5 Benefits of smart appliances for your home

What are smart appliances?

Smart appliances are connected home appliances that communicate through apps, alerts or compatible home systems to help with cooking, cleaning and laundry tasks. They may let you check status, adjust settings or receive reminders from your wifi-connected phone.

Some examples can include a smart range, smart oven or smart microwaves. You can also find smart washers and dryers, some with features that let you remotely start or monitor your laundry.

What are smart appliance features?

There are many types of smart features that may be found on various makes and models of appliances. These may include:

• Check appliance status: View whether an oven is preheated or a laundry cycle is done without walking back into the room.

• Receive cycle alerts: Get reminders when cooking, washing or drying steps are done, so family routines can keep moving.

• Adjust settings from an app: Change compatible options on select appliances, such as oven temperature or cycle selections.

• Use compatible voice controls: Request supported tasks through compatible voice assistants when your hands are full.

• Track usage: Review appliance activity to understand energy use, cycle habits or cooking patterns over time.

• Care Reminders: Use maintenance notifications, software updates and prompts to keep routine care on your list.

Review slide-in smart ranges, connected laundry features and other smart appliance capabilities when deciding what fits your home.

How smart appliances benefit busy families

Smart appliances can help families keep everyday tasks moving by putting status updates, app controls and usage insights in one place. The benefits of smart appliances show up in small moments: checking a laundry cycle from the school pickup line, preheating your oven before you walk into the kitchen or getting a reminder before a task slips off your list.

1. Simplify everyday routines

Smart appliances can help you handle familiar tasks with fewer interruptions. You might start preheating a smart oven from a connected device, check whether a wash cycle has finished on a smart washer or receive a reminder when it’s time to move clothes to the dryer.

That visibility helps busy families juggle homework, sports practices, dinner prep and laundry. Instead of walking back and forth to check appliances, you can use app controls and alerts to help reclaim your time and keep what really matters, front and center.

2. Stay informed & get help

If you need tips and tricks for how to get a job done, some connected devices come with an app, such as the Whirlpool^® App, that puts articles and handy tips right at your fingertips for those times when you just need a little help. Plus, the Whirlpool^® App lets you keep track of scheduled appointments and make sure issues are known, allowing you to send data from the appliance directly to Whirlpool brand customer service.¹

3. Stay connected to kitchen and laundry tasks

Remote monitoring can help you keep tabs on kitchen and laundry tasks while you’re helping with homework, working in another room or getting kids ready for bed. Notifications can let you know when a cooking cycle, wash cycle or dry cycle needs attention.

Compatible voice assistants or smart home systems can also help you check appliance status hands-free when your phone isn’t nearby. On select Whirlpool^® Wall Ovens, you can use your compatible voice-enabled device to adjust the cook time or temperature with a voice command when your hands are full.¹

4. Support cooking decisions

Connected cooking appliances can help take the guesswork out of timing, temperature and settings. A smart oven may offer app-guided cooking support, while a smart microwave may help set cook times or power levels from your phone.

A smart cooktop or range can also help you manage meal prep when multiple parts of dinner happen at once. These features can be useful when you’re reheating leftovers, roasting chicken thighs or timing pasta water with a weeknight sauce.

Select smart Whirlpool^® Microwaves such as this model feature Scan-To-Connect Technology, so you can get the right settings every time. Scan a frozen food barcode with your smartphone or tablet and send recommended or customized cooking instructions straight to your microwave for dinner done the way your family wants it.

5. Special Cycles and Settings

Smart appliances often have special cycles and settings that may be available via the app. For instance, select Whirlpool^® Washers allow you to use the Whirlpool^® App to access specialty cycles only available on the app, or create custom cycles you can save right to your machine.²

Shop Whirlpool^® smart kitchen appliances

Connected Whirlpool^® kitchen appliances can help support family routines with app-based controls, remote monitoring and helpful cooking options on select models.¹ Explore Whirlpool^® Smart Kitchen Appliances, Smart Ranges, Wall Ovens with connectivity features  and even refrigerators with smart features to find options that fit your everyday kitchen tasks.

Are smart appliances worth it for your home?

Smart appliances can be worth it when remote monitoring and app control fit your daily routines. The added price may make less sense if your WiFi drops often, setup adds stress or your current appliance still meets your needs.

Before upgrading, compare the purchase price with possible service needs and compatibility with your phone or home system. If your current appliance needs service, weigh repair versus replacement against how much connected laundry alerts, oven preheat controls or maintenance notifications would help your family.

Smart appliance FAQs

These practical questions can help you decide whether connected appliances fit your home, routine and budget.

Can smart appliances work without internet access?

Without internet access, smart appliances operate like a regular appliance, but smart features may not be available. You can usually run basic cycles and settings without internet access, using the appliance’s physical controls. A WiFi connection typically powers connected features like mobile app control, remote monitoring, alerts, voice commands and software updates, so check the owner’s manual for model-specific details.

Do smart appliances require a subscription?

Smart appliances typically do not require a subscription for core appliance operation. However, you will likely have to create an account to connect your appliances to an app. Some connected services, app features or third-party integrations may vary by brand or model, so review the product details and app terms before you buy.

Explore Whirlpool^® smart washers and dryers

Select Whirlpool^® Smart Laundry Appliances can help busy families keep laundry moving with connected features that support remote monitoring and helpful cycle updates from a compatible app. Select Whirlpool^® Washers help you manage laundry day from anywhere by assigning family members the next laundry step from the Whirlpool^® App. Send customized text messages for transferring a load to the dryer or folding clean clothes.¹ Explore Whirlpool^® Smart Washers and Whirlpool^® Smart Dryers to find laundry pairs that can make everyday tasks feel manageable.