For a decade I covered smart-home technology at CNET. I’ve wrangled robot vacuums, jumped inside washing machines, hated on smart displays, and appeared in videos as a creepy electrician and Santa—for science.

At their most basic, smart shades and blinds make life far more simple, opening and closing without the risk of tangled strings or accidentally stripped shades. Like traditional shades and blinds, they can shield your home from harsh sunlight, while also helping to insulate it from hot- and cold-air leaks. And they ensure privacy from that nosy neighbor (you know the one).

But what makes smart models so appealing is that they can be scheduled, using an app, to go up and down at a particular time of day, every day, and you don’t have to lift a finger. That’s especially valuable if you have lots of windows or windows in hard-to-reach places. Using a voice command or an app, you can trigger one or several of these smart models any time you like. And when they’re set to open and close at different times, these shades help to boost your home’s security, by making it look as if someone’s home (this is especially effective when combined with smart lighting and smart plugs).

Most of these devices require a hub (which plugs into your router or into a wall outlet) to connect to Wi-Fi and enable smart functionality. The SmarterHome MySmartRollerShades and SmarterHome MySmartBlinds are slight exceptions since they work over Bluetooth out of the box, but you still need the companion Wi-Fi bridge to get full smart capabilities.

Each Wi-Fi hub is slightly different, but they all help extend the connection range, allow for new features via firmware updates, and support adding dozens of branded devices. For instance, one Lutron Caséta Smart Hub can handle as many as 75 Lutron devices.

The SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Roller Shades, the SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Cellular Shades, and the Leviosa Roller Shades I tested are the biggest outliers here since they operate via Matter over Thread rather than Wi-Fi. Instead of a traditional Wi-Fi hub, you need a compatible Thread border router for each of the platforms you intend to use with these shades, whether Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, or Samsung SmartThings. Common border routers include smart speakers and displays, such as the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen), the Apple HomePod Mini, and the Google Nest Hub Max, as well as other connected devices such as the Nanoleaf Shapes decorative lighting panels and the Samsung Q90C TV. See the complete list of Thread border routers for more.

Once connected, these gadgets communicate with your battery-powered shade or blind, just as they do with any other smart-home device. You can then use the companion app, where available, or any compatible third-party platform app to open and close or to raise and lower your window coverings; create a set Schedule based on your daily habits; ask Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri to open your shades or blinds for you; enable features that adjust them according to sunrise and sunset estimates in your area, or slowly throughout the entire day; or design automations with multiple smart-home devices as part of a daily routine.

Smart shades and blinds look just like regular window fixtures, but they have motors and battery compartments hidden in their top railings.

With the exception of the IKEA Fyrtur shades, all of the shades and blinds we tested are made to order. It can take several weeks for custom window coverings to be delivered, since it’s unlikely that a company has shades or blinds with your exact specifications already sitting around.

Each company will ask you a series of questions to create your custom order, including:

• Precise measurements: Be sure to check the measurements a few times, and get help if you aren’t confident. If you aren’t exact, the shades might not fit correctly and likely can’t be returned.
• Transparency and color: Shades typically come in blackout, transparent, and sheer varieties, depending on how much privacy and light blocking you want for a particular room or space. They also have different color finishes, so you can pick what works best for your interior design.
• Mounting style: Depending on your windows, you may want to mount the shades inside or outside the window frame. Inside-mount models require a certain depth for the brackets to fit. If you’re unsure, outside-mount models are a safer bet, but they don’t fit as close to the window.
• Finishes: Some models may offer an optional valance (a separate piece that covers the top of the shade or blind to give it a more-finished look). Lutron offers them; other companies, like IKEA, do not.

These shades and blinds are DIY, but they do require drilling (with the exception of the easy-to-install SmarterHome MySmartBlinds; more details on that later). Some of the shades and blinds are heavy, and it might help to have a second person on hand to assist.

While some companies offer plug-in options for installation, we focused exclusively on battery-powered models here.

