Hubitat vs Wink: Switching Wink To Hubitat

Nowadays there are various smart home automation controllers in the market. In the comparison of Wink vs Hubitat, it is seen that they are very much popular, each in their own way.

The former is well known for its ease of use, less complexity and capability to control the devices in the house effectively. And the latter is famous for its extensive automation capabilities, built-in devices and many more.

Often times it is seen that even after purchasing one of the best products from the market, they are not satisfied with it. This article will provide in-depth research on the devices and based on user criteria, will help them make a smart decision.

Understand Your Criteria: Think Twice

First and foremost, the user has to decide what they really seek from their smart controller. The consumers for Wink and Hubitat can easily be divided into two.

If the user is seeking amazing &extensive features and control of the house, where he does not even have to command through Alexa to turn on lights or lock doors, then he should go for Hubitat.

Although bear in mind that the complex features have to handle with care, this means it needs knowledge and it is time-consuming. So if you are not ready to enhance your technical knowledge, invest time and energy. This device is not for you and you should look for something simple.

To talk about the simple and flexible use of the device, Wink is the choice. It is known for its unique characteristics for the use of features like Robots and Schedule. Wink can also work locally (some features only)

Hubitat At a Glance:

To begin with, this home automation hub is not for the novice. It has more complex features and hence the more integrated and smart outcome is expected as a result. One of the main features that make it unique is its capability to work locally. This makes the whole system even faster to operate, cloud independent with high security and keeps all data in your control.

Features of Hubitat

• It works with several protocols including ZigBee and Z-wave and Lutron smart devices
• The setup has to be done in the web interface
• All features will work locally
• Data will be stored locally instead of cloud ensuring more security.
• Extensive integration of local automation
• Recently inclusion of mobile app
• Works with Groovy programming language
• It is supported only in USA/Canada
• Rapid growing community
• Several built-in applications like IFTTT, Lutron integrator.

Advantages of Hubitat:

• Advanced features like automation rules that can control the whole house with pre commands
• Several built-in features
• It has the option of geofencing
• Works with Lutron integrations
• It supports Insteon devices
• User can customize the apps and drivers
• Users can customize anything by writing their own code
• All feature will work without any need of internet connection
• User data is highly secured
• Not cloud-dependent causing the system to run faster
• The new addition of mobile app making it more easy to control
• Rapidly growing community and huge online documentation for assistance
• User is in control as to when the system updates will take place

Disadvantages of Hubitat:

• It is time-consuming
• User needs deep knowledge of coding and customizing
• Since it works locally, it does not allow managing the system locally. User will get all alerts and SMS but for managing the system they have to use VPN

Wink hub-At a glance

This hub has easily comprehensible setup and use of system. It is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa so users can easily use voice commands. Mobile apps are available to control features in the house.

The Wink is faster and more reliable. It comes with innovative features like Robots that allow several commands to take place in other products and Schedules that set a time for specific actions to take place.

Features of Wink

• The setup of Wink is easy and simple
• it can be done in the mobile app.
• It works with Bluetooth LE, Kidde, Clear Connect, Z-Wave, ZigBee·
• The connectivity includes Wi-Fi which is fast and reliable.
• It has function like Robots that helps to trigger the number of commands in other devices·
• It has Schedule option has allows the setting number of command to occur at a specific time·
• The data is stored with high security using encryption.

Advantages of Wink

• with a wink, anyone with little technical knowledge can survive
• the wink setup is a ‘do it yourself’ where the wink website assists if anything is needed
• it is user-friendly and easy to handle
• works with standard network protocols

Disadvantages of Wink

• lack of flexibility
• does not allow the user to customize
• does not allow the user to explore extensively with automation rules
• does not support a varied number of devices
• only some of the functions work locally
• user cannot control the time of update
• Lack of support from community and forum
• Website and store had been unavailable for quite a period of time
• the wink blog or community is not growing and not very helpful

The following shows a comparison between two wink devices to demonstrate a clear understanding.

Outlining contrast between wink and Hubitat:

The table below provides a clear understanding by differentiating between Wink and Hubitat in terms of some major features.

[amazon table=”1663″]

Features	Hubitat	Wink
Image	​​​​​	​​​​​
Work with standard protocols	Yes	Yes
Works With Alexa	Yes	Yes
Works with Google Assistant	Yes	Yes
Can write own app and drivers	Yes	undefined
Fast, local, reliable automation	Yes	undefined
Device data are safe & local	Yes	undefined
Runs without internet	Yes	Some features
All installed app run locally	Yes	undefined
Backup to local PC	Yes	undefined
User control time of update	Yes	undefined
Compatible with LutronCaseta	Yes	undefined
Works with Lutron RadioRA2, Homeworks QS and Grafik Eye QS	Yes	undefined

Wink hub or Hubitat:

The following section is based on extensive research to provide you the complete guide to your destination smart home controller. They are divided into some major criteria allowing the user to choose correctly as per their requirements.

