In this Article

New API plans for individual developers and business partners available November 4, 2026, while the SmartThings app and local integrations stay free.…

1. What is not changing with SmartThings:

2. Which SmartThings features are free and which are paid?

3. What do the SmartThings API Developer and Business Plans include?

4. SmartThings API pricing timeline and key dates:

Share this Blog Post

SmartThings API Developer and Business Plans

New API plans for individual developers and business partners available November 4, 2026, while the SmartThings app and local integrations stay free.

Starting on November 4, 2026, developers and business partners using SmartThings’ direct cloud APIs move to a structured access model. This does not affect the SmartThings app or local integrations.

SmartThings is introducing paid API plans for developers and business partners. Following our recent announcement, here are additional details on the transition. 

Availability for the individual Developer Plan: Note that the SmartThings API Developer Plan will be limited to certain countries upon launch. We will share the specific country availability when the Developer Plan becomes available. The timeline below applies to all API Access Apps. For questions, contact developer support.

Availability for the Business Plan: The Business Plan is not limited to specific countries, subject to applicable laws and regulations. Contact our team at partners@smartthings.com to discuss a Business Plan tiered to your usage or fill out our form to learn more. 

See the SmartThings Developer Center starting November 4, 2026 to sign up for the individual Developer Plan and to see more details on both the Developer and Business Plans.  

What is not changing with SmartThings:

  • SmartThings App remains free1: Controlling connected Samsung devices, appliances, TVs, and Works with SmartThings (WWST) and other compatible partner products through the SmartThings mobile app remains free.
  • Automations & routines stay free2: Setting up routines within the SmartThings app does not require a paid subscription.

Which SmartThings features are free and which are paid?

Feature / UsageFree or Paid?
SmartThings Mobile App (Android/iOS)1Free
In-App Routines, Automations & Scenes2Free
Local Edge Drivers, Profiles, & Hub Integrations3Free
WWST Device Certification supported by SmartThings Test Suite or Matter devicesFree
Direct Open Authorization (OAuth) Cloud API Calls (Individual Developer Use)Paid
Business API UsagePaid

New pricing applies to business API usage and individual developers who wish to use our platform with third-party applications via OAuth-enabled SmartThings API Access Apps. 

  • Business Partners: Enterprise platforms, short-term rental services, energy management platforms, and business services using the SmartThings API.
  • Individual Developers Using Custom OAuth Apps: Individual developers who call our cloud APIs directly using OAuth to integrate SmartThings into custom dashboards, external automation platforms, or custom scripts. 

Business pricing is tiered by usage volume.  

  • For Current Business Partners: Contact our team at partners@smartthings.com to discuss a Business Plan tiered to your usage.
  • New to the SmartThings API? Are you evaluating SmartThings as the backend for your business? We are currently onboarding new partners to discuss SmartThings API capabilities, pricing, and scalability. Please fill out our form to learn more.

What do the SmartThings API Developer and Business Plans include?

For non-business, individual developers who rely on custom OAuth API Access Apps for their own use, we are introducing a dedicated Developer Plan starting November 4, 2026. This is a flat monthly rate per developer account covering registered individual developer API Access Apps using OAuth.  

The quota is up to 100,000 cloud API calls per month and up to 10 active app installs across locations.

The Developer Plan subscription is tied directly to the developer account profile, not to individual physical hardware locations. Users can manage standard multi-location or multi-hub smart home environments under a single Developer Plan subscription, provided the aggregate cloud traffic stays within the Developer Plan’s usage limits. 

In addition, Developer Plan and Business Plan subscribers receive:

  • Near real-time events via Server-Sent Events (SSE): We’re opening up our SSE API to Developer and Business Plan subscribers, an event streaming connection that lets integrations receive updates, instead of continuously polling for changes. It’s the same technology we’ve relied on for select partner integrations, now being made broadly available. Event delivery via webhook is still available as it has been. 
  • API Dashboard: Also with the launch, the upgraded Developer Center experience allows OAuth app registration and usage tracking by app against call and install quotas.

Rules: Rules remain available in the Command Line Interface (CLI), Personal Access Tokens (PATs), Advanced Web App (AWA), and the SmartThings Mobile App, but using Rules through OAuth requires a paid Developer Plan or Business Plan.

CLI: The CLI continues as a development tool for both paid and non-paid users. Commands associated with creating and managing cloud API Access Apps require a paid plan. Core CLI capabilities for other integrations including device profile creation, edge driver packaging, and Works with SmartThings certification remain unaffected and free to use.

PATs are intended to support temporary, individual developer testing and lightweight scripts within standard platform limits, rather than ongoing integrations. Any future updates to token management policies will be shared with users.

AWA: The AWA remains available.

