6 Best Smart Smoke Detectors in 2026

First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm is the best overall pick because it combines smoke and carbon monoxide detection, voice alerts, wireless interconnect, replaceable batteries, and support in the First Alert app and Google Home.

This list covers practical choices for battery-only installs, Ring homes, Kidde hardwired networks, and smoke-only setups where CO is already covered.

At a Glance

Category	Product	Why We Picked It
Best overall	First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm	Full smoke and CO coverage with voice alerts, wireless interconnect, and Google Home support
Best hardwired Nest replacement	First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm	A current hardwired successor path for aging Nest Protect and compatible First Alert systems
Best for renters	Kidde Ring Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm	Wire-free Ring app smoke and CO alerts without a Ring hub
Best for Ring homes	Kidde Ring Hardwired Smart Smoke & CO Alarm	Hardwired Ring smoke and CO alerts that can add phone alerts to compatible Kidde networks
Best Kidde-app hardwired option	Kidde Smart Combo Smoke & CO Alarm	Hardwired smoke and CO coverage with Kidde app alerts instead of Ring
Best hardwired smoke-only smart alarm	Kidde Smart Smoke Alarm	Smart hardwired smoke alerts for homes with separate CO protection

How we chose

We prioritized current smart smoke detectors that fit real US home layouts, then ranked them by detector coverage, power source, app alerts, interconnect behavior, alarm loudness, battery maintenance, and listed safety standards. Combination smoke and CO protection ranked highest when it matched the installation type, while hardwired picks earned their place by adding phone alerts to compatible Kidde networks or Ring households. Battery-powered models were judged on placement flexibility, app support, and battery upkeep.

The best smart smoke detectors right now

First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm - Best overall

The First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm is the most complete battery-powered pick here. It combines a photoelectric smoke sensor and an electrochemical CO sensor in one smart alarm, then adds voice alerts and phone alerts through the First Alert app.

Wireless interconnect gives it whole-home alarm behavior without hardwiring. It also works with Google Home, which makes it the strongest current option for households moving on from Nest Protect.

Power comes from six replaceable 3V CR123A lithium batteries. The alarm is rated at 85 dB at 10 feet and conforms to UL 217 10th Edition.

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Key highlights

Smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm
Photoelectric smoke sensor and electrochemical CO sensor
Battery operated with six replaceable 3V CR123A lithium batteries
Voice alerts and 85 dB alarm at 10 feet
Phone alerts through the First Alert app
Conforms to UL 217 10th Edition

Pros

Best current Nest Protect replacement for battery installs.
Smoke plus CO in one unit with voice location alerts.
Wireless interconnect helps trigger whole-home alarms.
Replaceable batteries avoid replacing the whole alarm when batteries drain.
Works in First Alert app and Google Home.

Cons

Expensive versus the current Kidde smart models.
Requires six CR123A cells when batteries need replacement.

Who it's for

Choose it for the most complete current battery-powered smart smoke and CO alarm, especially in a Google Home or Nest Protect household.

Skip if

Choose another alarm for the cheapest working phone-alert setup or if Ring is already your main home-safety app.

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm - Best hardwired Nest replacement

First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & CO Alarm is the focused replacement pick for homes with aging hardwired Nest Protect alarms. It combines photoelectric smoke and electrochemical carbon monoxide sensing with voice alerts and mobile alerts through the First Alert app.

Hardwire interconnect supports compatible First Alert and BRK alarms, plus the Nest Protect models listed in First Alert's compatibility guide. A quick-connect adapter is included to simplify a supported replacement.

Primary power is hardwired, with lithium battery backup for outages. First Alert lists an 85 dB alarm at 10 feet and conformity with UL 217 10th Edition.

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Key highlights

Smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm
Photoelectric smoke sensor and electrochemical CO sensor
Hardwired power with lithium battery backup
Hardwire interconnect with compatible First Alert and BRK alarms
Voice alerts and First Alert app mobile alerts
85 dB at 10 feet and UL 217 10th Edition conformity

Pros

Purpose-built replacement path for hardwired Nest Protect owners.
Uses a quick-connect adapter for easier supported replacement.
Works with compatible First Alert and BRK hardwired alarms.
Voice alerts and app alerts cover the main smart-detector expectations.
Battery backup maintains protection during power outages.