• Automation Rules

Hubitat has a smart home automation system. With Hubitat, there is even no need to use voice assistant for commands. This can be explained with a simple example. You can set your home automation as such that when you enter your bedroom after 7 it will start the thermostat for heating and geyser in your washroom for a bath.

Along with that the turn-on TV for news and camera in your kids’ room so that you can watch whether they are asleep. All these can be set that will give you a unique experience.

For Wink, it can work with innovative smart home devices like Robots and Schedules that enhances consistency and promptness. However, the extensive automation integrated with Hubitat cannot be done in Wink.

• Local control

In habitat, all the installed apps and commands will work locally, which is without an internet connection. Since it is not cloud-dependent, turning off lights and locking doors, these commands will run faster than Wink or other smart controllers.

Also if privacy is the prime option, then Hubitat is the perfect choice since all the data will be stored locally within the control of the user instead of being a 3^rd party cloud.

For Wink, the local control is recently added which works only with Wink- compatible Hub- required lighting product and door lock.

• Security

One of the prime advantages of Hubitat is that it runs locally, as a result, all data and logic developed to control the smart home are also stored locally rather than the cloud. This results in the hub to be more secured.

For Wink, they consider clients’ data security and privacy with the utmost importance where they use methods including certificate pinning, encryption, two-factor authentication, security audits. Here data is not stored locally.

• Number of Devices

For Hubitat there is no fixed number of devices, but one can add up to 32 number of devices directly connected to it. After that, a repeater has to add to include the number of devices.  There is no limitation to the number of ZigBee devices that can be added as long as there are abundant repeating devices.

In Wink, it is said to support hundreds of devices but in terms of protocol, it can support 230 different Z-wave devices.

• Advanced Features

With Hubitat, you can do customize several of your ideas to run the home just like you want it to be.  However, you also have to work with the complex features of it.  It works with ZigBee, Z-wave, Google, Lutron devices. The number of devices and compatibility is more in Hubitat than in Wink.

In this device, you can build your own app and drivers. The user can write and customize the coding to make their way around the house.it is compatible with Lutron Integration via CasetaSmartBridge Pro & RadioRA2 that allows controlling lights, audio systems, etc from mobile. Recently Hubitat has introduced the mobile app that makes it more user-friendly.

In Wink, there are new features like it can run some functions locally. It has industrial-grade security that allows Wink Hub 2 to run on trusted software.  It supports rapid transfer from hub to hub, i.e. Wink hub to Wink hub 2 and not to mention their innovative function of Robots and Schedules integration.

Compatible devices of Hubitat and Wink:

Compatible Devices of Wink:

• Ring Video Doorbell Pro
• MyQ Garage
• Ring Video Doorbell 2
• Canary Flex
• Nest Cam
• Yale Assure Lock SL Key Free Touchscreen Deadbolt
• Kwikset Obsidian Keywayless Smart Lock
• Nest Protect
• Dropcam Pro
• iHome iSP5 SmartPlug
• Cree Connected LED Bulb
• OsramLightify LED Starter Kit
• Philips Hue Go
• LutronCaséta Wireless Lighting Starter Kit
• Nest Protect (Second Generation)
• Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus
• Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller Generation 2
• Brilliant Control

Compatible devices of Hubitat:

• ERIA Motion Sensor
• ERIA Dimmer Switch
• ERIA Contact Sensor
• Siren 6
• Doorbell Nano Switch
• Nano Switch
• WallMote Quad
• Contact Sensor
• Door/Window Sensor Gen 2
• Doorbell
• Dry Contact Sensor
• Micro Switch G2
• Home Energy Meter
• LED Bulb 6 Multi-Color
• Micro Illuminator G2
• Micro Motor Controllers
• Minimote
• Motor Controller

The list contains a huge number of devices and can be found on the Hubitat website.

Frequently asked questions

The Hubitat users often complain about the problem connecting to Schlage locks. Users who are novice and possess less knowledge of programming and customization complained that the device is hard to understand and difficult to work with. Most of the answers were found in forums or websites.

On the other hand for Wink, users complain due to its lack of compatibility. The hub had a very slow development and update process. The email notifications and the wink store were unavailable for many days causing users to face trouble. The lack of a large group of communities is always an issue.

Final Verdict

Now that the reader is at this point in the article, I can comprehend their mindset. The choice of your product firstly depends on what you want and secondly on whether the product can satisfy those needs.

The winner will be Hubitat if the user is well-educated about customizing, coding languages and wants the home to run by it. The user will get the advantage of their large community and online documentations. The user has to invest lots of time, knowledge and energy behind it. Frequent googling and research will assist the user to make the full use of the product.

However, the winner will be Wink if the user does not want the hassle to spend time and knowledge. If the user wants to use voice commands to control appliances like light, audio, TV, locks, all can be done using it.