Google Home is Google's smart home platform. It is a free app for Android, iPhone and iPad plus the web, a family of Nest and Google speakers, displays, routers and streamers that can act as hubs, and developer programs for device makers and app builders. Devices from partner brands and Matter-certified devices are added to the same app, and it is controlled by touch, by voice through Google Assistant or the newer Gemini for Home voice assistant, and by automations.
Google Home connects devices in three ways. Matter devices are controlled locally through a Matter hub in the home (a Nest speaker, display, Nest Wifi Pro or Google TV Streamer), with Thread devices needing a hub that is also a Thread border router. Partner devices that carry the Works with Google Home badge usually link through the manufacturer's cloud, with an optional local path. Google's own Nest devices are set up in the same app, though some older Nest products still start in the Nest app.
That suits households that already use Android phones, Nest speakers or Google TV and want a low-effort app with Matter support. It is weaker for people who want to run Zigbee or Z-Wave radios directly: the Google pages we read describe Wi-Fi, Thread and Matter, and we found no official page for Zigbee or Z-Wave support. The script editor is still a Public Preview, and the assistant is mid-transition from Google Assistant to Gemini for Home, which is opt-in early access and cannot be reversed once chosen.
Runs on
Google Home app on Android and iOS (and web), with Nest and Google hubs
Radios and protocols
Wi-Fi, Thread and Matter; Bluetooth LE for Matter setup
Matter
Controller through a Matter hub; Thread border router on selected devices
Integrations / apps
Works with Google Home partners, Matter, Home APIs
What can be connected
Lighting and plugs Lights, plugs and switches, including Matter devices and partner brands
Climate and security Thermostats, locks, smoke and CO alarms, cameras and doorbells
Entertainment and appliances Speakers, displays, TVs, window coverings, sensors, vacuums and appliances
The main app for setting up, controlling and automating Google Nest devices, Matter devices and Works with Google Home partner devices. Google's help page lists tabs for Home, Activity and Automations. It is available for Android phones, iPhones and iPads, and Google also lists a web version, Wear OS, Google TV and tablets such as Pixel Tablet.
Google's help pages say some Nest devices, for example Nest Protect, several Nest Cam models, the wired Nest Doorbell, Nest x Yale Lock and older Nest thermostats, must be set up in the Nest app before they can be added to the Google Home app. We could not find official App Store or Google Play links for the Nest app on the pages we read.
Compatibility, platform by platform
Official supported by the brandCommunity built by someone elseNot found searched, nothing foundUnconfirmed sources conflict or could not be opened
Platform
Status
What it means
Sources
Hardware, editions and installation
Google Home app
Official
There is no hub to buy to start: the app is free and is used to add Google and Nest devices, Matter devices and partner devices. For Matter, a Matter-enabled hub is required in the home. Google Home Premium is a separate paid subscription for the more advanced Gemini features, according to Google's about page.
Both are listed as Matter hubs for Wi-Fi and Thread with a built-in Thread border router. The original Nest Hub (1st gen) is listed as a Wi-Fi only Matter hub.
Listed as a Matter hub and Thread border router. Google's Google TV page says it can create or join a Thread network and stores Thread credentials in the Google Account. Thread can be turned off in its network settings.
Nest Audio, Nest Mini, Google Home Mini and Google Home are listed as Wi-Fi only Matter hubs. The Google Home Speaker (2026) is listed with Thread support. Google's page names a Google Home speaker in the Wi-Fi list but does not say whether the original supports Thread.
The same Google page lists select TVs compatible with Google Home as Wi-Fi only hubs and says to check the manufacturer's specifications. Google's 2024 developer blog also described a Home runtime for Chromecast with Google TV and eligible LG TVs.
Most Google Nest devices, including speakers, displays, Google TV Streamer, Pixel Tablet, Wifi devices and most Nest Cams, are set up in the Google Home app. Some Nest products still start in the Nest app, and Google's Nest Protect page says Nest Protect appears only in the Nest app.
Matter devices on Wi-Fi are controlled locally through a Matter hub. Google's page says IPv6 must be enabled on the home network, otherwise setup may appear to succeed but control eventually fails.