When deciding which smart shades and blinds to review, we considered the best combination of features and options. We looked for models that checked the following boxes:

• DIY installation
• truly smart, not just powered (that means the ability to connect to them remotely, put them on Schedules, or have them function automatically)
• compatibility with at least one major smart-home platform (Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home)

Along with those requirements, we also looked for models that:

• support compatibility with more than one smart-home platform
• include a non-smartphone remote control
• adjust automatically based on the time of day or the position of the sun

When we test smart shades and blinds, we’re looking for:

• a reasonably simple installation
• straightforward app control
• uncomplicated voice control or third-party integrations that mirror use in the app, where a companion app is available
• reliable performance (repeatable results; minimal to no false notifications or other errors)
• a reasonably long battery life
• an unobtrusive battery/motor design
• a quiet motor
• signs that the shades or blinds could last long-term with minimal intervention
• a good overall value for the money

To test shades and blinds, I requested custom models to fit specific windows in my home, with the exception of the IKEA Fyrtur shades, which come ready-made in set sizes.

I then installed each one in turn, noting the installation and initial configuration process—including getting the Wi-Fi hub online or the Thread border router connected and pairing the remote (when applicable). I tested each model’s app to open and close or raise and lower the shades and blinds on demand, where available, and I also created Schedules to confirm that they responded reliably. I tested them with the Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home apps on my iPhone, depending on compatibility, and I used commands with their respective voice assistants to see how well they worked.

I also tested automations in each platform, such as “When my smart LED bulb turns on in the evening, close the shades.” The Google Home app currently supports very few automations with smart shades; when you try to create a Routine in the app, the control options for smart shades are largely grayed out or entirely missing. Google did not respond to a request for comment on the status of its smart-shade automations.

I tried out any advanced settings, too, such as the Natural Light Optimization feature—available with Lutron’s Serena Smart Wood Blinds—which dynamically adjusts the blinds throughout the day based on the position of the sun.

Lutron’s Serena Smart Roller Shades skillfully combine all of the things you’d want from a connected window covering: easy-to-configure automations; the quietest motor of any model we tested (including others from Lutron); compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home; and a sturdy, attractive design available in multiple styles and color finishes.

The Lutron Caséta Smart Hub, sold separately, is required to enable Wi-Fi and any smart functionality in the Lutron app and with its supported smart-home platforms, including voice control. One hub works with as many as 75 Lutron devices. This hub connects to a router, and we found it simple to set up via a tutorial in the Lutron app.

If you want a remote control, you can also buy a Lutron Pico Smart Remote separately. One remote can control multiple Lutron devices, as long as they’re within 30 feet of the remote, according to Lutron.

They’re whisper-quiet. A motorized shade isn’t going to add much convenience to your life if it’s distractingly loud. Most of the models we tested were quiet enough to not be especially noticeable, if you aren’t trying to hear them. But Lutron’s roller shade was by far the quietest of the bunch.

Combine this model’s quiet motor with its ability to automatically open and close on a set schedule or to change seasonally with sunrise and sunset, and you hardly even notice they’re there.

They are fuss-free. I created multiple Schedules, including one for sunrise and sunset, and these shades worked seamlessly, which was pretty delightful. I especially enjoyed walking downstairs in the morning to shades that had already opened without my having to do anything. At sunset, they automatically blocked the direct bright light that typically streams into the living room at that time of day.

There are tons of style options. Lutron’s roller shades are sold in three styles: blackout, translucent, and sheer. Among those three main options, there are dozens of color choices per style, totaling over 100 possible finishes. Along with the opacity and color finish, you can select whether you want either an “architectural” or fabric valance (a cover that hides the top portion of the shade).

The architectural valances are Lutron’s modern offering, and they come in white, black, bronze, or silver finishes. Fabric valances match the fabric you select for the shades. If you don’t want valances, you can pick whether you want the fabric to drape over or under.

The hardware is as sturdy as it is good-looking. Lutron’s roller shade is solidly built, and it feels especially durable compared with all of the other models we tested. We’ll have to use it long-term to give an official verdict on how it holds up over time. But it seems perfectly capable of lasting for years without issue.

As a result of that durability, this shade was also the heaviest model we tested. During installation, I enlisted help from a second person to hold one side.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

They use a lot of batteries. While the number of batteries varies based on the size of your custom shade, my 27-by-73-inch shade needed a comically high number—eight D batteries, for an added $17. Lutron notes in its FAQ that battery longevity is variable, depending on use, but that typically you should be able to trigger them “thousands of times” before the shades need new batteries.

They’re top-shelf expensive. Lutron roller shades are a premium product with a premium price tag. My one shade cost about $965, including the $80 Lutron Caséta Smart Hub (one hub can manage up to 75 devices). By comparison, the SmarterHome MySmartRollerShades model cost about $620, including a $110 Wi-Fi hub.

