Joe TriesMotion sensors
A motion sensor is a small battery box you stick in a corner, and it tells the rest of your system when someone walks into the room. It is the cheapest way to make a house feel automatic. Almost none are Wi-Fi, so this is a category where you need a hub, the small box that relays Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Thread devices.
- In the catalog
- 20
- Work without a hub
- 0 of 20
- Hub required
- 17
- Most common radios
- Z-Wave, Zigbee, Proprietary RF, Matter
- Price range
- $8 to $50
What decides compatibility
- Almost every motion sensor needs a hub. Wi-Fi models are the exception, not the rule.
- PIR sees movement, so it drops you if you sit still. For a room where people read or work, look at a presence sensor instead.
- Re-trigger delay (the blind window after a trigger) is set in firmware on cheaper sensors and adjustable on better ones.
- Pets set off floor-level sensors. Mounting height and a pet-immune lens are the fix.
How these connect to your system
A works-with badge does not say how the device gets there, and the path changes what you get. Direct means the maker built the integration and the device's own features tend to come with it. Via Matter means the standard controls work and anything unusual about the device may not carry over. Via a hub means you need a second box, usually the maker's own, before it works at all.
- SmartThings14 work with itDirect 10Via Matter 2Via a hub 2
- Home Assistant14 work with itVia Matter 2Via an add-on 12
- Alexa14 work with itDirect 3Via Matter 2Via a hub 9
- Hubitat10 work with itDirect 10
- Google Home10 work with itDirect 2Via Matter 2Via a hub 6
- Apple Home5 work with itDirect 1Via Matter 1Via a hub 3
Motion sensors we list
Filter and compare these in the catalog
Aeotec MultiSensor 7
Aeotec · Motion sensor · Z-Wave
Hub requiredSmartThingsHome AssistantHubitat
$50
Aeotec TriSensor 8
Aeotec · Motion sensor · Z-Wave
Hub requiredSmartThingsHome AssistantHubitat
$30
Aqara Motion and Light Sensor P2
Aqara · Motion sensor · Matter
Hub requiredSmartThingsAppleGoogleHome AssistantAlexa
$34
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
Aqara · Motion sensor · Zigbee
Hub requiredSmartThingsAppleGoogleHome AssistantAlexa
$23
Ecolink Z-Wave Plus PIR Motion Sensor
Ecolink · Motion sensor · Z-Wave
Hub requiredSmartThingsHome AssistantHubitat
$40
Eve Motion (Matter over Thread)
Eve · Motion sensor · Matter
Optional hubSmartThingsAppleGoogleHome AssistantAlexa
$50
IKEA MYGGSPRAY Wireless Motion Sensor (smart)
IKEA · Motion sensor · Matter
Hub requiredSmartThingsAppleGoogleHome AssistantAlexa
$8
Ring Alarm Motion Detector
Ring · Motion sensor · Z-Wave
Hub requiredSmartThingsHome AssistantAlexaHubitat
$30
Shelly BLU Motion
Shelly · Motion sensor · Bluetooth
Optional hubGoogleAlexa
$26
SONOFF SNZB-03
Sonoff · Motion sensor · Zigbee
Hub requiredSmartThingsGoogleHome AssistantAlexaHubitat
$9
SONOFF SNZB-03P Zigbee Motion Sensor
Sonoff · Motion sensor · Zigbee
Hub requiredSmartThingsGoogleHome AssistantAlexaHubitat
$12
SwitchBot Motion Sensor
SwitchBot · Motion sensor · Bluetooth
Optional hubAppleGoogleAlexa
$20
Tapo T100 Smart Motion Sensor
Tapo · Motion sensor · Proprietary RF
Hub requiredGoogleAlexa
$15
Third Reality Motion Sensor R1
ThirdReality · Motion sensor · Zigbee
Hub requiredSmartThingsHome AssistantAlexaHubitat
$30
Third Reality Zigbee Motion Sensor
ThirdReality · Motion sensor · Zigbee
Hub requiredSmartThingsHome AssistantHubitat
$20
Wyze Sense Motion Sensor v2
Wyze · Motion sensor · Proprietary RF
Hub requiredGoogleAlexa
$25
Wyze Sense v2 Motion Sensor
Wyze · Motion sensor · Proprietary RF
Hub requiredAlexa
$10
YoLink LoRa Motion Sensor
YoLink · Motion sensor · Proprietary RF
Hub requiredAlexa
$17
Zooz 800 Series Z-Wave Long Range Outdoor Motion Sensor ZSE70 800LR
Zooz · Motion sensor · Z-Wave
Hub requiredSmartThingsHome AssistantHubitat
$40
Zooz Z-Wave Motion Sensor ZSE18
Zooz · Motion sensor · Z-Wave
Hub requiredSmartThingsHome AssistantHubitat
$35