Matter setup needs a phone or tablet with Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2 or higher (Android 8.1+ with Google Play services 22.48.14+, or iOS/iPadOS 16.5+ as shown on the page we read). We found no official page about Bluetooth as a device-control radio.
Thread devices need a Thread border router. Google lists the Google Home Speaker (2026), Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, Nest Wifi Pro and Google TV Streamer. Google describes Thread as a low-power mesh that is required for setting up Thread devices in the Google Home app.
Google Home works with Matter through a Matter hub. At home, commands go to the device directly over Wi-Fi or Thread; away from home they go through the cloud and the hub passes them on locally. Google's developer page lists about 37 supported device types, each with a Matter spec value of 1.0, 1.2 or 1.3, and says other types are not officially supported.
A Matter device can be shared with other Matter apps such as Apple Home or Amazon Alexa through Linked Matter apps and services. Each other app needs its own Matter hub, and only one platform controls the device at a time while state syncs across apps.
Google's developer page says devices behind a Matter bridge look like normal devices and the bridge shows up as an inert Control Bridge device. It does not mention Zigbee or Z-Wave bridging.
We searched Google's help and developer pages and found no official statement about direct Zigbee or Z-Wave support, so we could not confirm either way.
Searched, no source
Works with Google Home
Official
Google says it supports thousands of devices from partner brands, and that existing Works with Google Home devices remain supported. Shoppers are told to look for the Works with Google Home or Matter badge.
Gemini for Home is opt-in early access in selected countries including the United States. Google's help page says that once the home switches it cannot switch back to Google Assistant, and a Google Home Speaker (2026) makes a home eligible. Google's October 2025 blog said Gemini replaces Google Assistant on speakers and displays. The help page is silent on dates for the rest of the rollout, so the final status is not stated.
Google's help page covers linking a Philips Hue account in the Google Home app and lists the supported voice commands. It says the round Hue Bridge (V1) is no longer supported and that the speaker or display and the Hue bridge must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
We searched Google's official help, developer and blog pages and found no page that describes Home Assistant or Homey, so their relation to Google Home could not be confirmed from official Google sources.
Searched, no source
Apps, integrations and developer access
Automations (visual editor and Help me create)
Official
Google's about page lists three ways to create automations: suggested automations, Help me create (describe the goal in plain language) and a visual editor with starters, conditions and actions. Google says automations depend on internet, Wi-Fi and device availability.
A YAML editor for advanced automations, marked Public Preview. It is available in Google Home for web and the mobile app; on iPhone or iPad scripted automations can be viewed, edited and run but not created. Scripts must pass Validate and need at least one action. Google describes an experimental AI feature that drafts a script from a description.
Device makers connect their cloud backend through the Smart Home API. Google says it supports more than 80 device types, including some not yet in Matter, works at home and remotely, and can serve as a fallback for Matter devices.
Adds a local path to a cloud-to-cloud integration so commands (EXEC) and state queries (QUERY) can run on the local network, with cloud fulfilment as fallback. The app runs on Google Home and Nest devices and is written in TypeScript or JavaScript. Report State is not supported locally.
A set of APIs for Android and iOS apps to read and control devices, structures and automations, including Matter and cloud-to-cloud devices, plus a Commissioning API for Matter. The iOS release notes we read show the SDK promoted from public beta to GA with version 1.10 on 30 July 2026, with 1.11.1 dated 22 October 2026. The Android overview page does not state its release status and says the Developer Console is not yet available for registration, so Android status could not be confirmed.
The iOS release notes list two new MCP servers, Home MCP and Home Developer MCP, dated 16 September 2026. Google's Developer MCP page describes a server that lets AI tools search Google Home documentation and run diagnostics for cloud-to-cloud partners. Its release status is not stated on that page.
We found no official Google page about community integrations, so none are listed here.
Searched, no source
Pricing
Official
The Google Home app is free. Google Home Premium is a paid subscription for advanced Gemini features. Google's October 2025 blog said plans start at 10 US dollars a month and are included with Google AI Pro and Ultra; later pricing was not checked.
Checked 11 November 2026 against the brand's own pages, app store listings and each project's own page. “Not found” means we searched and found nothing, not that it is impossible. Compatibility changes often. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix it.