To help you find the best options for your space, we consulted experts at leading kitchen fixture brands Moen and Kohler and researched and judged models on voice and app control, touch operation, ease of installation, and overall design. After all the considerations, the Kohler Sensate K-72218-WB Kitchen Faucet with Kohler Konnect is our best overall pick, thanks to its full-featured smart functionality and elegant design. Here are the best smart faucets to add to your home. The impressive smart integrations mean this faucet comes at a price. It’s not the most expensive faucet on the market (though the price is markedly higher with the ombre finishes), but it certainly isn’t a budget offering. Its minimal design may also not be as eye-catching as some kitchens may command. Another drawback is the AC power source. Unlike other smart faucet protocols, you can’t power this faucet via batteries, so if you don’t have an outlet under your sink, you’ll likely have to hire an electrician to help with the installation. However, on functionality and reliability alone, the Sensate is an impressive smart faucet for a modern kitchen. The infrared-activated touchless function lets you wave your hand in front to turn the faucet on. Even though the GIMILI doesn’t feature water-tracking capabilities or voice activation, it does have a three-minute automatic shutoff feature for a bit of added protection. The price is right, too, as the GIMILI comes in at a fraction of the cost of more mainstream models from Moen and Kohler. You may encounter some build quality trade-offs even though the included ceramic cartridge has been tested for up to 500,000 on/off cycles. The brand also isn’t quite as established as bigger-name players. However, this faucet comes with a two-year warranty if issues arise. The Brantford brings a lot of features to your kitchen, including impressive voice activation via built-in Alexa and Google Assistant, plus touchless operation with an infrared sensor if you don’t want to involve any outside tech. You can also cue the faucet to dispense water at a precise temperature and measurement via Moen’s unique preset system that allows you to assign specific functions to specific commands in the app. This feature is handy for those who return time and again to certain recipes and want their smart faucet to do the measuring for them. We would like to see some more finishes for more versatility at this price point. On the other hand, this attractive and capable faucet operates with six D-cell batteries, which means you won’t need a hard-wired outlet for installation. But the look and feel of this faucet are really what makes it worth the splurge. On top of excellent smart control, homeowners have a choice of six finish options, including the handsome matte-black-and-metallic two-tone look that might bring a unique aesthetic to your kitchen space. The faucet incorporates Kohler’s corrosion-resistant materials and gives you instant pull-down functionality courtesy of the ProMotion and DockNetik technologies that ensure easy use and easy return. The Kohler Tone is more expensive than many other Kohler faucets and requires power via an outlet under the sink. The style is also very specific, which may not fit some kitchens—especially if you go with the two-tone options. However, if you have the budget, this kitchen faucet is a compelling option. While this model lacks app control, Delta’s impressive Touch2O.xt technology is the brand’s gold standard for handle-free operation. You can touch the faucet anywhere to activate the flow of water as you’d expect, but thanks to an innovative full-fixture capacitance field, you can tap anywhere around the faucet as well, which takes out the guesswork when activating the hands-free flow. Delta also brings its DIAMOND Seal Technology to deliver with virtually no leaks. Delta guarantees this performance for life with its celebrated warranty. The faucet’s design is very unique, with a toggle-style handle, but it may not fit into every bathroom. It’s also fairly pricey for a bathroom fixture, largely due to the high-end, high-polish finishes. The Align includes a wave sensor that allows you to move your hand in front of the faucet for touchless activation. It also includes Moen’s voice-activated capabilities with support for Alexa and Google Assistant. With the help of your preferred voice assistant or the companion app, you can assign a specific water temperature and measurements for routine tasks like filling pots or bottles. As with the rest of Moen’s smart faucets, you can run the whole system with D-cell batteries, eliminating the need for a dedicated outlet. The design itself is a little bit simple, so if you’re looking for something a bit more dramatic, this won’t be it. Though not astronomical, the