Samsung SmartThings app

SmartThings is a leading global smart home automation platform that allows users to connect, monitor, and control a wide variety of devices through a single mobile application. Originally founded in 2012 by Alex Hawkinson and a group of co-founders, the brand quickly gained prominence after a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. In August 2014, the company was acquired by Samsung Electronics for approximately $200 million.

Since the acquisition, Samsung has integrated SmartThings as the central hub for its entire ecosystem of connected devices, including home appliances, televisions, and mobile phones. While the platform was born in the United States, it now serves a massive global audience, surpassing 430 million active users by early 2026. The platform is designed to be "standards-agnostic," meaning it supports both Samsung's proprietary hardware and thousands of third-party devices from various manufacturers around the world.

In recent years, SmartThings has pivoted its business model to focus primarily on software and cloud services rather than hardware manufacturing. As of 2021, much of the physical hardware associated with the brand, such as hubs and sensors, is produced and distributed by partners like Aeotec in several regions. However, the software development, cloud infrastructure, and overall brand remain firmly under Samsung's ownership and strategic direction.