.
If a device is Matter-certified, it will work with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant. All at the same time, from a single device, with no extra setup per platform.
How Does Matter Work?
Matter is an IP-based protocol: it uses your existing Wi-Fi or Thread network rather than a proprietary radio. This gives it several key advantages:
- No hub needed (for Wi-Fi devices): Matter over Wi-Fi devices connect directly to your home network
- Local control: Matter is designed to work locally, without relying on manufacturer cloud servers
- Multi-admin: One device can be added to multiple ecosystems simultaneously (e.g. both HomeKit and Alexa)
For battery-powered devices, Matter uses Thread as the transport layer instead of Wi-Fi. See What is Thread.
Which Devices Support Matter?
Matter is supported by a growing range of products including smart bulbs, plugs, switches, thermostats, locks, and sensors. Look for the Matter logo on packaging. Older devices can sometimes gain Matter support through firmware updates.
Matter vs Zigbee vs Z-Wave
| Matter | Zigbee | Z-Wave | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hub required | No (Wi-Fi) / Yes (Thread) | Yes | Yes |
| Platform compatibility | All major platforms | Varies | Varies |
| Transport | Wi-Fi or Thread | 2.4 GHz radio | Sub-GHz radio |
| Device variety | Growing fast | Very large | Large |
Getting Started with Matter
- Check your platform: Apple Home (iOS 16.1+), Google Home, Alexa, and Home Assistant all support Matter
- Buy a Matter-certified device: Look for the Matter logo. Devices are certified before they can use the logo
- Add via your platform's app: Use the QR code on the device to add it directly from the Home app, Google Home, or Alexa
- Share with other platforms: Once added to one platform, you can share the device to others using the multi-admin feature
Tip: Matter is still maturing. For the widest device selection today, Zigbee or Z-Wave networks still offer more choices. For future-proof buying, choosing Matter-certified devices is a solid strategy.