SwitchBot: Building a Local-First Smart Home with Bluetooth and Matter Integration

SwitchBot has become a prominent player in the smart home world, offering a variety of products that cater to both local and cloud-based setups. For those looking to keep their smart home devices free from cloud dependency, SwitchBot’s Bluetooth-enabled products provide excellent options. In this article, we’ll highlight SwitchBot devices that work 100% locally through Bluetooth, discuss their Matter support, and offer guidance on choosing the right integrations for your setup.

Devices That Work 100% Locally Through Bluetooth

SwitchBot offers a range of products that can be controlled entirely via Bluetooth without relying on their app or cloud for functionality. For users prioritizing privacy and local control, these devices are ideal. Here’s a breakdown of which products can work without cloud dependency:

Color Bulb (WoBulb)
Bot (WoHand): The popular robot that can press buttons for you.
Contact Sensor (WoContact)
Curtain (WoCurtain): This applies to both version 1 and version 2.
Curtain 3 (WoCtn3): The latest generation with improved performance.
Humidifier (WoHumi)
Light Strip (WoStrip)
Meter / Meter Plus (WoSensorTH)
Indoor/Outdoor Meter (WoIOSensorTH)
Motion Sensor (WoPresence)
Plug Mini (WoPlug): Both the original (model W1901400) and the HomeKit-enabled version (model W1901401).
Lock (WoLock): Requires a security token for full functionality.
Lock Pro (WoLockPro): Same as the WoLock but with added security features.
Blind Tilt (WoBlindTilt): Allows you to automate your blinds locally.
Hub 2 (WoHub2): While this device currently supports retrieving sensor data over Bluetooth, it does not yet allow device control. However, it’s crucial for those looking to integrate with Matter, which we will discuss below.

Notably, the SwitchBot locks (WoLock and WoLock Pro) do require a security token to function locally, meaning they are not entirely app-independent like the other devices listed.

Integrating SwitchBot with Home Assistant via Bluetooth

One of the best ways to manage your SwitchBot devices locally is through Home Assistant’s SwitchBot Bluetooth integration. This integration allows you to control your Bluetooth-enabled SwitchBot devices directly within Home Assistant, without requiring the SwitchBot app or a cloud connection.

Home Assistant is renowned for giving users complete control over their smart homes, and SwitchBot’s Bluetooth integration fits perfectly within this ecosystem. With local-only control, you can automate devices like your Curtain, Plug Mini, or Motion Sensor without relying on an internet connection or SwitchBot servers. This adds a layer of privacy and security to your smart home setup while maintaining full functionality.

For those who want to enhance their Home Assistant setup, the integration is simple to set up, and as long as you have Bluetooth support on your Home Assistant hub or server, you’re good to go. However, it’s important to note that while this integration works perfectly with most Bluetooth devices, it doesn’t yet fully support cloud-dependent devices like the Hub 2 for more advanced control options.

Matter Support for SwitchBot Devices

Matter is the new universal smart home standard, designed to provide seamless interoperability between devices from different manufacturers. SwitchBot is in the process of rolling out Matter support, which relies on their hubs, such as the SwitchBot Hub 2. This Matter-enabled hub supports up to 8 devices and allows them to be integrated with other smart home platforms that support Matter, such as Apple HomeKit, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that while Matter adds significant flexibility in terms of integrating devices across platforms, the configuration still requires the SwitchBot app. Once set up, Matter-certified devices can work with your preferred smart home ecosystem but need the app initially to bind them to the hub and ensure proper configuration.

One limitation of using SwitchBot devices with Matter is that the battery state is not shared with the hub as it is over Bluetooth. This means that if you rely on Matter integration, you won’t be able to monitor the battery levels of your devices. For users who prioritize keeping tabs on battery health, Bluetooth control offers a more complete solution.

The local control aspect is more limited with Matter, as it depends on how well each smart home platform implements local commands. Still, the convenience of Matter support makes it easier to integrate SwitchBot products into more extensive smart home setups.

Cloud-Based Integration for Non-Bluetooth Devices

While Bluetooth-enabled SwitchBot devices offer excellent local control options, some devices are still cloud-dependent or have limited Bluetooth support. For these, SwitchBot is developing a cloud-based integration for Home Assistant.

This cloud integration is a great option if you need to manage devices that aren’t supported by the Bluetooth integration. However, there are a few caveats. For instance, due to API limitations, sensor data is updated only once every 30 minutes. This might not be ideal for real-time monitoring of things like temperature, humidity, or motion detection, but it’s still a viable option for users who don’t mind a slight delay.

Conclusion

SwitchBot offers a range of smart home devices that work locally over Bluetooth, allowing for privacy-focused setups with minimal cloud reliance. For users looking to integrate into broader ecosystems, their Matter support via the Hub 2 opens doors for more extensive interoperability. While some devices still require cloud access, ongoing development of cloud-based integrations ensures that the SwitchBot ecosystem will continue to evolve and provide flexibility for both local and cloud-based setups.

For the most seamless experience, we recommend using Bluetooth integration with Home Assistant for local control of compatible devices and leveraging SwitchBot’s Matter support for broader platform integration. Where Bluetooth isn’t an option, the cloud-based integration, though slower with sensor updates, is a practical alternative for maintaining control over your devices. Keep in mind the battery monitoring limitation with Matter integration and choose the most suitable option based on your specific needs.