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Smart Home · head to head

Particle vs SmartThings

Particle logo

Particle

Smart Home

Edge-to-cloud IoT platform for connected devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SmartThings logo

SmartThings

Smart Home

Samsung's intelligent IoT platform for smart homes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Particle paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200; SmartThings cloud-dependent with no offline operation; requires internet and Samsung servers for all device control
  • They diverge on capability: Particle covers Device OS, SmartThings covers Multi-Brand Support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Particle and SmartThings actually diverge.

Attributes where Particle and SmartThings differ
AttributeParticleSmartThings
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsParticle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile appsiOS, Android, Web, SmartThings Hub
Founded20131938

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Smart Home).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Particle

  • Device OS
  • Cloud Platform
  • Device Management
  • OTA Updates
  • REST API
  • WebHooks
  • Integration marketplace
  • 3rd party services

Only in SmartThings

  • Multi-Brand Support
  • Device Control
  • Automations
  • Cloud Backup
  • 500+ device types
  • Voice Control
  • Routines
  • IFTTT integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Particle

  • Connecting cellular and wifi IoT devices to a managed cloud platformnot SmartThings
  • Deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scalenot SmartThings

SmartThings

  • Smart home controlnot Particle
  • Automation routinesnot Particle
  • Device integrationnot Particle
  • Remote monitoringnot Particle

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Particle

  • Paid capacity is sold in blocks of 100 devices rather than per device, so 101 devices costs the same as 200
  • The Basic block is $299 a month and the Plus block $599 a month
  • The free tier allows 100 devices and 100,000 data operations a month
  • Data operations are the billing unit, so chatty firmware costs more than the device count suggests
  • No overage rates are published at any tier, so exceeding an allowance has no stated cost

SmartThings

  • Cloud-dependent with no offline operation; requires internet and Samsung servers for all device control
  • Cloud communication adds latency compared to local hubs; device response delays up to one second
  • Confusing app transition between SmartThings Classic and SmartThings Connect with certain automations only working in one app
  • API changes requiring paid subscriptions starting October 2026 break third-party integrations like Home Assistant

Pricing, plan by plan

Particle

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 5 free devices
    • Cloud access
    • Basic features
  • Production$100/month
    • Unlimited devices
    • Advanced analytics
    • Enterprise support

SmartThings

Free
  • Basic (SmartThings app)Free
    • Device control and automation
    • Support for Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Matter

Which should you pick?

Choose Particle if

  • You need device os.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps.
  • You also want cloud platform.
Particle review

Choose SmartThings if

  • You need multi-brand support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, SmartThings Hub.
  • You also want device control.
SmartThings review

Questions people ask

Is Particle or SmartThings better?
Neither clearly leads. Particle starts at Free and SmartThings at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Particle or SmartThings?
Particle starts at Free and SmartThings at Free.
Does Particle or SmartThings run on more platforms?
Particle runs on Particle devices, Custom hardware, Cloud, Mobile apps. SmartThings runs on iOS, Android, Web, SmartThings Hub.
Can I use Particle for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Particle best used for?
Particle is most often used for connecting cellular and wifi iot devices to a managed cloud platform, deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scale. Of those, connecting cellular and wifi iot devices to a managed cloud platform and deploying firmware updates and collecting device telemetry at fleet scale are not what SmartThings is typically brought in for.
What can Particle do that SmartThings cannot?
Particle covers Device OS, Cloud Platform, Device Management, OTA Updates. SmartThings covers Multi-Brand Support, Device Control, Automations, Cloud Backup.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Particle: What are the Particle pricing tiers and their costs?

Particle offers Free ($0, 100 devices, 100K Data Operations/month), Basic ($299/month per block), Plus ($599/month per block), Professional (custom pricing), and Enterprise (custom pricing). Each block supports 100 devices.

Source
SmartThings: Does SmartThings work offline?

No, SmartThings requires internet and Samsung servers to function. It cannot operate offline; all device control depends on cloud connectivity.

Source
Particle: What is a Data Operation and how is it charged?

A Data Operation is Particle's billing unit for user-controlled activities. One operation is charged per device-to-cloud message, cloud-to-device message, Location Fusion call, Ledger sync, or Logic function run. Network transmission and management tasks are included at no additional cost.

Source
SmartThings: Which communication protocols does SmartThings support?

SmartThings natively handles Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, and Matter protocols simultaneously through mesh networking.

Source
Particle: What location data retention does each tier provide?

Location data retention ranges from 3 days in the Free tier up to 6+ months in Professional and Enterprise tiers.

Source
SmartThings: What is the cost of SmartThings API access for developers?

Starting October 2026, non-commercial developers using SmartThings API for third-party integrations like Home Assistant must pay $4.99/month. Free access continues through Q3 2026.

Source
Particle: Are there additional costs for support or single sign-on?

Premium support and SSO are available as optional add-ons to all Particle plans. The pricing page does not specify the cost of these add-ons.

Source
SmartThings: Does SmartThings support voice assistants?

Yes, SmartThings is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.

Source
Particle: Is there a minimum contract length or can I cancel anytime?

The Particle pricing page does not specify a minimum contract length, suggesting monthly billing without long-term lock-in.

Source
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