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Best Overall
SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades
Runner-Up
Yoolax Motorized Cellular Shades
Best Budget Smart Blinds
Ikea Fyrtur Roller Blind
Best Retrofit for Roller Blinds
Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit
Smart shades and automatic curtains used to be luxury gadgets found only in high-end hotels or the homes of the rich and famous. Nowadays, they are more affordable and accessible than ever. You can measure up, order, and install them yourself. We have spent months testing to find the best smart shades and retrofit options to smarten up your regular shades, blinds, or curtains.
Automated shades may sound frivolous, but they offer practical benefits. Beyond scheduling and voice commands, you can enjoy greater privacy, regulate the temperature by keeping the sun out or the heat in, and be gently awoken in the morning. But even the best smart shades have their pitfalls, so we’ll kick off with some tips to help you avoid them.
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Photograph: Ikea
Before You Invest in Smart Shades
Tailor Made versus Off the Shelf: Few things look smarter than perfectly fitted shades in a window frame, and few things look worse than shades that don’t quite fit. If you’re lucky enough to have window sizes that match the exact proportions of off-the-shelf shades then go for it, but most folks will be better served by going the made-to-order route. The downside is that tailor-made options are always going to be more expensive.
Measure Properly: Look at your chosen manufacturer’s website to find their measuring guide and take your time. You should measure, measure, and measure again, then ask someone else to measure and compare your results. The only way to avoid unsightly gaps or the horrible discovery that your shade is just a bit too wide for the space is to measure up properly. This is less of an issue if you decide to go the outside mount route.
Inside or Outside Mount: For the cleanest look, you should install your shades or blinds in the window frame. Measure the depth and account for window handles or anything else that might collide with the shade. Think about where you can drill holes to fit the mounting brackets and whether your chosen spot can handle the weight of a shade. An outside mount doesn’t look as good, but it is easier to install and can cover the window completely to block more light. Inside-mounted shades always have small gaps that light can get through. If you are after a pitch-dark bedroom, combining inside mount shades with curtains is the best way to go.
Material and Finish: You can get shades and blinds in so many different styles. Take your time choosing the material and color you want and think about the opacity. If you just want a privacy shade for a street-facing living room, then choose something that lets a lot of light through. If you’re trying to conserve or block heat or reduce noise, a thicker shade can help. For the neatest look, it’s worth thinking about a valance that will cover the top of the shade (most manufacturers offer these as an added extra).
Power: Smart shades and retrofit smart blinds and curtains all require power. Most come with a rechargeable battery and they can generally be charged in situ with a long enough cable (if you don’t have an outlet close, use a power bank). Some shades take standard batteries you can swap in and out, though we recommend rechargeable batteries for these. Small solar panels are another common option that will keep your shades topped up, but you might not like how they look from the outside. In any case, always fully charge the battery before installation.
Connectivity: Most shades come with a remote control. But to put the smart in smart shades you need a hub that your shades can connect to. This will allow you to control the shades from your phone or using voice commands. Think about your current smart home setup and preferred voice assistant when you are shopping for shades to ensure compatibility. You can sometimes connect to shades via Bluetooth, but it is flaky, low range, and slow compared to Wi-Fi or Zigbee.
Automation: The number one reason to get smart shades is automation, so make sure you research what is possible when shopping. While any smart shade can be automated to open and close at set times, some can adjust to close at sunset and open at sunrise. You can also have motion sensors to trigger some shades to open when you walk into the room in the morning, or have your shades close automatically when a certain temperature is reached in the room. You may need some extra gadgets for more complex automation.
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Photograph: SmartWings
Best Overall
SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades
For sheer versatility, it’s impossible to look past SmartWings. You can choose every conceivable style, color, size, or smart home ecosystem. I tested made-to-measure shades in my living room and found them easy to install with the fixings provided. I drilled holes directly into my PVC window frames, screwed in the brackets, and the shades snapped into place securely with the spring mechanism, which ensures they are easy to remove should you ever need to. There’s a USB-C port at one end and a button to control the shades, though you also get a remote control that offers up and down controls and saved presets. You can also install a solar panel to continually charge your shades, but it’s kind of ugly, so I have been using a power bank instead. Battery life has been somewhere between three and six months.
There is compatibility with all the major smart home ecosystems, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. I tested SmartWings’ latest Matter-compatible shades, adding them directly through the Apple Home app by scanning the QR code on each shade. I can ask Siri to open or close them, use the slider in the Home app on my iPhone, or trigger them with a smart button or motion sensor (I tried all these methods). Connectivity-wise Matter (Thread), Zigbee, and Z-Wave are available. Just make sure you choose the right model for your home. I like that there’s no need for another hub since my Apple TV 4K works as a Matter controller and Thread border router.
