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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Ecobee vs LIFX

Ecobee logo

Ecobee

IoT & Smart Home

Smart thermostats with room sensors for whole-home comfort

From
$139.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LIFX logo

LIFX

IoT & Smart Home

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ecobee installation requires a C-wire in most cases, necessitating professional installation for some users unfamiliar with HVAC wiring; LIFX the Internet Archive's capture of LIFX's products page on 19 July 2016 priced the White 800 bulb at $39.99 USD (890 lumens) and the Color 1000 bulb at $59.99 USD (1,055 lumens); this is a 2016 capture and current prices likely differ.
  • They diverge on capability: Ecobee covers Room Sensors, LIFX covers No Hub Required.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ecobee and LIFX actually diverge.

Attributes where Ecobee and LIFX differ
AttributeEcobeeLIFX
Starting price$139.99/one-timeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidIOS, Android, Windows, MacOS
Founded20072012

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home).

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 Ecobee

  • Room Sensors
  • Built-in Alexa
  • Energy Reports
  • Smart Recovery
  • IFTTT
  • Web support
  • Alexa built-in support

Only in LIFX

  • No Hub Required
  • 16 Million Colors
  • WiFi Direct
  • High Brightness
  • Alexa
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support

Both cover

  • HomeKit
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ecobee

  • Energy savingsnot LIFX
  • Multi-room comfortnot LIFX
  • HVAC optimizationnot LIFX
  • Remote climate controlnot LIFX

LIFX

  • Ambient lightingnot Ecobee
  • Gaming setupnot Ecobee
  • Photography lightingnot Ecobee
  • Smart homenot Ecobee

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Ecobee

  • Installation requires a C-wire in most cases, necessitating professional installation for some users unfamiliar with HVAC wiring
  • Not compatible with line-voltage baseboard heating systems without additional specialized controllers
  • Touchscreen display is prone to fingerprints and cannot be adjusted from the mobile app
  • Advanced settings interface can feel complex and technical for non-technical users
  • Display settings and customization options are limited to on-device configuration only

LIFX

  • The Internet Archive's capture of LIFX's products page on 19 July 2016 priced the White 800 bulb at $39.99 USD (890 lumens) and the Color 1000 bulb at $59.99 USD (1,055 lumens); this is a 2016 capture and current prices likely differ.

Pricing, plan by plan

Ecobee

$139.99/one-time
  • Smart Thermostat Essential$139.99/one-time
    • Up to 23% energy savings
    • ENERGY STAR certified
    • Remote app control
  • Smart Thermostat Enhanced$199.99/one-time
    • Up to 26% energy savings
    • Built-in Alexa voice control
    • HomeKit compatible
  • Smart Thermostat Premium$259.99/one-time
    • Up to 26% energy savings
    • Built-in radar occupancy sensor
    • Indoor air quality monitoring

LIFX

On request
  • LIFX Bulb$40/month
    • 16M colors
    • WiFi direct
    • No hub required

Which should you pick?

Choose Ecobee if

  • You need room sensors.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want built-in alexa.
Ecobee review

Choose LIFX if

  • You need no hub required.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS.
  • You also want 16 million colors.
LIFX review

Questions people ask

Is Ecobee or LIFX better?
Neither clearly leads. Ecobee starts at $139.99/one-time and LIFX at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ecobee or LIFX?
Ecobee starts at $139.99/one-time and LIFX at On request.
Does Ecobee or LIFX run on more platforms?
Ecobee runs on Web, iOS, Android. LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS.
What is Ecobee best used for?
Ecobee is most often used for energy savings, multi-room comfort, hvac optimization, remote climate control. Of those, energy savings and multi-room comfort are not what LIFX is typically brought in for.
What can Ecobee do that LIFX cannot?
Ecobee covers Room Sensors, Built-in Alexa, Energy Reports, Smart Recovery. LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. Both handle HomeKit, Google Home, SmartThings, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ecobee: How much can I save with an Ecobee thermostat?

Ecobee thermostats can save up to 26% on annual heating and cooling costs according to manufacturer claims. However, independent ENERGY STAR data shows average savings of around 8%, equating to $50-$100 annually for typical U.S. homes.

Source
Ecobee: Does Ecobee work with HomeKit?

Yes, Ecobee is HomeKit-enabled and was the first to introduce a HomeKit-compatible smart thermostat. The Premium and Enhanced models support Apple HomeKit and allow control via Siri from any Apple device.

Source
Ecobee: What is a SmartSensor and what does it do?

Ecobee SmartSensors are wireless remote temperature and occupancy sensors that detect which rooms are occupied. They allow the thermostat to balance heating and cooling to occupied rooms and ignore empty spaces, improving both comfort and efficiency.

Source
Ecobee: Do I need a C-wire to install Ecobee?

Most installations require a C-wire for reliable operation. Ecobee includes a Power Extender Kit to help with installations lacking a C-wire, but some DIYers may still need professional installation assistance.

Source
Ecobee: What voice assistants does Ecobee support?

Ecobee supports Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings for voice control. The Premium model has built-in Alexa and Siri, while Enhanced and Essential models support all platforms via integration.

Source
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