Cons

Higher price than standard hardwired alarms.
Hardwired-only installation limits placement.
Battery backup is not user-replaceable per First Alert's spec table.

Who it's for

Choose it when wired Nest Protect alarms are aging out and you want the closest supported current successor.

Skip if

Choose another alarm for a battery-only location or an inexpensive multi-pack.

Kidde Ring Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm - Best for renters

For apartments, older homes, and rooms without existing alarm wiring, the Kidde Ring Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm is the cleanest Ring path. It runs on two AA batteries and combines smoke and carbon monoxide detection in one alarm.

Ring app notifications cover smoke, CO, and low battery warnings, and no Ring hub is required. That makes it easy to place without building a larger Ring Alarm system around it.

The extra draw is optional Ring Home smoke and CO professional monitoring. It gives Ring users a monitoring path while keeping installation battery-powered.

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Key highlights

Battery-powered smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm
Runs on two AA batteries
Ring app notifications for smoke warnings
Ring app notifications for CO warnings
Ring app low battery warnings
No Ring hub required

Pros

No hardwiring required, so it fits apartments and older homes.
Uses the Ring app without a Ring Alarm base station.
Smoke and CO in one alarm.
Optional professional monitoring is unusual in this category.
Newer than the hardwired Ring collaboration model.

Cons

AA batteries mean periodic replacement instead of sealed 10-year maintenance.
Ring ecosystem only; no Google Home or HomeKit support verified.
Professional monitoring costs extra.

Who it's for

Choose it for a wire-free smart smoke and CO alarm that reports into Ring today.

Skip if

Choose another alarm if your home already has hardwired interconnected alarms and you want one device to bridge that wired network.

Kidde Ring Hardwired Smart Smoke & CO Alarm - Best for Ring homes

Ring households with hardwired alarm locations should start with the Kidde Ring Hardwired Smart Smoke & CO Alarm. It uses 120V AC power with two AA backup batteries and sends Ring notifications for smoke, CO, and low battery warnings.

Its key advantage is network behavior. Add one smart alarm to a compatible hardwired Kidde alarm network and it can send mobile alerts for existing compatible hardwired Kidde alarms.

Kidde says its smoke detection is over 25% faster and up to 3x more precise than its cited baselines. Owner-manual and spec summaries list the alarm at 85 dB at 10 feet.

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Key highlights

Hardwired smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm
120V AC hardwired power
Two AA backup batteries
Ring notifications for smoke, CO, and low battery warnings
No other Ring device required
85 dB at 10 feet listed in owner-manual and spec summaries

Pros

Best fit for households already committed to Ring.
Can make an existing compatible Kidde hardwired network smarter with one alarm.
Smoke and CO coverage in one unit.
No Ring Alarm hub needed for app alerts.
Optional Ring professional monitoring is available.

Cons

Hardwired installation may require comfort with electrical work or an electrician.
Backup batteries still need replacement.
App silencing is not the same as full smart-home automation support.

Who it's for

Choose it for Ring alerts in a home that already has hardwired alarm locations.

Skip if

Choose another alarm for battery-only placement or Google and Nest compatibility.

Kidde Smart Combo Smoke & CO Alarm - Best Kidde-app hardwired option

The Kidde Smart Combo Smoke & CO Alarm is the hardwired option for buyers who want Kidde-app alerts without moving to Ring. It is a smart smoke and CO alarm with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi setup through the Kidde app.

Mobile alerts cover smoke, CO, and low battery warnings. In a compatible Kidde hardwired network, adding one smart alarm can provide mobile alerts for every hardwired alarm in that network.

Backup power comes from two AA batteries, and Kidde specifies approved alkaline AA batteries rather than lithium batteries for that backup role.

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Key highlights

Hardwired smart smoke and CO alarm
Two AA backup batteries
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi setup through the Kidde app
Mobile alerts for smoke, CO, and low battery warnings
Can provide mobile alerts for compatible Kidde hardwired networks
Kidde specifies approved alkaline AA backup batteries

Pros

Good alternative if you want Kidde's own app instead of Ring.
Hardwired bridge behavior can reduce the number of smart units needed.
Smoke and CO in one alarm.
App hush is listed for nuisance alarms.
Uses common AA backup batteries.