The SmartWings shades have worked reliably for several months now, look classy, and everyone in my home loves them (apart from the cats who always seem to get a fright when the shades open or close). On that note, the shades are relatively quiet (no louder than 50 decibels according to my Apple Watch). A couple of times I have had one of the shades disconnect and show as unresponsive in the Home app, but deleting and then pairing always got them working again. The only other downside is the price, which mounts if you want any extras. They start from around $155.
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Photograph: Yoolax
Runner-Up
Yoolax Motorized Cellular Shades
Yoolax is another solid option for smart shades and blinds (it’s the brand behind Graywind). The company offers made-to-measure shades and blinds in a wide range of styles, colors, and finishes, but smart home compatibility is a bit more limited than our top pick. Fitting this shade was simple (same mechanism as the SmartWings). The top section is relatively bulky with a USB-C port and a button to control the shades at one end. I was happy with the valance, which snaps on magnetically to give it a neat look. The supplied remote control works well and you can set preferred positions. The solar panel (sold separately) stuck easily to the bedroom window and has kept the battery topped up, so we never need to worry about recharging. Without the panel, you are looking at between three and six months of battery life.
We opted for a honeycomb shade, which is much thicker than a regular roller shade, but does an excellent job of keeping the sun out, or the heat in, and also reduces sound from outside. Paired with curtains, this shade offers complete darkness. Sadly, smart home compatibility is limited to Amazon Alexa or Google Home. The Zigbee motor can connect directly to a handful of Amazon devices (Echo Plus 2nd Gen, Echo Show 2nd Gen, Echo Studio, Echo Show 10, Echo 4th Gen). If you don’t have one of those or want to use it with Google Home, you will also need a Yoolax hub.
The Yoolax shades work reliably and they look smart, though the top section is sizable and the optional solar panel looks a little ugly from outside. The Yoolax app is busy and has some poor translations, but you can schedule your shades for chosen times, based on the sunset and sunrise, or even use geolocation to have them close when you leave home. Voice commands with Alexa are probably the easiest way to control these shades. The motor is relatively loud, sometimes going above 60 decibels. They start from around $139.
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Photograph: Ikea
Best Budget Smart Blinds
Ikea Fyrtur Roller Blind
By far the most affordable smart shade option, Ikea’s Fyrtur shades come in a choice of eight sizes, from 23 x 76.75 inches up to 48 x 76.75 inches. Unlike the other shades in our guide, there is no made-to-measure option, and these shades are not designed to be cut (it is technically possible according to some online guides, but it doesn’t look easy). If you’re lucky enough to have a window that matches one of the sizes, this is a classy-looking smart shade that is easy to install. It uses similar spring brackets to our top two picks and has a removable, rechargeable battery in a compartment at the top right. The top section of these shades is quite bulky, but it looks neat enough once installed. There are physical buttons at the top left for opening and closing the shade, and you get a tiny remote control in the box.
You can connect to the shade via the Ikea Home smart app, and you can schedule times for it to open or close automatically, but you must plug in the included signal repeater within 30 feet of the shade. You also need a Dirigera hub ($70) if you want to add voice commands and remote controls for the major smart home platforms. The Dirigera hub replaces the old Tradfri hub and is a big improvement with support for Matter, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Thread. There are some other connection options if you search online and don’t mind jumping through a few hoops.
Style-wise the Fyrtur only comes in gray, though it blends in well with most rooms. It is quite noisy, hitting up to 60 decibels when opening or closing. Battery life is OK—expect at least a couple of months. It’s nice that you can remove the battery to charge easily by plugging the supplied cable into the repeater, though I’d rather have a USB-C port than MicroUSB. They start at $130.
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Photograph: Eve
Best Retrofit for Roller Blinds
Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit
What if you already have a roller shade you love? The Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit could be just what you need. This clever kit can be fitted into an existing roller shade or blind to make it smart. The circumference of the tube inside your existing roller shade matters, so measure up before you buy. Installation is a breeze, and you can add the MotionBlinds to HomeKit simply by scanning the QR code on the chain pull mechanism using your Apple Home app. There’s no remote with this and no need for a separate hub, provided you have a HomePod mini, HomePod, or Apple TV. Battery life is up to a year, depending on how often you open and close your shades.
Though originally designed for Apple Home, the latest version is Matter-enabled and you can easily connect it to Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, or Google Home. You just need a Matter controller and Thread border router. Even if you have an older version of the Eve Motion Blinds, it is straightforward to upgrade to Matter. I have my Eve MotionBlinds in my bedroom and they are scheduled in the Apple Home app to open and close with sunset and sunrise on weekdays. We ask Siri or pull the control chain on weekends.
Because you can pair the Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit with any roller, you can get the exact size, color, and finish you want. A few suppliers ship the Eve MotionBlinds ready fitted into their made-to-measure shades or blinds. While the pull chain is much easier than trying to fumble with a tiny button, the shade occasionally catches on it when closing. It is also quite noisy in operation, sometimes going above 60 decibels, which is enough to wake you.
