Do I need a hub for smart bulbs?

No, not for most picks here. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth bulbs from Govee, Kasa, Linkind and DAYBETTER connect directly to a 2.4GHz network and pair with Alexa or Google Home with no hub. Philips Hue is the exception: the color A19 bulbs are most reliable on the Hue Bridge, and reviewers across r/smarthome repeatedly cite that hub as the reason Hue stays more stable than hub-less systems.