price tag doesn’t feel quite as affordable as some other options. However, if hand-held pull-down functionality is your focus, the Align is a good bet. On top of the impressive smart functionality, the Cadia features a stain- and spot-resistant finish for a beautiful look and feel. This kit even comes with a separate soap dispenser fixture to provide you with a truly full-featured setup. It’s certainly on the pricier side of kitchen fixtures, and the design is also a tad safe—featuring no extraordinarily modern aesthetics or the flourishes you’d expect from a more classic design. For features alone, though, the Cadia is a true powerhouse. The MGDC Adapter is unique because, unlike many other adapters, it looks sleek. This polished chrome cylinder sits at the end of your sink’s existing faucet. Once installed, you can use the built-in infrared sensor to toggle the faucet on and off. A continuous mode triggers constant flow, and an instant mode only delivers quick splashes when your hand is there. It’s all powered by a USB-rechargeable battery, too, so you won’t need to throw out batteries and replace them. This model lacks voice controls or app-based functionality, and because it’s just an adapter, some homeowners may have trouble matching it to their existing finish. However, if you want a non-permanent touchless faucet option, MGDC delivers a great choice. “Where users may not want the full capabilities of a smart faucet or do not own a smart home device like an Alexa or Google Home, touchless faucets give homeowners the ability to elevate cleanliness and convenience at the sink by reducing the spread of dirt and germs,” says Biswas. If you want integration with your smart home, smart faucet options from Moen or Kohler give you app and voice control—including the ability to assign specific commands to certain water temperatures or amounts—in addition to touchless and manual controls.
Power Source
With any smart faucet, determining how it will get power is paramount. All smart faucets—including non-integrated, touchless-only models—require power to perform their functions. Many fixtures, like every smart faucet in Moen’s lineup, operate 100 percent by battery, meaning that no additional wiring infrastructure is needed to power the faucet. Many options, however, require access to an under-the-sink AC outlet to plug the faucet in just like you would any other kitchen appliance. If you’re looking at a faucet that requires this power source, you may have to hire an electrician when installing your fixture.
Design
Even though your faucet is smart, it doesn’t have to look like a piece of tech. Many manufacturers design their smart faucets to look just as high-end and style-minded as standard faucets. “Whether homeowners are designing a modern masterpiece or prefer to take a more traditional route, we design our faucets to fit a variety of home aesthetics,” says Biswas about Moen’s smart faucet options. Many of the same manufacturers you might consider for a typical faucet also build smart faucets, so the same design considerations—such as finish, material, shape, and size—apply.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Jason Schneider has been a tech writer and smart home reviewer for several years, and he has recently purchased his first home. For this roundup, he focused on top smart faucet manufacturers like Moen, Kohler, and Delta. While many of his choices feature full, app-integrated smart functionality, he included a few options that feature basic touchless functionality. To round out his research, Jason spoke with Prantik Guha Biswas, Smart and Digital Kitchen expert at Moen, and Nicholas Rindt, Director of Product Marketing for Kitchen Faucets & Fixtures at Kohler, for helpful insights on choosing and installing the right kitchen faucet for a variety of homeowners. “Smart faucets like the ones we offer at Moen come equipped with app integration and presets to simplify operation,” says Biswas. “Users can use commands like dispensing common measurements from tablespoons up to 15 gallons at a single command or naming their operation, so filling a dog bowl is a simple voice command away.” Thanks to software integration and updates, smart faucets really have a lot of room for customization. Manufacturers may also expand these features in future software updates. Some touchless faucets have constant modes, while others have intermittent modes. Most smart faucets with app connectivity also feature an infrared meter for basic touchless operation. “Touchless faucets are ideal for anyone that doesn’t need voice activation but still wants a modern, touchless experience,” says Nicholas Rindt from Kohler. “Touchless faucets like the ones we develop at Kohler can activate in just 20 milliseconds and have an auto shutoff feature.”
