# Using bridges or connecting directly to Homey? **URL:** https://community.homey.app/t/using-bridges-or-connecting-directly-to-homey/154700 **Category:** Questions & Help **Created:** [May 9, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/using-bridges-or-connecting-directly-to-homey/154700 "2026-05-09T17:21:40Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Showing post:** 10
### Author: ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG) #### Post date: [May 10, 2026, 10:09am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/using-bridges-or-connecting-directly-to-homey/154700/10 "2026-05-10T10:09:54Z")
I try to avoid using additional bridges as much as possible. For example, I use Philips Hue lights, bulbs, and sensors without a Philips Hue bridge. It works perfectly for my needs. One of the advantages of using additional bridges is that firmware updates can be installed on the connected devices. Hopefully, this will soon be a thing of the past once Homey allows OTA updates for Z-Wave, Zigbee, and Matter devices. **Edit** Inspired by this post, I created a poll. My main goal is to hopefully get more votes, but not to start big discussions. I would appreciate it if you would all give your vote. > [@bar\_chart Poll: Do you use Homey with or without additional bridges?](https://community.homey.app/t/poll-do-you-use-homey-with-or-without-additional-bridges/154723): > > Inspired by the thread “[Using bridges or connecting directly to Homey?](https://community.homey.app/t/using-bridges-or-connecting-directly-to-homey/154700)”, I’d like to know if you use your Homey with or without additional bridges. Before voting, please read the additional explanations in the information_source footnotes. Only one vote per person is allowed. [poll](https://community.homey.app/t/poll-do-you-use-homey-with-or-without-additional-bridges/154723/1)information_source Footnotes: \*¹ This means that communication is only possible via an additional bridge, such as those used by Somfy, EcoWitt, etc., or that the device is not currently supported by Homey; keywo… --- _[View the full topic](https://community.homey.app/t/using-bridges-or-connecting-directly-to-homey/154700)._