Even the smallest shade Lutron would let me build online—with the exact same specifications otherwise–still cost a whopping $890 (with the $80 Lutron Smart Hub added).

Privacy and security snapshot

• Lutron may collect data about your specific visit to its website and app.
• Lutron may encrypt and share anonymized usage data it collects with analytics firms to learn how visitors interact with its site and app. It does not share or sell data for solicitation of non-Lutron products and services.
• Browsers with “do not track” settings do not work on Lutron’s site. Using the app, you have the ability to restrict what data you want to share.

Review Lutron’s privacy statement for more information.

SmarterHome’s MySmartRollerShades aren’t available in as many design options as Lutron shades. They don’t have the same premium hardware. And they are’t as widely compatible with other smart-home platforms. But they work perfectly well, they’re good-looking, and they cost hundreds of dollars less than our top pick.

Unlike the models available from Lutron, these shades come with a rechargeable battery that gets topped up by an included solar panel strip. That could be unwieldy, so we especially like that the solar panel is tucked away from view.

MySmartRollerShades are Bluetooth-enabled, but they require a SmarterHome Wi-Fi hub for full remote access and voice assistant support.

The solar panel charger is very clever. The motor and battery design is unobtrusive (the battery is built into one side of the shade), and its included solar strip means it’s possible to keep the battery charged without ever having to mess with it again.

Unlike other battery-powered shades, which have to be charged or replaced, the solar strip connects to the window or the shade (facing outward, of course) and then plugs into the battery. If the window gets direct sunlight for at least “a few hours each day of the week,” according to SmarterHome, you could potentially keep the battery fully charged with no further intervention.

In case the area doesn’t get quite enough light to stay charged, the battery has a Micro-USB port for additional charging.

The Tilt app is simple to use. The app is easy to navigate, thanks to an uncluttered, uncomplicated design.

I especially like how you get a visualization of the shade on the device page, so you can see its current position even if you aren’t in the same room. Then you simply slide your finger up or down along the right side to raise or lower your shade.

I also like how the same device page tells you at the bottom how much battery you have, whether it’s connected to solar power, and whether you’re connected to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi via the optional hub.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Smart-home integration is limited. The only compatible third-party smart platform is Alexa. And using it can be clunky. In the Tilt app, you first have to create a Routine, which you can then trigger in the Alexa app.

I created a Good Morning routine in Tilt, and it opened the shade every morning at 7 a.m. From there, I enabled the Tilt skill in the Alexa app, which automatically recognized the Good Morning routine I made in the Tilt app. To test it, I used Alexa in the app and said, “Run Good Morning.” It worked fine, but it added a layer of needless complexity for those times when you just want to use basic open-and-close commands. The only value may be the ability to integrate with other Alexa-compatible devices.

Privacy and security snapshot

• SmarterHome may collect information about the device you use to interact with its site and app, as well as how you interact with its site and app.
• SmarterHome says it may store that information on third-party servers.

Review SmarterHome’s privacy statement for more information.

IKEA’s Fyrtur shades offer the best overall value of any model we tested, due to their mix of affordability, appealing design, and support for Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home. We particularly like the easy-access battery compartment, which makes the rechargeable battery simple to remove, charge, and replace.

However, IKEA’s shades aren’t customizable, either in size or color. But if one of the sizes matches up with your windows, this is a great, affordable alternative to expensive custom coverings.

One long-term tester has Fyrtur shades in their kitchen to block blinding direct light in the evening. The shades are set to lower automatically at a specific time every day and then to open again at sunset. This tester noted the usefulness of the shades operating without their having to do anything.

The battery is easy to access. There’s a little trap door on the front left side of the Fyrtur shades. Pull the tab to open the swing-door compartment and remove or replace the rechargeable battery.

This is especially easy because the Fyrtur shades don’t have a valance or any other cover on the top that needs to be removed. Instead, they have a sleek metal top that integrates nicely with the rest of their modern aesthetic. So the easy-open battery compartment is able to be located on the front of the metal design without detracting from the overall style.

No other smart shades can match this model’s low price. The 27-by-76.75-inch size most closely matched the 27-by-73-inch size of the window I used to test these shades. While the other models I tested rose well over $600 per shade for that size, with some costing closer to $1,000 (I’m looking at you, Lutron), the Fyrtur shade cost only $140 (including a small remote).

