What is Matter and why is it revolutionising the world of smart homes and home automation?

Created with the aim of simplifying and improving everyday life, Matter promises to revolutionise the world of smart homes and home automation by developing the concept of a unified ecosystem that ensures interoperability between all devices, enhancing their intuitiveness, usability and security.

Matter is the open standard for smart homes, the result of an alliance between the tech sector’s biggest giants: Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, LG, Microsoft and others. With over 4,000 certified devices by early 2026 and native support across major ecosystems, Matter is now the go-to protocol for anyone looking to build a truly interoperable smart home.

What is Matter: origins and objectives

Launched in 2019 as Project CHIP (Connected Home over IP), Matter is an open and interoperable standard for communication between IoT devices. It is managed by the CSA (Connectivity Standards Alliance), a consortium comprising Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung and hundreds of other manufacturers, with the aim of creating a unified ecosystem for smart home devices.

Officially launched in late 2022, Matter ensures that devices from different manufacturers can communicate with one another seamlessly and securely, regardless of brand. Matter does not replace existing platforms (Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit) but creates a common language that unites them all.

It is an open-source protocol based on existing technologies: Thread for low-power devices, Wi-Fi and Ethernet for devices with higher bandwidth.

Matter 2026: the latest developments and the evolution of the standard

Since version 1.0 in 2022, Matter has come a long way. By 2026, the standard had reached version 1.5, with substantial updates that expand the categories of supported devices and improve mesh network performance.

The main new features of Matter 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 include:

• Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations: smart wallboxes can now be integrated into major ecosystems via Matter
• Advanced energy management: monitoring and optimisation of energy consumption at the household level
• New categories of household appliances: dishwashers, washing machines and smart fridges are now natively supported
• Security cameras and video doorbells: cross-platform streaming and notifications
• Thread 1.3: more stable mesh network, reduced latency, greater coverage

Thanks to the backward compatibility guaranteed by the CSA, Matter 1.0 devices continue to work with subsequent versions. By 2026, with over 4,000 products certified by hundreds of companies, Matter has become the de facto standard for the smart home.

How does Matter work?

Matter is not a physical device but a communication language for smart home devices. Its architecture is based on a standardised IP protocol and existing wireless technologies.

• Open IP protocol: Matter uses the Internet Protocol, the universal standard for data communication. Matter devices communicate with each other on the local network regardless of the manufacturer.
• Multi-transport: it supports Wi-Fi (for high-bandwidth devices), Thread (low-power mesh for sensors and actuators) and Bluetooth LE (for initial commissioning).
• Standardised services: Matter defines common functionalities — remote control, energy management, security — ensuring true interoperability between different brands.
• Certification of compliance: every Matter device must pass rigorous tests before obtaining CSA certification. This ensures guaranteed quality and compatibility.
• Multi-admin: a single Matter device can be added to multiple ecosystems simultaneously (e.g. both Alexa and Apple Home) without complex configurations.

The benefits of Matter for the Smart Home

• Interoperability: devices from different brands communicate and work together seamlessly. Total freedom of choice.
• Local control: devices operate on the LAN even without an internet connection, reducing latency and dependence on the cloud.
• Usability: simplified setup via QR code, unified management via a single app.
• Security: end-to-end PKI authentication, robust encryption, no sensitive data exposed on third-party clouds.
• Sustainability: backward compatibility that extends the life of existing devices, reducing electronic waste.

Matter vs Zigbee vs Z-Wave: differences and comparison

Choosing the right protocol for your smart home can be complex. Here is a direct comparison of the three most popular standards:

Matter-compatible devices in 2026

The categories of Matter-certified devices in 2026 cover almost every area of the smart home:

• Lighting: smart bulbs, dimmers, WiFi switches
• Roller shutters and blinds: modules for reversible motors
• Sockets: smart flush-mounted sockets with energy monitoring
• Relays and dry contacts: for gates, boilers, alarm systems
• Thermostats and air conditioning: unified temperature control
• Smart locks: controlled access and opening logs
• Sensors: presence, temperature, humidity, air quality
• Appliances: dishwashers, washing machines, smart ovens (Matter 1.3+)
• EV chargers: wallboxes for charging electric vehicles (Matter 1.3+)

In Italy, Freedompro is one of the few manufacturers with official CSA Matter certification, offering its own WiFi modules for lights, roller shutters, sockets and dry contacts.

Freedompro and Matter: a shared philosophy

The Matter protocol aims to break down the barriers of proprietary home automation, ensuring interoperability between different manufacturers and devices: a goal that is fully in line with Freedompro’s philosophy.

Our mission is to offer unparalleled comfort and smart living through a complete ecosystem of Made in Italy connected products. The values that guide us — maximum integration, usability and sustainability — are the same ones that Matter promotes.

Freedompro offers two product lines:

• Smart Modules: Matter-certified WiFi relays for lights, roller shutters, sockets and dry contacts. They are installed behind the existing switch without any building work or hubs, and can be controlled via an app, voice commands or any Matter-compatible ecosystem.

Freedompro’s Matter-certified smart modules:

• WiFi Modules for Lights — control 1, 2 or 4 light circuits via app, voice or Matter
• WiFi Modules for Electric Blinds — automate curtains, roller blinds and shutters
• WiFi Modules for Electrical Sockets — smart flush-mounted sockets with energy consumption monitoring
• WiFi Dry Contact Modules — for gates, boilers, motors and alarm systems
• Easykon: a Made in Italy gateway for those who already have a BTicino MyHome SCS or KNX home automation system. It brings Alexa and Google Home voice control and Apple HomeKit integration to your existing system, without replacing anything. Available in two versions: Easykon for MyHome and Easykon for KNX.

As an Italian company with official CSA Matter certifications for its Smart Modules, we are proud to be among the few companies that guarantee this interoperability to their customers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Matter (FAQ)

What is Matter in simple terms?

Matter is an open standard that allows smart home devices to communicate with each other regardless of the manufacturer. Created by CSA in collaboration with Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung, it eliminates incompatibility between different ecosystems.

Is Matter compatible with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home?

Yes. A Matter-certified device works simultaneously with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings without the need for additional hubs.

What is the difference between Matter and Zigbee?

Zigbee requires a dedicated hub and has limited cross-brand compatibility. Matter uses IP (Wi-Fi, Thread, Ethernet), requires no hub for Wi-Fi devices and ensures native compatibility across all major ecosystems.

Do I need a hub to use Matter?

No, with Freedompro modules, no hub is required. The modules connect directly to your home Wi-Fi. For Matter over Thread, a border router is required, which is already built into the Apple HomePod mini, Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) and Amazon Echo (4th gen).

Which Freedompro devices are Matter-certified?

Freedompro WiFi modules for lights, blinds, sockets and dry contacts are Matter CSA certified. Easykon, the gateway for BTicino MyHome and KNX, is not Matter certified but integrates with Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit.

Does Matter work without an internet connection?

Yes, for local control. Matter allows devices to communicate over the LAN even without an internet connection. An internet connection is only required for remote control from outside the home.