With many more of us working at home these days, it's more important than ever to keep your home cool over the long, hot summer months.

With their energy consumption at a mere fraction of the average air conditioning unit, tower fans and standing fans are a great solution to the problem. Add to this the latest in smart technology, and you have a whole host of new options to explore.

Set timers days in advance via your smartphone, choose from different airflow speeds and modes to suit your needs, and even use voice commands to adjust your settings. Putting your comfort front and center, smart fans make keeping your home cool an absolute breeze!

Here are the best smart fans available today.

Our Favorite Smart Fans in 2023

Upgraded for 2023, the Dreo Tower Fan is a 42-inch oscillating floor fan with 12 different speeds, a 12-hour timer, and a brushless motor that provides a whisper quiet 25-decibel operation volume. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and the Dreo app allows for several customization features.

This bladeless fan has a maximum oscillation arc of 120 degrees, but this can be reduced for smaller spaces (to 90, 60, or 30 degrees). It’s powerful enough to provide super cool air coverage at speeds of 26 feet per second. It also offers an Auto Mode that can sense the ambient temperature of the room and adjusts fan speeds to provide efficient cooling without the need for you to lift a finger.

An easy-to-remove rear grill makes the Dreo Tower a doddle to clean, and it’s easy to install as well. The ability to control this smart fan with voice commands, via the app, or remote control makes it versatile and convenient. And with a wealth of customizations to explore, this is ideal for bedrooms or living spaces during the hot months.

Another high and mighty option for the home this summer is the Govee Life 42-inch Smart Tower Fan. It is compatible with voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, offers eight different speeds with four modes, and can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance. This Wi-Fi-enabled fan can cover 25 feet per second and runs at a respectably quiet 27 decibels.

It has an 80-degree arc of oscillation and features an auto-mode that self-adjusts this bladeless fan to accommodate ambient temperature, providing energy-efficient cooling. As a bonus, the Govee Life is fitted with an aromatherapy box at the front, which allows you to drop a blob or two of your favorite scented oil inside and enjoy a relaxing aroma as well as a refreshing cool breeze.

The Govee app lets you adjust fan speeds, select from different modes, set timers, and more. Or if you prefer, there's an LED display on top of the fan itself for on-the-spot programming. The air inlet grill is easy enough to remove and clean, and it’s portable enough to be easily relocated into a different part of the home if needed.

If you’re after a table fan with smart features that won’t cause your savings to evaporate in the heat this summer, then look no further than this Govee Table Fan. This nine-inch, bladed desk fan has eight different speed settings, a 24-hour timer, and an Auto Mode. It also allows for hands-free operation with Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility.

This table fan runs at 33 decibels, so it's quiet enough to sit on a bedside table at nighttime without being too disruptive. It offers Sleep Mode, Nature Mode, and Turbo Mode to meet your needs, and the Govee app allows for custom settings and operations to be made remotely.

Touch panel controls at the back of the fan allow for simple adjustments to be made the old-fashioned way, and it is of course lightweight and easily transported to other rooms or destinations. Ideal for a blast of cool air beside the bed, or to keep you refreshed at your desk while working, the Govee Table Fan is perfect for cooling smaller spaces.

For a few dollars more than the Govee equivalent, Dreo has a slightly larger 11-inch desktop fan, that offers some slightly upgraded features. This Dreo Smart Fan offers six modes, nine speeds, and a 12-hour timer. It also offers voice control functionality, via Alexa or Google Assistant.

Dreo TurboSilent X technology helps create a 1082 CFM airflow, making this fan effective at distances of up to 110 feet. Oscillation can be set vertically or horizontally, at arcs of 90 degrees and 120 degrees, respectively. And it runs at an impressively quiet 25 decibels, too.

Set schedules, select fan speeds, modes, and more, with the Dreo app, and even set the brightness levels on the LED display on the stand. And with additional safety features such as a child lock built-in, there’s plenty to recommend with this smart fan. Small in stature, but big on power, it offers a great solution to those hot and humid summer days.

