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The best smart curtains so you can feel like you're living in a five-star hotel
Open and close the curtains remotely with the GHI's tried and tested picks
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
There’s a scene in The Holiday (one of the best Christmas films, in case you're wondering) where Kate Winslet’s character has arrived at her Hollywood home swap and discovers the bedroom’s motorised blinds as she drifts off to sleep. It was the ultimate in noughties tech and we've wanted them ever since.
But it isn’t 2006 anymore, and electric blinds and curtains don't have to be the sole preserve of luxury hotels and Hollywood mansions. While you will need to buy dedicated electric blinds, if you choose to go down the curtain route, there are clever retrofits available that mean you don't even have to swap out your existing curtains – unless you’re looking for an excuse to upgrade of course!
Smart curtains and blinds aren't just a nice-to-have; they have lots of practical applications too. They will gradually (and quietly) open in the morning to wake you with natural light, some can detect room temperature, closing themselves to lock in warmth when it gets too cold, and some can even open automatically when they register that you've left the house – taking at least one job off your hands on busy mornings.
Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we put three different smart curtain solutions to the test to see if they lived up to our imagination (we haven't tried blinds yet, but they're high on our testing wish list, so watch this space).
Shop our picks at a glance, or scroll on for a breakdown of your options and our full reviews.
What are the different types of smart curtains?
Curtain track motor
These are basically electric curtain rails. In some ways, they offer the most flexibility because they tend to work with heavier weighted fabric and you can get one that’s exactly the right size for your window. But you will need a power supply nearby, so consider if you have a well-situated plug socket to avoid a visible trailing cable.
There's a fair bit of DIY required to install them, but they tend to have all the connectivity tech built-in, so you shouldn't need to buy an additional hub.
Smart curtain opener
These little bots sit behind the curtains and move them along your existing rails. They're a great way to retrofit your soft furnishings to make them smarter without getting out your toolbox.
They still offer lots of the same smart features but you'll likely need to buy a hub device to unlock their full potential.
What are the best smart blinds?
Currently, we don’t have any smart blinds on this list. But if we were to shop for them ourselves, we’d turn to some of the brands on our list of the best blackout blinds.
Both Blinds 2Go and Blinds Direct impressed in that test with premium, made-to-measure designs, making them great places to start your hunt.
What to consider when you're shopping
Power source
While you’ll need a plug socket nearby for built-in options, smart curtain openers tend to be rechargeable, which means you don’t need to worry about cables. You’ll still have to charge them eventually, but it shouldn’t be a regular job – the SwitchBot below claims to last up to eight months, and the Aqara for a whole year.
Automation and smart capabilities
Part of the fun of smart curtains is setting them to open and close when you want, or even to respond to changes in your home – whether that’s light levels or temperature. The curtain opener bots below both require additional hubs to make full use of their capabilities, so factor this into your budgeting. Where applicable, we've linked these below as they're own-brand products.
Additionally, see whether it’s compatible with your existing tech. Many work with Alexa, Google Home and more – and SwitchBot is Matter-certified, which acts as a guarantee that it works with most devices. You'll need one of these if you want to control the curtains with your voice.
Specifications
Check that they fit your window and work with your existing curtains (if you’re looking to keep them) and rails. Some function on expandable rails, but not all.
Generally, both motors and tracks have weight restrictions too, so if your existing or intended curtains are heavy, that may impact what you can buy.
How we test smart curtain openers
To find the best smart curtain openers, the Good Housekeeping Institute experts installed each device, judging how straightforward it was and how easy the instructions were to follow.
They then hung a range of weights on selected hooks, timing how quickly the devices moved and if they were noisy. Testers repeated this using actual curtains, and tried out any special features, such as quiet settings.
Finally, testers looked at the app functionality and smart programmes, as well as assessing their home hub compatibility.
We also asked a panel of four testers to try each one at home, telling us what they were like to install and use every day, from waking up to bedtime.
Are they worth adding to your home? Here's our verdict.
