Gear

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This is the hardware I actually run, grouped by the job it does rather than by brand. I’ve tried to say who each thing is wrong for as well as who it’s right for — that’s usually the more useful half.

You don’t need all of it. If you’re starting from zero, read Getting Started with Home Assistant first and buy from the “Start here” section only.

Start here — the hub

Pick one. This is the only decision that’s hard to reverse later.

Home Assistant Green — The shortest path to a working setup — plug in Ethernet and power and you’re running tonight. Skip it if you actually want to learn what’s underneath, or if you plan to run other services on the same box.
Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB) — The tinkerer’s choice. More setup work than the Green, but you learn the stack and can run other things alongside. Budget for the power supply and storage below — the board alone isn’t enough.

Storage & power

Where most first builds go wrong. Cheap power and cheap storage cause problems that look like software faults.

USB‑C 5V/3A Power Supply — Don’t power a Pi from a spare phone charger. Undervolting causes random reboots and filesystem corruption that look like software bugs and waste entire evenings.
128GB microSD (A2) — Fine for getting started and for keeping a spare on the shelf. Not what you want as a permanent boot device — Home Assistant’s constant small writes kill cards, usually with no warning.
USB 3.0 SSD + Enclosure — Boot from this instead of the microSD. It’s the single upgrade that most reduces the odds of losing your setup, and it’s noticeably faster.

Radios

Only needed once you move past Wi-Fi devices. Most people should start with Zigbee and add Z-Wave later, if ever.

Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle — Get this first if you’re adding radios. Zigbee covers the cheap, plentiful stuff — bulbs, contact and motion sensors, buttons. Use a USB extension so it isn’t sitting next to a USB 3 port, which will interfere with it.
Z‑Wave 700 USB Stick — Better range and a less crowded band than Zigbee, and the ecosystem of choice for locks and in-wall switches. Devices cost more, so most people don’t need it on day one.

First devices worth owning

Kasa Smart Plug — The easiest first automation — no radio required, works over Wi-Fi, and integrates locally. Great for lamps, chargers, and anything you want to cut power to on a schedule.

What I’d buy, in one line

Want it working tonight? The Home Assistant Green, plus a Kasa plug to automate something on day one.

Want to learn how it works? A Raspberry Pi 4, a real USB-C power supply, and an SSD to boot from. Add a Zigbee dongle once you’re ready for sensors.

Last reviewed: July 2026. I only list gear I use or would buy again. See Disclosure for how affiliate links work here.