Updated
Updated · The Verge · Jun 26
Samsung to Charge $4.99 a Month for SmartThings API Access From October 2026
Updated
Updated · The Verge · Jun 26

Samsung to Charge $4.99 a Month for SmartThings API Access From October 2026

3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Jun 26

Summary

  • October 2026 will bring paid SmartThings API tiers, with Samsung introducing a $4.99 monthly plan for non-commercial individual developers.
  • Home Assistant founder Paulus Schoutsen said the change will also hit advanced users, because direct SmartThings API access and the Home Assistant integration would fall under Samsung's new personal plans.
  • Samsung said the fees will fund enterprise-grade features, including stability upgrades, new integrations and a revamped Developer Center.
  • The move marks a shift from broadly accessible smart-home tooling toward paid API access, potentially raising costs for hobbyists and third-party ecosystem users.

Insights

Is Samsung's API fee a fair price for stability or just another subscription in an already crowded market?
Will the dream of an open smart home be locked behind a series of new paywalls from tech giants?