At a similar price point to the Dreo Tower Fan, is the Lasko 40-inch Tower Fan. Slightly smaller in height, it nevertheless offers plenty in terms of functionality and features. Wi-Fi connected, and with Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, this smart fan is powered by the Aria app.

There are five fan speeds here, a nine-hour timer, and an oscillation arc of 90 degrees. All these features can of course be remotely controlled vis the Aria app, as well as through the on-board control panel. And if the LED display on the control panel is an unwanted distraction, the Aria app features a Dark Mode setting which switches off this display after five seconds, if engaged.

With fan speeds up to 1550 RPM and a coverage of 385 cubic feet per minute, this smart tower fan is effective for medium- and large-sized rooms. It's powerful and efficient, yet lacks a few of the finer features offered by some of its peers. However, if you’re happy with the 90-degree oscillation and fewer fan speeds to choose from, this is still a very high-quality smart tower fan to consider.

For smaller budgets that still want a bigger fan, this Aigostar Smart Tower Fan might accommodate your needs. Standing 40-inches high, this bladeless fan provides a 24-hour timer function, with three modes and three specs to choose from.

It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can still enjoy voice control functionality. It offers oscillation of up to 70 degrees and runs at a reasonable 35 decibels. And there are some more streamlined customization options available through the Aigosmart app.

It’s not the quietest, doesn’t have the best coverage, and doesn’t have the most customizable features. However, for the price, it does represent value for money. And for medium-sized spaces, there’s still plenty to admire here. And for considerably less than $100, it’s a bit of a steal.

The Vornado 660 AE is a large air circulator fan designed for tabletops. It features an air-tensity spiral grill and offers four fan speeds. Effective up to 100 feet, there’s plenty of power to enjoy here. It’s compatible with Alexa and can therefore respond to voice commands, or be remotely operated via the Alexa app.

A pivoting head means the Vornado 660 AE can be adjusted to direct the airflow where you need it to go, up to 90 degrees. It can tilt vertically or horizontally, making it versatile as well as convenient to use. Its spiral airflow design is effective at circulating the air around the room, cooling it efficiently.

Unfortunately, this level of power and efficiency comes at a price. Namely, how noisy it is. Running at 54 decibels, this powerful desktop fan is probably not the one to have next to your bed. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but worth bearing in mind that this unit does run a little noisier than its desktop counterparts.

Choosing the Right Smart Fan for You

If you're considering investing in a smart fan to keep cool this summer, there are a few things to think about.

Firstly, what will you be using it for, primarily? Is it to keep larger living spaces cool, or do you want something for smaller rooms, like a home office, or a bedroom?

If it's the former, you might want to consider a larger-sized tower fan, such as the Govee Life 42-inch Tower Fan. It provides decent coverage to accommodate larger spaces, is compatible with voice assistants, and offers a reasonable amount of scope for customization. It runs reasonably quietly, so you won't struggle to hear your media or each other while it's running. Plus, it offers an aromatherapy box, so you can enjoy a fresh scent of your choice as it cools the room.

If you're looking for something that can sit on your desk while you work, or beside the bed as you sleep, then the Govee Table Fan is ideal. It offers many of the same customizable features as its tower-sized counterparts, including Alexa voice control, but is less intrusive. And with a much more budget-friendly price tag, it's perfect for keeping smaller spaces cool during the long, hot summer.

But if you're looking for the best all-rounder, then the Dreo 42-Inch Tower Fan is the best-in-class option. This large, bladeless smart fan offers an oscillation arc of up to 120 degrees, which outdoes the bulk of the competition. It works with Alexa or Google Assistant and offers 12 different fan speeds. It runs at just 25 decibels, which is far quieter than most, and has an Auto Mode which makes it even more effortless to operate. For our money, it's the best way to keep cool this summer.