SmartThings API pricing timeline and key dates:

  • Free Access through November 3, 2026: Free API access remains available through this date.
  • November 4, 2026–December 15, 2026: If a plan is not selected on November 4, 2026, app owners will not be able to create new apps or edit existing ones. However, already-installed integrations will continue to function in this window. 
  • December 15, 2026 and after: If an API Access App owner does not select a paid plan by December 15, 2026, access to their API integrations may be limited, paused, or discontinued. Active API keys will be deactivated, and automated calls made by those applications and downstream users of those applications will be paused at the gateway level. If the app has been shared with other locations, those users may also be affected.

These dates apply to all API Access Apps, including those owned by developers in countries where the Developer Plan is not available. If you have questions about your situation, contact developer support.

Plan details, pricing, and availability are subject to change. 

See the SmartThings Developer Center starting November 4, 2026 to sign up for the individual Developer Plan and to see more details on both the Developer and Business Plans.  

For Business Partners, contact our team at partners@smartthings.com to discuss a Business Plan tiered to your usage or fill out our form to learn more. 

Thank you for building with SmartThings. We’ll continue to share updates. 


1 Requires downloading the SmartThings app and connection via mobile network or the internet.

2 Requires supported smart devices connected to a SmartThings hub or the SmartThings Cloud.

3 Requires a compatible SmartThings hub device.


Subscribe for more articles like this!

Your email address
[contact-form-7 id="831e457" title="Contact form"] You may opt-out at any time. Privacy Policy.

Learn more about becoming a SmartThings partner.

Work With Us

Inspire the world and create the future of IoT at SmartThings.

You Might Also Like...

SmartThings Updates

August 14, 2014

SmartThings, Samsung, and the Open Platform

Friends, Today is a big day for SmartThings. I’m excited to announce that SmartThings has been acquired by Samsung and will operate as an independent company within Samsung’s Open Innovation Center group. It has always been our goal to create a totally open smart home platform that brings together third-party developers, device makers, and consumers. We’re thrilled that Samsung fully supports this vision. We will continue to run SmartThings the way we always have: by embracing our community of customers, developers, and device makers and championing the creation of the leading open platform for the smart home. Our growing team will remain fully intact and will relocate to a new headquarters in Palo Alto, CA. In short: SmartThings will remain SmartThings. (more…)
Read More
SmartThings Updates

March 31, 2015

Update: SmartThings Hub & Hardware V2

Earlier this year we announced that we’ll soon unveil the next generation of the SmartThings Hub and several sensors. We wanted to provide a quick update on our progress to date. (more…)
Read More
SmartThings Updates

September 3, 2015

The Next Generation of SmartThings is Here

We’re excited to announce that the next generation of the Samsung SmartThings Hub, a new lineup of products, and a brand-new SmartThings app experience is available today. Our mission has always been to create the easiest way for people to turn their home into a smart home. In fact, we started SmartThings out of a desire to know the answer to a basic but deeply personal question: is everything OK in my home.  We believe our latest product evolution delivers on this ambition. Here's a look at what's new and improved: The New Samsung SmartThings Hub and Sensors The new Hub enables video streaming, has battery backup that lasts up to 10 hours, and can run certain functions locally to improve performance and continue to operate without an internet connection. The Hub will continue to support ZigBee, Z-Wave, and local internet connected devices. Two USB ports and embedded Bluetooth will support future expansion. The new collection of Samsung SmartThings sensors are now smaller and have been redesigned with a sleeker, more contemporary look to fit seamlessly into the background of your home. The New SmartThings App Experience The free SmartThings app has been redesigned for easier navigation and a more intuitive experience.  You can now directly organize and control your connected devices by room, view live streaming from cameras, quickly set up and run routines, explore the marketplace of nearly 200 devices now compatible with SmartThings, and so much more. One of the exciting new features of the SmartThings app experience is Smart Home Monitor– an integrated home monitoring solution. Smart Home Monitor allows you to receive alerts and take action when SmartThings detects unwanted entry or motion, smoke or fire, leaks, or other important activity. Existing customers will be able to configure Smart Home Monitor from their dashboard within 24 hours after downloading the updated app. With Smart Home Monitor, our Hub version 2, and a connected camera, you can also get instant alerts with an accompanying video-clip when these unexpected events occur.  Video buffering in the new hub means clips can start prior to the event so you can see exactly what is happening in your home. Video clips will eventually be a premium feature within Smart Home Monitor but are available in beta as a free trial through 2015. After the free trial, a premium version of Smart Home Monitor, which includes video clips, will be available for $4.99 per month. Live streaming will always be free. The new SmartThings app will be available for free download on iOS and Android starting today, with Apple Watch, and Gear S apps to follow. Be sure to check out our post for a more in-depth look at the app’s new features. We would like to extend our heart-felt thanks to our customers, supporters, and developer community. Your commitment, feedback, and ideas are what make our open platform truly special. We hope you you enjoy the new SmartThings experience.    
Read More

Our Most Popular Categories