I’ve tested a lot of smart home gear over the years. Zigbee bulbs, Z-Wave switches, Wi-Fi dimmers — you name it. And after all of that, Lutron Caseta remains the single most reliable smart home product I own. It just works, every single time, and that’s not something I can say about most smart home tech.
So yes — Caseta is still the best smart lighting system in 2026. Let me explain why.
What Is Lutron Caseta?
Lutron Caseta is a smart lighting system built around in-wall dimmer switches, a dedicated hub (the Smart Bridge), and Pico remotes. Unlike Zigbee or Z-Wave switches, Caseta uses Lutron’s proprietary Clear Connect RF protocol, which operates on a frequency that doesn’t compete with Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or Bluetooth.
The Caseta Starter Kit (~$100) includes the Smart Bridge, one dimmer switch, a Pico remote, and a wall plate. Individual dimmer switches run about $55-60 each.
Why Caseta Is Still King
Reliability That Nothing Else Matches
In three years of running Caseta switches throughout my home, I’ve had exactly zero failures. Zero dropped commands. Zero “the light didn’t turn on” moments. The Clear Connect protocol is rock-solid — Lutron has been making professional lighting controls for decades, and it shows.
Compare that to Wi-Fi switches that occasionally fall off the network, or Zigbee switches that sometimes need a mesh repair. Caseta doesn’t have those problems because it runs on its own dedicated frequency with a direct connection to the Smart Bridge.
Perfect Home Assistant Integration
The Caseta integration in Home Assistant is officially supported and works beautifully. Switches appear as entities, Pico remotes can be used as automation triggers, and response time is nearly instant. I trigger Caseta switches from Home Assistant automations dozens of times a day — motion-activated lights, sunset scenes, goodnight routines — and the response is always immediate.
Setup takes about 5 minutes: pair the Smart Bridge, enable the integration in HA, and all your devices appear automatically.
Pico Remotes Are a Secret Weapon
The Pico remote (~$15-20) is one of the most underrated smart home devices. It’s a tiny, battery-powered remote that can be wall-mounted with the included bracket to look like a regular switch. Use it as a 3-way switch without running new wires, a bedside controller, or a scene trigger in Home Assistant.
I have Pico remotes on nightstands, in the kitchen, and next to the couch. In Home Assistant, each button can trigger different automations — single press, double press, long press. They last 10+ years on a coin cell battery.
Dimming That Actually Looks Good
Caseta’s dimming is smooth and flicker-free down to very low levels. Many smart dimmers — especially cheap ones — buzz, flicker, or have a limited dimming range. Lutron has been solving dimming problems since the 1960s, and Caseta benefits from that expertise.
The switches also have configurable fade-on and fade-off times, which gives your lighting a premium feel. Lights that gently fade on when you walk in a room just feel better than lights that snap on instantly.
Fan Speed Control
Lutron also makes a Caseta fan speed control (~$60) for ceiling fans. It gives you 4-speed control from the wall, the app, or Home Assistant. If you have ceiling fans, this is a must.
The Downsides
Price
Caseta is not cheap. At ~$55-60 per dimmer switch, outfitting a whole house adds up quickly. A 20-switch home is over $1,000 in switches alone, plus the Smart Bridge. Compare that to $15-25 for a Zigbee or Z-Wave switch.
My take: the reliability premium is worth it for lights. Lights are the most-used smart home devices, and flaky lighting will make everyone in your household hate your smart home. Spend on Caseta for lights, use Zigbee for sensors and plugs.
Limited Device Types
Caseta’s lineup is focused: dimmers, switches, fan controls, plug-in lamp dimmers, and shades. You won’t find smart outlets, motion sensors, or locks. That’s fine — Caseta does lighting, and it does it better than anyone else. Use Zigbee and Z-Wave for everything else.
Proprietary Protocol
Clear Connect means you need the Lutron Smart Bridge. If Lutron went away tomorrow, your switches would still work locally and via Pico remotes, but the Home Assistant integration would be frozen. In practice, Lutron is a massive commercial lighting company that isn’t going anywhere, so this risk is minimal.
The Smart Bridge Pro Requirement
For Home Assistant integration, you technically need the Smart Bridge Pro (L-BDGPRO2), not the standard bridge. The Pro version supports the Telnet API that Home Assistant uses. The starter kit sometimes includes the standard bridge, so double-check. The Pro bridge is ~$80 standalone.
Update: Some newer starter kits include the Pro bridge. Check the model number before buying.
Caseta vs. The Competition
vs. Inovelli Blue (Zigbee)
Inovelli makes excellent Zigbee switches with LED notification bars and tons of configuration options. They’re great if you want everything on Zigbee. But they’re not as reliable as Caseta — Zigbee mesh issues occasionally cause delays — and they require more setup in Home Assistant.
vs. Zooz Z-Wave Switches
Zooz offers good value Z-Wave switches at ~$25-30 each. Solid for budget builds. But the dimming quality doesn’t match Caseta, and Z-Wave can have range issues in larger homes.
vs. Lutron RadioRA 3
RadioRA 3 is Lutron’s higher-end system with more device types and a nicer app. It’s also significantly more expensive and typically dealer-installed. If money isn’t a concern and you want whole-home shades plus lighting, RadioRA 3 is worth a look. For most people, Caseta is the sweet spot.
The Bottom Line
Lutron Caseta is the smart lighting system I recommend to everyone — from beginners to seasoned Home Assistant users. It’s the most reliable platform I’ve ever used, the Home Assistant integration is excellent, and Pico remotes add flexibility that no other system matches.
Yes, it costs more than Zigbee or Z-Wave switches. But lighting is the foundation of your smart home, and you don’t want your foundation to be flaky. Buy Caseta for your lights, save the Zigbee budget for sensors and plugs, and enjoy a smart home that actually impresses people instead of frustrating them.
Check the Caseta Starter Kit on Amazon to get started.