01 / Before you buy
Three jobs. Sometimes one box.
“Hub” is a product name, not a guarantee of capabilities. A device may do one, two or all three of these jobs.
Matter controller
Adds and manages Matter devices in your chosen smart-home platform.
Start with the app you want to use. Your speaker, display or streaming box may already provide its controller.
Thread border router
Connects a Thread network to your home’s IP network.
Relevant for Matter-over-Thread devices. It does not, by itself, provide every platform’s Matter controller.
Matter bridge
Exposes supported non-Matter accessories to a Matter platform.
Useful for compatible Zigbee or Bluetooth devices. Check the bridge’s exact accessory list; radio support alone is not enough.
Check the hardware you already own
Google Home
Google requires a supported Matter hub. Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, Nest Wifi Pro and Google TV Streamer also support Thread. A Nest Mini supports Matter over Wi-Fi but does not fill the Thread border-router role.
Check Google’s hub list →Apple Home
Apple documents local Matter control on iOS 18 or later without a home hub, with additional device-specific conditions for Thread. A suitable home hub is still Apple’s recommendation for the best experience. Check your exact iPhone, HomePod or Apple TV model and software.
Check Apple’s current requirements →Already using another platform? Check its supported controllers and your device’s setup instructions first. A Wi-Fi Matter accessory does not need a Thread border router just because it uses Matter. A bridge is useful only when you need to bring supported non-Matter accessories with you.
02 / Find your fit
Choose around your devices.
These are different tools for different homes. The requirements below come from manufacturer documentation; we have not performed hands-on reliability testing.
For an Aqara home with Thread devices
Aqara Hub M100
A compact starting point if you want to manage supported Matter devices in Aqara Home and bring compatible Aqara Zigbee devices into another Matter platform.
- Role
- Controller · bridge · Thread border router
- Connection & power
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi · USB-A power
What you need
- Aqara Home for setup; check the exact child-device and platform support.
- An always-powered USB-A 5 V / 0.5 A power source and a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Check before choosing
Aqara Zigbee support does not mean arbitrary third-party Zigbee support. This is the M100; it does not inherit the M3’s Ethernet or IR features.
Amazon
Aqara US
Aqara US is a direct non-affiliate link.
US single-hub offers. Amazon: HM-G02E. Aqara US: matching GTIN, 1 hub with manual; a separate power adapter is not listed. Confirm included accessories and retailer terms.
Product details →
For compatible SwitchBot devices
SwitchBot Hub 2
Bring supported SwitchBot devices into your chosen Matter platform. The Hub 2 also provides temperature and humidity readings and infrared control in the SwitchBot app.
- Role
- Matter bridge
- Connection & power
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi · USB power
What you need
- SwitchBot app, current firmware and a compatible Matter controller for your chosen platform.
- Check the compatibility list for your exact accessory and Hub 2; support varies by hub and feature.
Check before choosing
No Thread border router. Not every SwitchBot accessory or infrared function is exposed through Matter; some integrations are beta.
Amazon
SwitchBot
Hub 2 only. The US store offers pack options; confirm the pack you choose.
Product details →For an existing Hue lighting system
Philips Hue Bridge
Connect supported Hue lights and accessories through the Hue Bridge, then add the bridge to a Matter platform. If you already own the square Hue Bridge, check its software before buying another.
- Role
- Matter bridge
- Connection & power
- Ethernet · supplied power adapter
What you need
- Compatible Hue/Zigbee lights or accessories paired to the bridge and the Hue app for setup.
- A router Ethernet port; the linked standard white Bridge is distinct from Bridge Pro and the older round bridge.
Check before choosing
Not a Thread border router or a general-purpose controller for third-party Matter devices. Hue’s HDMI sync box and the Tap dial’s dial function are excluded from Matter support.
Amazon
US listing. Confirm model, included items and regional requirements at the retailer.
Product details →
For supported Zigbee devices — check your model and platform
SONOFF Bridge Max
The Bridge Max (Bridge-M) combines a Zigbee gateway for up to 128 Zigbee devices with a Matter bridge that exposes Zigbee, BTHome and eWeLink devices to Matter platforms. Check SONOFF’s documentation and your installed firmware for the devices and features you need.
- Role
- Matter bridge
- Connection & power
- Ethernet or dual-band Wi-Fi
What you need
- Compatible Zigbee, BTHome or eWeLink devices and a compatible Matter controller for your destination platform.
- An Ethernet connection or dual-band Wi-Fi.
Check before choosing
Not a Thread border router: it is a Matter bridge and Zigbee gateway with no Thread. Device support and exposed features vary by model, platform and firmware; do not assume every Zigbee device will work. It also has a siren of up to 90 dB. The Zigbee Bridge Ultra (ZBBridge-U) is a different model.