Cons

Needs 120V AC for full smart operation.
Less compelling if you already use Ring, because the Ring model adds that ecosystem.

Who it's for

Choose it for compatible Kidde hardwired alarms when you want Kidde-app alerts without moving to Ring.

Skip if

Choose another alarm for battery-only installation or professional monitoring through Ring.

Kidde Smart Smoke Alarm - Best hardwired smoke-only smart alarm

The Kidde Smart Smoke Alarm is the focused hardwired pick when carbon monoxide protection is already handled separately. It is a smart smoke alarm, not a combination smoke and CO alarm, and it uses two AA backup batteries.

Setup runs through the Kidde app over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The alarm sends mobile alerts for smoke and low battery warnings, and one smart alarm can send alerts for a compatible hardwired Kidde alarm network.

Kidde also cites smoke detection that is over 25% faster and up to 3x more precise than its listed baselines. That makes this the cleaner choice for hardwired Kidde homes that need smart smoke alerts, not another CO detector.

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Key highlights

Hardwired smart smoke alarm
Two AA backup batteries
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi setup with Kidde app
Mobile alerts for smoke and low battery warnings
Can send alerts for a compatible hardwired Kidde alarm network
Kidde cites faster and more precise smoke detection versus listed baselines

Pros

Cheaper than combo smoke/CO models when CO is already covered.
Good way to add app alerts to a compatible Kidde hardwired smoke network.
Reduced nuisance-alarm tech is a practical kitchen-adjacent benefit.
Hardwired power avoids relying on battery as primary power.
Model 20SAR-W is the smoke-only hardwired Kidde option in this lineup.

Cons

Smoke only, so it does not replace a CO alarm.
Hardwired installation required.
AA backup batteries still require maintenance.

Who it's for

Choose it for smart smoke alerts in a hardwired Kidde setup where separate CO protection is already in place.

Skip if

Choose a combination alarm when local code or the floor plan calls for combined smoke and CO protection.

How to Choose

Match the power source first. Battery models are easiest for renters and spot upgrades. Hardwired models are better for replacing existing interconnected alarms and may be required by local code in some homes.
Do not ignore CO coverage. Many smart smoke alarms are combination smoke and CO units. Smoke-only models still need separate CO alarms near sleeping areas and fuel-burning appliances.
Prioritize interconnect behavior. Phone alerts are useful when you are away, but at home the safer setup is one where all alarms sound when one detects danger, especially overnight.
Check ecosystem lock-in. Some alarms are built around Ring, First Alert with Google Home, or the Kidde app. Choose the app path that fits the system you plan to rely on.
Look for current safety standards. UL 217 10th Edition matters because modern alarms are expected to handle both flaming and smoldering fire scenarios while reducing nuisance alarms.
Plan battery maintenance. Smart alarms here use replaceable CR123A or AA batteries. That means ongoing battery replacement, even when the alarm itself is hardwired or has a longer service life.

Is Google Nest Protect still the best smart smoke detector to buy new?

No for most shoppers. The First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm is the better current battery-powered choice here for Google Home and Nest Protect households.

Can a smart smoke detector call the fire department?

The alarm itself generally sends app alerts, while some ecosystems add paid monitoring. Kidde Ring offers optional Ring smoke and CO professional monitoring through an eligible Ring plan.

Do I need one smart detector in every room?

Not always. In compatible hardwired Kidde systems, one smart alarm can send mobile alerts for other interconnected alarms, but each required location still needs a physical smoke or smoke and CO alarm.

Are Wi-Fi smoke detectors safe if the internet goes out?

Yes. Local sensing and sirens continue to matter first, while remote phone alerts, app control, and cloud monitoring depend on internet service and power for the alarm and network gear.

Can I mix brands in one interconnected alarm system?

Do not assume cross-brand interconnect. Match the alarm to the compatible hardwired Kidde network, Ring setup, First Alert setup you plan to use.