For an updated list of best places to shop for smart devices, visit GearBran's 7 Best Places to Shop for Smart Devices 2019.

If you've never bought a smart home device — or don't know where to look — the search can get pretty frustrating. You don't know which stores will give you the best deals or if it's better just to buy online.

In addition, there are so many deals out there that comparing ten or so sites can be a chore that takes an entire day. Who has that sort of time?

Here are five of the best places to get IoT or smart devices. Start your search here and expand it once you're more comfortable.

Aside from Alexa devices, Amazon has a number of smart devices for sale on its siteiStock

Amazon

Amazon is one of the biggest e-commerce websites. Its inventory seems almost unlimited, so it makes sense that this would be one of the best places to start your search. Not only does Amazon have a huge selection of wireless and connected devices, but it also makes its own—you can get an Amazon Echo or one of its other Alexa-enabled devices right on the website.

This site also has some of the best deals — cyber holidays like Deals Week, Black Friday, Cyber Monday or Prime Day will drop the prices of smart devices so low you'll be in a hurry to catch them.

With physical stores, Best Buy lets you look at smart home devices in person before you buyiStock

Best Buy

Beating out Circuit City and Radio Shack, Best Buy is now one of the main electronics and electronic accessories retailers. On top of that, they have their deals and savings right on the front page of its website. And with an entire category just for smart home items, you know you're getting the full selection.

Target is known for its discounts, and they are often applied to smart home devicesiStock

Target

Target is a bit like Amazon if it looked like if they were a retail store. The place has everything from clothes and food to electronics and beauty supplies. During the holiday season, they have loads of deals, such as free shipping and commonplace.

Some of Target's main IoT categories include drones, VR, and smart home automation devices. Be sure to search for a deal, which is easy to do right from the main search on the website.

Online store Smart Home is known for smart devicesiStock

Online Smart Home Superstores

Would you rather shop online and have even better deals? Online superstore Smart Home only sells smart devices — this way, you can spend less time shifting through useless categories and get right to the specificities.

Walmart is another physical store known for rollbacks, as well as smart home devicesiStock

Walmart isn't just for your late-night Cheetos run anymore. The superstore now has a bunch of smart home and wearable devices. With "Rollbacks" happening right now, you'll also get a good deal on a holiday present. If you're an organization buying smart devices, you can also see if you're available for the Walmart Tax Exemption Program — this way you won't be charged extra for your products.

This list is not all-encompassing, and different stores have better prices at different times of the year. If you see a deal at another retailer that you know can't go any lower, chances are it won't. So don't test your luck — and don't waste any good opportunities. If you need any additional information, check out GearBrain's guide to learn what you need to know before building a smart home.