Does Blink Work with SmartThings? (and Alternatives)
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For most people, integration among smart home devices is essential. As a Blink security camera user, I wanted to find out if Blink works with SmartThings.
Does Blink Work with SmartThings?
Blink and SmartThings is a confusing pair. While Blink works great with Amazon Alexa, using it with SmartThings is a little more complicated.
Blink is not directly compatible with SmartThings, but the systems work together when paired through IFTTT.
What is IFTTT?
IFTTT is short for “If This, Then That.” It is a web-based integration system, requiring no extra devices to set up. IFTTT integrates devices that aren’t traditionally compatible through “triggers.”
Using IFTTT makes connecting your Blink cameras with your Samsung SmartThings system possible.
SmartThings: A Quick Look
Samsung SmartThings is the answer to the growing need for smart home automation. SmartThings can connect with a range of smart home devices, including:
- Smart lights
- Smart sensors
- Smart cameras
Once your devices are connected to SmartThings, you can use them with smart home assistants like Amazon Alexa.
You can configure and adjust any settings from the SmartThings app. In addition to controlling your devices, you can also use SmartThings to schedule and automate smart devices.
For example, you can set your lights to turn on and off at specific times and get notifications about different events in your home.
How to Connect Blink with SmartThings
Before you can set your Blink camera up with SmartThings, you’ll need:
- The SmartThings App
- A SmartThings smart home hub
- An IFTTT account (free or paid)
The smart home hub will act as a “control center” for your system, allowing Blink and SmartThings to connect and communicate to better monitor your home.
Once you have everything necessary, you can follow the steps below to integrate Blink with SmartThings.
How to Set Everything Up
Create your IFTTT account online or in the IFTTT app, then make sure your Blink cameras are set up in the Blink app.
Once you have these two accounts set up, it’s time to connect your smart home hub to the SmartThings app:
- Open the SmartThings app.
- Select “Devices.”
- Tap the “+” sign, then “Add Device.”
- Tap “By brand” and choose the manufacturer of your hub.
- Select “Smart Home Hub.”
- Follow the on-screen steps to connect your device to the app.
Link Blink to IFTTT
Once everything is all set up, you can connect your Blink account to IFTTT:
- Open the IFTTT app, or visit the website on your browser.
- Find and select “Explore,” then type in “Blink.”
- Select the official Blink logo.
- Press “Connect” and login with your Blink account credentials.
- Select “Grant Access.”
Link SmartThings to IFTTT
Now it’s time to follow the same process for SmartThings:
- Go back to the Explore page on IFTTT.
- Type in “SmartThings” and select the official logo.
- Press “Connect” and login with your SmartThings account.
- Grant IFTTT access to SmartThings.
Create an Applet
After you have connected both Blink and SmartThings to IFTTT, you can begin creating applets, or integrations that allow the two systems to communicate.
You can select one of the pre-made applets on the Blink or SmartThings page, or you can create your own. Here’s how to create your own:
- Visit the IFTTT Create page.
- Press “Add” next to “If This” to select the action that will trigger an effect.
- Select “Blink” or “SmartThings” — whichever you want to use to trigger an effect on the other device.
- Select one of the available triggers.
- Press “Add” next to “Then That,” and select what happens after the first action.
Once you set up the integration, it should trigger whenever the selected conditions are met.
Limitations of Using SmartThings and Blink
While it is possible to use Blink and SmartThings together, there are some notable limitations.
As of right now, the only trigger IFTTT has for Blink is to activate SmartThings when the camera detects motion. You can also arm and disarm your Blink camera with SmartThings, but the integrations end there.
Alternatives to Using Blink with SmartThings
Since Blink cameras require IFTTT to work with SmartThings, the process can be intimidating. If you want to use your security camera with SmartThings, consider one of these SmartThings compatible cameras:
| Camera Model | Video Quality | Power Source | Smart Home Compatibility | Night Vision | Two-Way Audio | Field of View |
| Ring Stick Up Cam | 1080p HD | Battery pack | Alexa, some Google Home | Yes | Yes | 130° diagonal |
| SmartThings Cam | 1080p HDR | Power adapter | Alexa and Google Home | Yes | Yes | 145° diagonal |
| Arlo Pro 4 | 2K HDR | Lithium-ion battery | Alexa and Google Home | Yes | Yes | 160° diagonal |
What Smart Home Systems Does Blink Work with?
Blink Cameras are owned by Amazon, so they work seamlessly with Amazon Alexa. You can set your Blink Camera or Doorbell up in the Alexa app and use Echo devices to:
- Announce doorbell presses and motion detection
- Arm and disarm your Blink system
- Open your Live View on a smart TV
- Check your camera’s status
Because Amazon and Google are competitors, Blink doesn’t have native compatibility with Google Home. If you want to use your Blink Camera with Google Home, you’ll need to set up IFTTT integrations.
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