Samsung will soon start charging to access its smart home API

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Summary

Samsung will introduce paid tiers for its SmartThings API starting October 2026, including a $4.99 monthly plan for individual developers, potentially impacting advanced users and Home Assistant integration.

<figure> <img alt="An illustration of the Samsung SmartThings logo" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Alex Castro / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/acastro_220504_STK123_0001.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">From October this year <a href="https://blog.smartthings.com/smartthings-updates/a-new-enhanced-smartthings-api-experience/">Samsung will roll out</a> a variety of new paid tiers for access to its SmartThings API, including a $4.99 monthly plan for "non-commercial, individual developers."</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">It won't just be developers that pay the price though. Some more advanced smart home users are likely to fall afoul of the rule change if they directly access the SmartThings API for more flexible smart home controls, or use third-party tools that do the same. "Use of the Home Assistant integration <em>will</em> be affected by their changes and <em>will</em> fall under their new 'personal plans,'" wrote Paulus Schoutsen, founder of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24135207/home-assistant-announces-open-home-foundation">open-source smart home platform Home Assistant</a> …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/957597/samsung-smartthings-api-charges">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
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# Samsung will soon start charging to access its smart home API Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/957597/samsung-smartthings-api-charges](https://www.theverge.com/tech/957597/samsung-smartthings-api-charges) [Skip to main content](https://www.theverge.com/tech/957597/samsung-smartthings-api-charges#content) Regular users could get caught by SmartThings’ new $4\.99 monthly charge for individual developers\. Regular users could get caught by SmartThings’ new $4\.99 monthly charge for individual developers\. by Jun 26, 2026, 11:38 AM UTC ![acastro_220504_STK123_0001](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/acastro_220504_STK123_0001.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400) ![acastro_220504_STK123_0001](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/acastro_220504_STK123_0001.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400) Image: Alex Castro / The Verge [![Dominic Preston](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/DOM_BLURPLE-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=96)](https://www.theverge.com/authors/dominic-preston) Dominic Preston is a news editor with over a decade’s experience in journalism\. He previously worked at*Android Police*and*Tech Advisor*\. From October this year[Samsung will roll out](https://blog.smartthings.com/smartthings-updates/a-new-enhanced-smartthings-api-experience/)a variety of new paid tiers for access to its SmartThings API, including a $4\.99 monthly plan for “non\-commercial, individual developers\.” It won’t just be developers that pay the price though\. Some more advanced smart home users are likely to fall afoul of the rule change if they directly access the SmartThings API for more flexible smart home controls, or use third\-party tools that do the same\. “Use of the Home Assistant integration*will*be affected by their changes and*will*fall under their new ‘personal plans,’” wrote Paulus Schoutsen, founder of[open\-source smart home platform Home Assistant](https://www.theverge.com/24135207/home-assistant-announces-open-home-foundation), in a[blog post](https://newsletter.openhomefoundation.org/breaking-free-from-the-disposable-smart-home/)\. Samsung says the new pricing will allow it to “invest heavily in the enterprise\-grade features our partners and users have been asking for,” including stability improvements, new integrations, and a refresh of its Developer Center hub\. **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Dominic Preston ## The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most\.

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