Like the other models we tested, though, you do have to buy IKEA’s Dirigera Hub separately to give these shades smart capabilities. This setup was easy enough (a big improvement over previous configurations with older IKEA hubs, according to another tester).

I did find it confusing that IKEA has two different smart-home apps—the IKEA Home Smart app, which works with the Dirigera Hub, and the IKEA Home Smart 1 app, which works with the Trådfri hub. Fortunately, IKEA clearly specifies in the app description which app works with which hub, but it seems needlessly complex. You could use either hub (and its app) for the shades, but the newer Dirigera is faster and has a better app.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The hardware isn’t included. In a bizarre omission that’s prompted posts on Reddit, the IKEA Fyrtur shades don’t come with the screws you need to mount them. Sure, most people have random leftover hardware lying around. But unless you have the exact right size—or you don’t mind a makeshift, mismatched installation with assorted screws—you might have to make a trip to your local hardware store to get the correct mounting hardware.

Privacy and security snapshot

• IKEA collects information about the device you use to access its site.
• The company may collect anonymized information about how you navigate its site.
• IKEA uses encryption and firewalls to protect information it gathers.

Review IKEA’s privacy statement for more information.

The Lutron Serena Smart Blinds are attractive and easy to install, and they work with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home. Their standout feature, Natural Light Optimization, automatically opens and closes the blinds at different angles throughout the day to account for changes in the light—and it works beautifully.

As with Lutron’s shades, with these blinds you’ll need to buy the Lutron Caséta Smart Hub separately to connect them to Wi-Fi and enable any smart capabilities.

The blinds are not motorized. Note that motorized smart blinds do not rise and lower as shades do—their louvers open and close. That said, opening and closing these is easy and cord-free: Simply lift them from the bottom to the desired level and release. The blinds stay in place without needing a cord or any other manual controls. Gently pull down to lower them.

Natural Light Optimization is awesome. You can set these blinds to open and close for sunrise and sunset, and you can also enable Natural Light Optimization to automatically adjust the angle of your blinds’ slats all day, based on the position of the sun.

One window in my living room faces west, which just happens to be where I installed my Lutron blinds. Because of the direction the window faces, bright light streaks in starting in the late afternoon. Most of the time, we get up and lower our shades manually until the sun is a little less intense. With Natural Light Optimization, the blinds made micro-adjustments automatically throughout the day, so we never once had to make our own tweaks to avoid a blinding glare.

The manual lift works really well. It isn’t just the smart features that stand out on these blinds. If you’ve ever wrestled with a cord to either raise or lower blinds, you know the struggle of trying to get the angle just right before they cooperate.

Lutron’s clever design ditches the cord entirely, so you can simply lift from the bottom to raise your blinds to the desired height. When you want to lower them, pull down gently.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

They are luxury priced. Window coverings of any stripe tend to be pricey, and Lutron’s are custom made and are actual wood, but at $700 (a bit less if you buy several, as that includes a Lutron hub), the estimate for outfitting a house or even just a few rooms is eye-watering.

They require 12 AA batteries. Like the Lutron Serena Smart Roller Shades, these blinds use a lot of batteries. Instead of eight D batteries, the smart blinds rely on smaller AAs—and Lutron specifically recommends lithium AAs (which run around $35 for a pack of 12). Lutron claims batteries should last for “thousands” of runs before needing to be replaced, which is at least somewhat reassuring. We’ll keep an eye on that and report back if there are any interesting developments.

Privacy and security snapshot

• Lutron may collect data about your visit to its website and app.
• Lutron may encrypt and share the usage data it collects with analytics firms to learn about how visitors interact with its site and app.
• Browsers with “do not track” settings do not work on Lutron’s site.

Review Lutron’s privacy statement for more information.

SmarterHome’s MySmartBlinds offer the same solar-panel accessory as the SmarterHome MySmartRollerShades for easy ongoing charging. They also provide a remarkably friction-free installation, due to their SmartLock mechanism (this is a built-in lever that extends a brace against the wall so the blinds hang using compression force—no screws or nails).

Like SmarterHome’s shades, the blinds work over Bluetooth out of the box. But you’ll need to buy the Wi-Fi hub separately if you want to use Amazon Alexa as a smart-home platform. Oddly, the hub for blinds is different than the one for shades, and it’s frequently sold out (more on this below).

