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Hubs · Head to head

TP-Link Tapo H100 vs TP-Link Tapo H500

Full Smart Hubs comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official TP-Link site.
2026 verdict
Tapo sensors, or Tapo cameras too? The TP-Link Tapo H500 is the better of these two Tapo hubs, because it records up to 16 cameras locally on top of running the same 64 Sub-G sensors.
TP-Link Tapo H500
Winner
TP-Link Tapo H500
$199.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It adds 16GB of storage with a 2.5-inch SATA bay for up to 16TB, an HDMI port for a live camera wall, a microphone, dual-band Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and it acts as a Matter controller for other brands' plugs, bulbs and light strips. The TP-Link Tapo H100 is the far cheaper plug-in that does one job well, turning Tapo motion, contact and temperature sensors into alarms and chimes, and it is the one listed in the official Home Assistant integration. Both bridge their devices to Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings over Matter, and both stay inside the Tapo ecosystem. Buy the TP-Link Tapo H100 for sensors only, and the TP-Link Tapo H500 if you own Tapo cameras or doorbells and want subscription-free recording.
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FeatureTP-Link Tapo H100TP-Link Tapo H500Winner
Price$22.99$199.99TP-Link Tapo H100
Rating4.44.5TP-Link Tapo H500
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, EthernetTP-Link Tapo H500
ProtocolsMatter BridgeMatter Bridge, Third-Party DevicesTP-Link Tapo H500
IntegrationsGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home AssistantGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThingsTie

What the differences mean

Cameras and recording

This is the difference that decides it. The TP-Link Tapo H500 takes up to 16 Tapo cameras and video doorbells and records them locally, on 16GB of built-in storage or a 2.5-inch drive up to 16TB. The TP-Link Tapo H100 cannot adopt cameras at all and has no storage.

Screen output and audio

The TP-Link Tapo H500 has an HDMI port to show a live camera wall on a monitor or TV, and a microphone for two-way audio. The TP-Link Tapo H100 has neither, only a speaker that works as a chime and siren.

Connection to the router

The TP-Link Tapo H500 joins 2.4 or 5 GHz Wi-Fi or plugs in by Ethernet, which matters when it is carrying camera footage. The TP-Link Tapo H100 is 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, which is plenty for small sensor messages.

Size

The TP-Link Tapo H100 is a small plug that disappears into a wall socket. The TP-Link Tapo H500 is a desktop box weighing 1.6 lb, since it has room for a drive.

Home Assistant

The official TP-Link Home Assistant integration lists the TP-Link Tapo H100 as a supported hub. Home Assistant support is not documented for the TP-Link Tapo H500.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Tapo hubs describe setup as quick and painless, and both groups treat the hub as the thing that makes the rest of their Tapo gear worth having. TP-Link Tapo H100 owners single out a chime that doubles as a second doorbell and an alarm siren, and a year of running untouched far from the router, while they complain about the region lock on its radio and discovering that it will not take Tapo cameras. TP-Link Tapo H500 owners talk about storage above all, with several cameras recording to one drive and no subscription to pay, plus an HDMI output that works better than they expected and footage that stays in the hub if a camera is stolen, and their main complaint is facial recognition that fails to recognise family members, with the drive being an extra purchase.

Upgrading from the TP-Link Tapo H100?

Moving up from the TP-Link Tapo H100 to the TP-Link Tapo H500 is about cameras. The sensor side stays the same, with 64 Tapo Sub-G devices and Matter bridging, but the TP-Link Tapo H500 adds local recording for up to 16 cameras, an HDMI camera wall, Ethernet and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and Matter control of other brands' plugs and bulbs. If your Tapo setup is only sensors and you are happy with it, the TP-Link Tapo H100 already does everything you use. If you have added Tapo cameras or a doorbell, the TP-Link Tapo H500 is the step that brings their footage home.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • TP-Link Tapo H100
  • TP-Link Tapo H500

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Frequently Asked Questions

Tapo H100 vs H500: which is better, the TP-Link Tapo H100 or the TP-Link Tapo H500?

The TP-Link Tapo H500, if you have Tapo cameras. It runs the same 64 Sub-G sensors and adds local recording for up to 16 cameras, HDMI output, Ethernet and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. The TP-Link Tapo H100 is the better value for a sensor-only setup.

What is the difference between the TP-Link Tapo H100 and the TP-Link Tapo H500?

The TP-Link Tapo H100 is a small plug-in hub for Tapo sensors, buttons and switches with a built-in siren. The TP-Link Tapo H500 is a desktop hub that also takes up to 16 Tapo cameras and doorbells, stores their recordings on 16GB of storage or a 2.5-inch drive up to 16TB, and outputs a camera wall over HDMI.

Does the TP-Link Tapo H100 work with Home Assistant?

Yes. The official TP-Link Smart Home integration in Home Assistant lists the TP-Link Tapo H100 as a supported hub, together with its sensors. Home Assistant support is not documented for the TP-Link Tapo H500.

Can the TP-Link Tapo H100 record Tapo cameras?

No. The TP-Link Tapo H100 cannot adopt Tapo cameras or video doorbells as sub-devices and has no storage. Local camera recording is what the TP-Link Tapo H500 is for.

Who should buy the TP-Link Tapo H100?

Tapo users who want motion, contact and temperature sensors, a DIY alarm siren or an extra doorbell chime at the lowest cost, and Home Assistant users who want an officially supported Tapo hub.

Who should buy the TP-Link Tapo H500?

Owners of several Tapo cameras or doorbells who want subscription-free local recording, a live view on a TV over HDMI and a wired connection, with room for 64 sensors on the same hub.

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