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Photograph: SwitchBot
Best Retrofit for Venetian Blinds
SwitchBot Blind Tilt
Folks with Venetian blinds can use this clever gadget from SwitchBot to add automation and remote controls. Provided you have horizontal blinds with a rotary control rod, you can fit the SwitchBot Blind Tilt yourself, but I recommend watching the instructional video as it can be fiddly. You get a solar panel in the box that can go behind the blinds to keep the battery topped up. It connects to the SwitchBot app on your phone via Bluetooth to set the Blind Tilt function up and to set your preferred positions and schedules. There is a built-in light sensor, so you can have the blinds close automatically when the sun is shining.
If you want to use voice commands or control your blinds remotely you need to buy a SwitchBot Hub Mini ($39) or Hub 2 ($70). With your blinds linked to a hub, you can use all the major smart home ecosystems (only the Hub 2 supports Matter and Apple HomeKit). You can also buy a SwitchBot Remote ($19) if you want a simple programmable button for opening or closing the blinds. The SwitchBot Blind Tilt works quite well and gives you fine control over the angle of your blinds with a slider.
The SwitchBot Blind Tilt is quite chunky and only comes in white, which is fine if your blinds are white, but stands out like a sore thumb otherwise. You also have to run a cable from it to the solar panel, which doesn’t look great from outside of your chosen window. Normal operation is speedy but fairly loud (around 50 decibels), but there is a quiet mode that moves slowly and keeps the volume under 35 decibels. Because Bluetooth is a bit slow and flaky, a hub is advisable for the best performance, but that adds to the cost.
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Photograph: SwitchBot
Best Retrofit for Curtains
SwitchBot Curtain 3
Combining drapes and shades is a great way to achieve total darkness in a bedroom, and you can automate your curtains too. The SwitchBot Curtain 3 comes in a few varieties for rod or U-rail curtains. I tested the rod version with my bedroom curtains and was surprised to find how well it works. You can chart SwitchBot’s progress in our reviews from the original Curtain Bot (4/10, WIRED Review) through the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). The third time’s the charm with the SwitchBot Curtain 3, which addresses all my complaints about the earlier versions.
Installation is easy, but take your time and make sure to fit the curtain beading for spacing and the magnetic stickers that mark the endpoints for your curtains to be closed. If your curtains open in the middle, you will need two SwitchBot Curtain 3 devices. I tested them with the new solar panels ($26), which clip into place (the old ones relied on adhesive and tended to fall off after a short time). Other improvements with the Curtain 3 include “QuietDrift”, which keeps the volume below 25 decibels (I can sleep through this).
As with the Blind Tilt, you need some extras to get the best from the Curtain 3. I recommend a SwitchBot Hub 2 ($70) to open up support for Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Siri Shortcuts, IFTTT, and also Matter for Apple HomeKit. You can also schedule your curtains and add a SwitchBot Remote ($19) if you want a physical remote control. The Curtain 3 is a bit slimmer than previous versions and sits unobtrusively behind the curtains. Unfortunately, the solar panel attachment looks a bit weird from the outside, but it’s worth it since I don’t have to charge them. Without this, you’ll have to recharge it every couple of months via USB-C.
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Photograph: Aqara
Honorable Mentions
Other Smart Shades and Kits We Tested
We have tested a few other smart shades and retro-fit devices. We also plan to test smart shades from Lutron and Somfy shortly. Here are a few that narrowly missed out on a place above.
Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 for £60: This is a retrofit device for roller shades that you can simply clamp the beaded control chain into. Select the right adapter, and mount it on the wall, and you can remote control your shade or schedule it via the app. If you want voice commands or more complex automation, you have to buy an Aqara hub (sold separately). The first time I fitted this, it must have been too tight because it snapped the chain. I also had issues with the plastic spacer that joined the two ends not fitting around the gear adapter, so check that your shades are suitable before you buy.
Aqara Curtain Driver E1 for $100: With separate models for rod or track curtains, this is very much like the SwitchBot Curtain 3 above, but not quite as good. It is bigger, which leaves more room for a larger battery, so you can expect up to a year of battery life. Unfortunately, it is also louder (over 50 decibels), more expensive, and requires an Aqara hub to unlock voice commands and smart home automation.
Ikea Tredansen from $130: The Tredansen is very similar to the Fyrtur above, except that it is a cellular black-out blind that only comes in white. The fittings, eight sizes, and removable battery are identical to the Fyrtur. Connect to a Dirigera hub and you can use the Ikea Home app to control, schedule, and group your blinds. You get a pre-paired remote, but annoyingly you have to plug in the included signal repeater for wireless functions. They don’t look as nice or feel as durable as the Fyrtur, and I had some issues with patchy connectivity.