Pros
- Tool free
- Excellent quiet mode
- Easiest to use and smoothest mover we tested
Cons
- While you can operate it without the SwitchBot Hub, there are functions that aren’t available without it, and you’re limited to setting just five schedules
Score: 92/100
This gadget was by far our testers’ favourite. You won’t have to change your rail, hammer anything into the wall, or even swap your curtains; simply hang it behind the curtain-end and it will glide along, moving the fabric with it. Our testers loved how easy it was to install on both eyelet and tab curtains. It even works with extendable rods. But it has a maximum weight-bearing load of 15kg, so keep this in mind if you have long or heavy curtains.
It moved smoothly in the lab and while some testers found it a bit noisy generally, it was practically silent when using its ‘Quiet Drift’ setting – a function designed for the bedroom that slowly opens the curtains to wake you up gradually.
You can control it easily via an accompanying app, and it’s voice activated when used in conjunction with the SwitchBot Hub (with both Alexa or Google Assistant). The latter unlocks lots of other clever features too, including geofencing, which means that if you leave the house, the app will register this and make sure the curtains are open in case you forgot. You can even set them to open or close depending on the room temperature. Smart and reliable.
Key specifications
| Type | Automatic curtain opener |
|---|---|
| Power source | Rechargeable – eight month battery life |
| Maximum weight load | 15kg |
| Smart compatibility | Matter compatible when used in conjunction with SwitchBot Hub 2 (so should work with any existing Smart home hubs you have including Google, Alexa and Samsung) |
| Additional hub needed | Yes - for most functionalities |
Pros
- Effective quiet mode
- Intuitive design
Cons
- Slightly laggy connection at times
- Must be used with Aqara hub (available separately)
Score: 89/100
This is another curtain motor and again it’s tool-free to install, easy to use, and quiet on its dedicated setting. It varies from the SwitchBot because you can’t use it at all without the accompanying Aqara Hub. It’s also compatible with fewer rails (for example, it doesn’t work on expandable ones), and it bears slightly less weight at 12kg.
But it’s compact and discreet and performed consistently well. You can control it with your voice, and there’s a built-in light sensor, which means you can program the curtains to respond to changes.
Ultimately, if you have other smart tech around your home that uses the same network as Aqara, it’s a great buy, as this glowing review from one of our panellists shows: “I'm impressed with its ease of use and integration. The app is intuitive, and controlling the curtains through my voice assistant is responsive.”
Key specifications
| Type | Automatic curtain opener |
|---|---|
| Power source | Rechargeable - 12-month battery life |
| Maximum weight load | 12kg |
| Smart compatibility | Compatible with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant when used with Aqara Hub |
| Additional hub needed | Yes |
Pros
- Whisper-quiet on all settings
- Reliably smooth movement and effective scheduling
- Easiest to connect with Alexa and Google Home
Cons
- Installation is involved and difficult
- Availability of plug sockets may impact placement
- May need to purchase additional parts for assembly (like wall brackets)
Score: 79/100
If you don’t have curtains already in place, then it’s worth considering an electric rail – especially if you have a large window, as this one can hold up to 60kg of fabric. Obviously, installation is fiddlier and more involved, which meant testers had to refer to the more detailed online instructions and enlist a spare pair of hands. But finding the right length was simple, and it looks tidy once in place.
You’ll need a plug nearby for this one, as it’s mains operated. Wi-Fi is built-in though (so there’s no external hub required) and it was easy to operate, with responsive voice control, a reliable remote control and a user-friendly app (there’s a subscription needed for notifications). Testers found it very reliable – and you can even customise the exact speed of your curtains.
And if you’re worried about noise, don’t be. As one panellist said, “The quiet motor makes them feel luxurious." Finally, there’s a three-year warranty so you can enjoy its smooth running, worry-free.
Key specifications
| Type | Electric curtain track |
|---|---|
| Power source | Mains-operated |
| Maximum weight load | 60kg |
| Smart compatibility | Yes – compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri |
| Additional hub needed | No – integrated WiFi |
Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows, and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.
Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist, working for Stylist, Sky Sports and more.
Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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