IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Aqara vs Meross
Aqara
IoT & Smart Home
Smart home sensors and automation ecosystem
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Meross
IoT & Smart Home
Affordable smart home devices with HomeKit support
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- They diverge on capability: Aqara covers Zigbee protocol, Meross covers No hub required.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Aqara and Meross actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (one-time), free tier (No), platforms (IOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home), founded (2016).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Aqara
- Zigbee protocol
- Sensor ecosystem
- Automation scenes
- Long battery life
- Local processing
- IFTTT
Only in Meross
- No hub required
- Energy monitoring
- Schedules
- Voice control
- Scene automation
- SmartThings
Both cover
- Apple HomeKit
- Apple HomeKit
- Google Assistant
- Amazon Alexa
- Home Assistant
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Aqara
- Smart home sensors, switches and cameras on Zigbeenot Meross
- Automations across HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThingsnot Meross
- Matter-based smart home setupsnot Meross
- Door locks and curtain controllers tied to routinesnot Meross
Meross
- Smart plugsnot Aqara
- Lighting controlnot Aqara
- Garage automationnot Aqara
- Energy monitoringnot Aqara
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Aqara
- A hub is required for full functionality, and Matter accessories need a Matter controller such as the Hub M3 configured in Aqara Home first
- Primarily a hardware company, so the app exists to run devices you have bought
- Zigbee devices depend on the hub remaining supported
Meross
Nothing recorded yet. See the Meross review.
Pricing, plan by plan
Aqara
On request- Door Sensor$15/month
- Zigbee
- Long battery
- Instant alerts
- Motion Sensor$20/month
- Light sensor
- Adjustable sensitivity
- Pet immune
- Hub M2$60/month
- Zigbee hub
- IR control
- HomeKit support
Meross
On request- Smart Plug$15/month
- WiFi
- Energy monitoring
- Voice control
- Smart Switch$25/month
- In-wall
- No neutral required option
- HomeKit
- Garage Opener$40/month
- Remote control
- Status alerts
- HomeKit
Which should you pick?
Choose Aqara if
- You need zigbee protocol.
- You work on IOS, Android.
- You also want sensor ecosystem.
Choose Meross if
- You need no hub required.
- You work on IOS, Android.
- You also want energy monitoring.
Questions people ask
- Is Aqara or Meross better?
- Neither clearly leads. Aqara starts at On request and Meross at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Aqara or Meross?
- Aqara starts at On request and Meross at On request.
- Does Aqara or Meross run on more platforms?
- Both run on IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Aqara best used for?
- Aqara is most often used for smart home sensors, switches and cameras on zigbee, automations across homekit, google home, alexa and smartthings, matter-based smart home setups, door locks and curtain controllers tied to routines. Of those, smart home sensors, switches and cameras on zigbee and automations across homekit, google home, alexa and smartthings are not what Meross is typically brought in for.
- What can Aqara do that Meross cannot?
- Aqara covers Zigbee protocol, Sensor ecosystem, Automation scenes, Long battery life. Meross covers No hub required, Energy monitoring, Schedules, Voice control. Both handle Apple HomeKit, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa.