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How to Buy a Smart Home Lighting Starter Kit

How to · Tech

How to Buy a Smart Home Lighting Starter Kit

Get your smart home lighting starter kit for about $200 without paying interest.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $200 before anything else
Across the 0% window $13.33/mo 15 months, no interest

How we got that: $200 spread evenly across the 15-month introductory window on the Discover it® Cash Back. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

A smart home lighting starter kit with a hub and bulbs is meant to last for years, automating your routines and saving energy once you set it up. Buying the right kit the first time means you avoid replacing cheap bulbs that drop offline or hubs that stop getting software updates.

Wait for Prime Day or Cyber Monday to buy, since that is when you will see the deepest discounts on smart home gear. If a new version drops right before those sales, look at last year's model instead because it usually gets heavily discounted while offering nearly identical performance.

That intro window is a hard deadline, not free money, so any remaining balance after 15 months will get hit with regular interest.

The steps

  1. 01

    Pick your sale window

    Target Prime Day or Cyber Monday to get your kit. Prices on starter bundles drop significantly during these specific events, so waiting for them saves you real money.

  2. 02

    Map out your rooms

    Count how many bulbs you actually need before you buy a kit. Most starter packs come with a hub and two to four bulbs, which is usually enough for one main room like a living room or bedroom.

  3. 03

    Check the ecosystem

    Make sure the kit works with the voice assistant or phone you already use. Mixing brands gets messy, so stick to one system for your hub and bulbs.

  4. 04

    Spread out the cost

    You can use the Discover it® Cash Back card and its 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers to pay for the setup over time. If you spread the roughly $200 cost across that 15-month window, you are looking at about $13.33 per month.

  5. 05

    Test everything early

    Set up the hub and bulbs right away while you are still within the return window. Smart lighting can occasionally have faulty hardware, and you want time to swap it out.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Discover it® Cash Back carries the date a person verified it against Discover and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Discover it® Cash Back terms →

Common questions

Do I really need a hub for smart bulbs?

Some smart bulbs connect straight to your Wi-Fi, but starter kits with a hub are usually more stable. The hub connects to your router and talks to the bulbs separately, which keeps your home Wi-Fi from getting bogged down.

Can I use smart bulbs in enclosed light fixtures?

Most smart bulbs trap heat and should not go into fully enclosed fixtures unless the box specifically says they can. Trapped heat shortens the lifespan of the internal electronics.

What happens if my internet goes out?

You usually cannot control the lights with your phone or voice assistant when the internet drops. Most smart bulbs still work with standard wall switches, though you might need to flip them twice to get them back on.

Are colored bulbs worth the extra money over white ones?

Colored bulbs are fun at first, but most people end up leaving them on a warm white setting anyway. Save your cash and buy a white-only kit unless you specifically want colors for parties or holidays.