Samsung wants SmartThings API users to pay, and Home Assistant could suffer
Samsung has announced it will begin charging for access to its SmartThings API starting in October 2026. This move will impact third-party developers and could lead to increased costs for users of platforms like Home Assistant.
Why it matters
This shift represents a growing trend of hardware companies monetizing their ecosystems, potentially threatening the open-source smart home community.
Credit: Bertel King / How-To Geek By Jon Fingas Published Jun 26, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap You might soon have more trouble controlling SmartThings devices through unofficial tools like Home Assistant . Samsung has revealed that it will start charging for access to the SmartThings API (app programming interface) in October 2026.
The article reports on a corporate policy change and its potential impact without taking a political stance.
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