Amazon
SONOFF
US listing. Confirm model, included items and regional requirements at the retailer.
Product details →Which Amazon Echo devices are Thread border routers?
Amazon’s developer documentation lists a built-in Thread border router in the Echo (4th Gen), Echo Hub, Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen), Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen) and Echo Show 21, and in 2025 models including the Echo Dot Max, Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2025 release) and Echo Studio (2025 release). Some eero routers have one too: the eero 6, eero 6+, eero Pro 6, eero Pro 6E and eero 7 family. A Thread border router is a different job from a Matter controller, the device that adds Matter devices to Alexa; Amazon documents Matter support on Echo devices on a separate page.
Sources, checked October 1, 2026: Amazon: smart home Thread support and Amazon: Matter support on Echo devices. Models and software change; check your exact device.
Devices in our catalog whose makers say they are Thread border routers: Aqara Hub M3, Aqara Hub M100, Aqara Hub M200, Aqara Thermostat Hub W200, IKEA DIRIGERA hub, Aeotec Smart Home Hub (works as a SmartThings hub), MOES Matter Wired Gateway (MZHUB-MS), Apple HomePod mini, Apple HomePod (2nd generation), Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet, 128GB, Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), Google Nest Wifi Pro (Wi-Fi 6E), Google TV Streamer (4K) and Google Home Speaker. See them with their makers’ statements, or read which Apple, Google and SmartThings devices include one.
Before you connect it
Do I need a Matter hub?
Not always. Many homes already have a Matter controller: a supported smart speaker, display or streaming box, such as a HomePod mini, an Echo (4th gen) or a Nest Hub (2nd gen), and several of these are also Thread border routers. Buy a hub only for the job your home is missing.
What is the cheapest Matter hub?
Often the one you already own. If you need to buy one, match the role first: for Matter-over-Thread devices you need a Thread border router, and of the four hubs in this guide only the Aqara M100 is one; the other three are Matter bridges. Then compare the current store prices shown for each hub.
Is the SwitchBot Hub 2 a Thread border router?
No. The SwitchBot Hub 2 is a Matter bridge: it brings supported SwitchBot devices into your chosen Matter platform. It is not a Thread border router, so Matter-over-Thread devices need one elsewhere, such as the Aqara Hub M100 in this guide or a supported speaker, display or streaming box.
Which Amazon Echo devices are Thread border routers?
Amazon’s developer documentation lists a built-in Thread border router in the Echo (4th Gen), Echo Hub, Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen), Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen) and Echo Show 21, and in 2025 models including the Echo Dot Max, Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2025 release) and Echo Studio (2025 release). Some eero routers have one too: the eero 6, eero 6+, eero Pro 6, eero Pro 6E and eero 7 family. A Thread border router is a different job from a Matter controller, the device that adds Matter devices to Alexa; Amazon documents Matter support on Echo devices on a separate page.
Will one hub connect every brand?
No. A shared radio or Matter logo does not guarantee that a bridge supports every accessory. Match the exact child device, its firmware and the destination platform’s supported device types.
Does Matter give me every feature in every app?
No. Manufacturer apps may expose features that the Matter integration does not. Check the functions you need—such as scenes, sensors or infrared control—before relying on a cross-platform setup.
Should I replace an existing bridge?
Check its firmware and current Matter support first. For example, Hue documents Matter support for the square Hue Bridge. Replacing working hardware may not add the role your setup is missing.
Is the Aqara M100 the same as the M3?
No. They are separate models. The M100 listing in this guide is the USB-A model; M3 specifications such as Ethernet and infrared control must not be attributed to it.
How we checked
We read manufacturer documentation and matched the US store listings on September 16, 2026. The Aqara M100 model numbers, single-hub listings and certificate scope were checked September 20; the other store listings were matched September 16. On October 6, 2026, the SONOFF Bridge Max replaced the SONOFF Zigbee Bridge Ultra (ZBBridge-U), whose Amazon listing has been out of stock since at least October 1; the Bridge Max’s SONOFF US store page and Amazon listing were both in stock that day. This is an editorial fit guide, not a lab test or an exhaustive ranking. Manufacturer capabilities and a consumer listing are separate from a specific CSA certification record. On October 5, 2026, we added the Amazon Echo Thread border router answer, from Amazon’s developer documentation as checked on October 1, 2026.
Prices, stock and promotions change. We use “Check price” so you can confirm the exact variant and current terms with the retailer. Models without a sufficiently clear match are left out of these recommendations; their catalog records remain available.
Looking specifically for M3 features? Read Aqara’s separate M3 specifications. Read our editorial policy.