SmartLock installation is foolproof. None of the shades and blinds we tested were especially problematic to install, but the SmarterHome MySmartBlinds were completely tool-free and therefore the easiest to install by far. Instead of using a drill to mount the bracket with hardware, you use the included adhesives. Then you simply position the blinds where they need to go and use the locking lever to secure them in place. That makes these blinds an especially great option for renters who want custom window coverings but can’t drill holes or make any other major changes.

The solar panel charger is excellent. Like the company’s MySmartRollerShades, SmarterHome’s MySmartBlinds come with a solar-panel accessory. You can either mount it to your window with the included adhesive or use the clear plastic brackets provided to hang it from the back of the blinds.

Plug the panel into the battery, and depending on how much light the area gets, you might never have to think about the battery again.

We love Sun Tracking and Gradual Tilt. We enabled Sun Tracking to adjust the blinds automatically based on our local sunrise and sunset times. Gradual Tilt adjusted the blinds slowly over five minutes for a more subtle shift. While not quite as impressive as Lutron’s all-day Natural Light Optimization feature, these settings helped the blinds fade into the background, and they work with very minimal effort on my part (which is exactly what you want from any smart-home device).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

You need a different Wi-Fi hub than the one required for shades. While the Wi-Fi hub for SmarterHome shades and blinds costs the same and looks identical, you can’t use them interchangeably, which we think is short-sighted.

SmarterHome says most people either get all shades or all blinds, so this isn’t typically an issue, but it’s something to keep in mind if you plan to mix and match them for whatever reason (since you’ll need to buy both hubs for a total of $218, if you want them all to connect over Wi-Fi).

The app needs work. While the shades use the Tilt app, these blinds use the MySmartBlinds app, which isn’t as good. For example, the device page doesn’t have the same opening/closing visualization as the Tilt app. So there’s just a big empty space where the blind visualization should be and a spot on the far right side to slide your finger to open or close the blinds.

SmarterHome is working on combining the two into a single app, but it isn’t available yet. If you don’t plan to mix and match SmarterHome shades and blinds, this won’t be an issue. For those few who do, it’s a definite inconvenience until the apps are merged.

Privacy and security snapshot

• SmarterHome collects information about the device you use to interact with its site and app, as well as how you interact with its site and app.
• SmarterHome may store this information on third-party servers.

Review SmarterHome’s privacy statement for more information.

If you want Matter compatibility: The SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Roller Shades and the SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Cellular Shades are easy to install, look nice, and run quietly.

Both models also support a version of Matter that connects over Thread wireless rather than typical Wi-Fi. Thread ensures a far more reliable connection, and Matter support means you can control these models with your choice of Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, or Samsung SmartThings—so long as you also have a compatible Thread border router. During testing, both shades connected easily to Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home through an Amazon Echo Dot with clock, an Apple HomePod Mini, and a Google Nest Hub Max, respectively, acting as Thread border routers.

If you want a smart shade to boost energy efficiency: Lutron’s Serena Architectural Honeycomb Shades are a cellular-style model we tested and really liked. Lutron claims the shades’ unique shape helps insulate windows from heat and cold transfer. As with other Serena devices, these shades work on the same app, with the same lineup of features as its roller shades, including compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home.

A less expensive though less full-featured option is the Thread-enabled SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Cellular Shades, described above, which have the same honeycomb design and heat-transfer tempering capabilities.

We plan to test the new Thread-enabled Eve Blinds, which use the company’s MotionBlinds motors and work with Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings via Matter.

We are also looking at retrofit devices, which let you add smart capabilities to an existing shade or blind.

Smart retrofit shades:

• Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1
• RYSE SmartShade
• Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit for Roller Blinds

Smart retrofit blinds:

• SmarterHome Blinds Automation Kit
• SOMA Tilt 2
• SwitchBot Blind Tilt

We do not recommend the Matter over Thread Leviosa Roller Shades. The unfinished-looking battery compartment was massive and heavy, and it required 10 D batteries (even more than the Lutron Serena Smart Roller Shades).

We no longer recommend the Graber Motorized Shades. We had a critical issue with the app during testing: We were told to update the time zone, which was already correct, and then we were stuck behind a pop-up window and couldn’t use the app. We were also unable to integrate with Alexa at all. A Graber representative confirmed that the Alexa glitch was a known issue and claimed it had been resolved. But other owners have continued to experience the same problem for months.

This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.