One of the first things you can do to get familiar with a smart home is to use smart lighting. You could grab a single bulb to swap in for an old one, or you could opt for a starter kit that includes three bulbs and a hub, which is one of the budget smart light options. If you need a hub or bridge for your smart lighting system, some starter kits come with one, while others have more than one.

Sengled smart lights

(Image credit: Sengled)

This is a smart lighting starter kit that has it all. It comes with three of the best cheap smart bulbs and a smart hub that can be used with other smart hubs. There is a smart switch that you can mount on your wall.

Once set up, you can turn the lights on and off, dim or lighten them, and even use your voice to change the color of the lights with a compatible hub. You can choose from more than 16 million colors or whites with a temperature range from 2,000K to 6,500K. The lights will go to the last setting if you choose a setting that's perfect for a home office. Once you're ready to expand the system, you can connect up to 64 bulbs to a single hub and create scenes and routines.

Philips Hue

(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Android Central)

The starter kit is a good way to get to know the brand before diving into more complex options. If you want to add more lighting to the house, it's a great option. It provides soft white lighting from some of the best smart lights with Energy Star certified bulbs that fit most lamps. Control up to 50 lights with it.

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU...

It can be controlled with a compatible smart device and a compatible voice command, as well as with an app on anANDROID or ios device. It's a good start until you decide to grab colored bulbs. They can work with other Hue gear, such as dimmers, light strips, and the Hue Play.

Ring smart lights and bridge

(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Android Central)

Ring is well-known for its smart home security cameras and video doorbells, but there are more excellent Ring devices beyond just cameras. You can use this starter kit with other Ring devices in the home. Two bulbs and the Ring Bridge are included in the kit. You can use the Ring app on your phone to control the lights from afar.

The 800-lumen bulbs have a lifespan of up to 25,000 hours and are energy efficient. They are able to use Amazon's voice control devices. Control everything from a single app if you group them together.

Philips Hue White and Color smart bulb

(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Android Central)

Whether you're going to cuddle up on the couch for a good horror movie, relaxing while reading a book, or partying with friends, make sure you get the mood just right. A dimmer switch and a trio of multicolor bulbs are included in this kit. Enjoy more than 16 million colors with the ability to dim and lighten them at the touch of a button or verbal command with compatible devices. You don't have to manually adjust the dimmer switch.

You can choose from a variety of shades and intensities so you can find the right light for any occasion. You can make custom scenes for things like the big game. Like all the others, you can control it from your phone using the app, but it is also compatible with other automation tools.

GE Cync Bulb

(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Android Central)

There is no need for a bridge or hub with these bulbs. You don't need a bridge or hub to connect them with a smart device. For voice control, you can connect with Apple HomeKit. You can use the Cync mobile app to control the bulbs if you forget to turn the bedroom light off.

The set only has a wireless dimmer switch and a single bulb that can adjust among three different intensities of white: warm, amber light and cool, bluish tones. Adding more Cync bulbs is easy and inexpensive. You can control the lights individually or in a group with these bulbs, which are designed for use in places where 60W A19 bulbs are not normally used. They use less energy and last longer.

More than just a bulb

While you can't go wrong with any of the top smart light bulbs in your home, all of them include more energy-efficient and longer- lasting LEDs and are controlled by your phone, Amazon's voice assistant, and the internet search engine. A fully functioning smart lighting system in your home can only be achieved with a fully functioning smart lighting system in your home. You can control the lights on all of the most popular smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit, with the help of more than 16 million colors.

There is no limit to the number of lights you can add to your home. Since this kit already comes with a hub and three bulbs, you're able to smarten up lighting in the most important rooms of your home, such as your living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.