EXPERT ADVICE
What are the benefits of smart and digital showers?
Updated 07/26
By: Emma Potter
Reviewed: Content Team
Scorching hot or freezing cold water, leaking or limescaled valves? If that sounds like your daily shower, a digital or smart shower could be worth the investment. Here's what each actually offers, and the trade-offs to weigh up first.
The difference between a digital and a smart shower
The real benefits of each
The genuine downsides worth knowing before you commit
Roughly what to budget for
Whether low water pressure is a problem
Who to hire for installation
Read on to find out which type is right for you, and what to budget for.
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What is a digital shower, and how does it work?
A digital shower lets you control water temperature and flow through a one-touch digital interface mounted on the shower wall, with the mixer and processor tucked away in a cupboard or cavity wall for a streamlined look.
What is a smart shower, and how does it work?
A smart shower goes further by connecting to your home network, letting you monitor and control your shower more precisely from a connected device. It's part of the same wave of smart home technology as thermostats and smart locks.
What are the benefits of a digital shower?
A digital shower's benefits fall into four areas: convenience, energy efficiency, safety, and design.
Convenience
Pre-set your ideal temperature and flow for a consistent shower every time
Programmed cleaning cycles help prevent limescale build-up
Energy efficiency
Water-saving eco modes reduce wastage
Programmable shower duration, useful if anyone in the household tends to run long showers
Safety
Pre-set temperatures help protect children from scalding
No exposed hot valves for little ones to touch
Modern design
The mixing unit or processor is hidden away, giving a sleek, streamlined look
What are the benefits of a smart shower?
On top of everything above, connecting to your home network lets you:
Set individual profiles for each household member's preferred temperature and flow
Track water usage to help monitor your bills
Use voice activation, useful for anyone with reduced mobility
Water efficiency matters with any shower, smart or not. Our guide to water-saving showers covers low-flow technology and a new UK labelling scheme worth knowing about.
What are the disadvantages of a digital or smart shower?
There are three main downsides to weigh up: cost, installation, and tech reliance.
Cost
Digital and smart showers cost more upfront than a traditional mixer shower, and installation should be handled by a professional plumber.
Installation
The processor needs space in one of these:
Behind a wall
In a cupboard
In the loft
Fit an access panel too, in case of a future fault.
Tech reliance
Some people take longer to get used to the digital interface, and as with any connected device, expect the occasional glitch, particularly after a power outage.
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What's the average cost of digital and smart showers?
Digital and smart showers cost more than standard mixer or electric showers, partly due to the technology involved and partly because installation can take longer, since the processor needs fitting into a loft space or cavity wall. Our shower installation cost guide has current pricing across shower types, including digital and smart models.
Shower installation: Cost breakdown 2026
Having trouble with your shower? We've put together this guide on the cost of installing a replacement shower unit (including the pump, pipework and shower head) to help you manage your budget for the project.
Do digital showers work with low water pressure?
Not automatically. Some digital showers pre-set flow rate for more consistent pressure, but if your home has genuinely low water pressure, you may need an integrated or separate pump. Check this with your plumber before buying, since it can affect which models are actually suitable for your home.
Before you buy
Find a pro to install your smart or digital shower
Getting this installed correctly matters, both for performance and to avoid damaging the components. Hire an experienced plumber for the job.
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FAQs
Both offer a digital interface, but only a smart shower connects to your home WiFi, giving you control and monitoring from outside the house too.
Once installed, running costs should be similar to a traditional mixer or electric shower, and you may save money using the water-saving eco modes.
Not directly, though some let you pre-set flow rate for more consistent pressure. If your home has low pressure, you may need a pump.
Some have an integrated pump to boost flow, particularly useful in homes with low water pressure. Check with your plumber whether your specific home needs one.
Key takeaways
Choose a digital shower for a sleek, one-touch interface with consistent temperature and flow
Choose a smart shower if you also want usage tracking, individual profiles, or voice control
Both cost more upfront than a standard mixer shower, and need professional installation
If you'd rather avoid the tech and occasional glitches, a traditional mixer shower remains a solid choice
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