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Homey vs Philips Hue

Homey logo

Homey

Software

Connect all your smart home devices in one app

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Philips Hue logo

Philips Hue

Software

Smart lighting system with millions of colors

From
$119.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Homey homey Cloud without a subscription connects at most 5 devices; Philips Hue bridge requirement adds $100+ to initial cost and requires Ethernet connection despite marketing some wireless features
  • They diverge on capability: Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Philips Hue covers 16 Million Colors.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Homey and Philips Hue actually diverge.

Attributes where Homey and Philips Hue differ
AttributeHomeyPhilips Hue
Starting priceOn request$119.99/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Founded20142018

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (IOS, Android, Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Homey

  • Multi-protocol support
  • Advanced flows
  • Voice control
  • Energy insights
  • Timeline
  • Zones
  • Google Assistant
  • Amazon Alexa

Only in Philips Hue

  • 16 Million Colors
  • White Ambiance
  • Schedules
  • Geofencing
  • HomeKit
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings

Both cover

  • IOS support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Homey

  • Bringing Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices from different brands into one appnot Philips Hue
  • Building home automations visually with Flownot Philips Hue
  • Charting device and sensor history through Insightsnot Philips Hue

Philips Hue

  • Smart lighting control and automationnot Homey
  • Ambient and mood lighting scenesnot Homey
  • Motion-triggered security lightingnot Homey
  • Camera and contact-sensor monitoring via Hue Securenot Homey
  • Syncing lights to TV or gaming (entertainment sync)not Homey

Where each one falls short

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

Homey

  • Homey Cloud without a subscription connects at most 5 devices
  • Unlimited devices require the Homey Premium subscription at $2.99 per month
  • Advanced Flow, Insights, and Logic and Variables are locked behind Homey Premium
  • The free month of Premium is only offered to new subscribers signing up through iOS or Android

Philips Hue

  • Bridge requirement adds $100+ to initial cost and requires Ethernet connection despite marketing some wireless features
  • Shift toward walled garden model with restricted third-party compatibility after previously supporting open ecosystem
  • Automations advertised as automatic require manual per-day setup despite bridge ownership

Pricing, plan by plan

Homey

On request
  • Homey Pro$399/month
    • Local processing
    • 1000+ apps
    • Advanced flows
  • Homey Bridge$69/month
    • Cloud processing
    • 500+ apps
    • Basic flows

Philips Hue

$119.99/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Philips Hue review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Homey if

  • You need multi-protocol support.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want advanced flows.
Homey review

Choose Philips Hue if

  • You need 16 million colors.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want white ambiance.
Philips Hue review

Questions people ask

Is Homey or Philips Hue better?
Neither clearly leads. Homey starts at On request and Philips Hue at $119.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Homey or Philips Hue?
Homey starts at On request and Philips Hue at $119.99/one-time.
Does Homey or Philips Hue run on more platforms?
Homey runs on IOS, Android, Web. Philips Hue runs on iOS, Android, Web.
What is Homey best used for?
Homey is most often used for bringing zigbee, z-wave, wi-fi and bluetooth devices from different brands into one app, building home automations visually with flow, charting device and sensor history through insights. Of those, bringing zigbee, z-wave, wi-fi and bluetooth devices from different brands into one app and building home automations visually with flow are not what Philips Hue is typically brought in for.
What can Homey do that Philips Hue cannot?
Homey covers Multi-protocol support, Advanced flows, Voice control, Energy insights. Philips Hue covers 16 Million Colors, White Ambiance, Schedules, Geofencing. Both handle IOS support, Android support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Philips Hue: Does Philips Hue require a bridge to operate?

A Hue Bridge is required for full functionality including automations, remote access, and multi-room setup. While some basic features may work without a bridge, advanced automations and remote control require the Bridge to be connected via Ethernet.

Source
Philips Hue: What platforms and voice assistants does Philips Hue support?

Philips Hue supports Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Matter protocol for cross-platform compatibility. The Hue Bridge acts as a gateway for these integrations.

Source
Philips Hue: What is the price of a Philips Hue starter kit?

A typical starter kit including the Hue Bridge and 4 color bulbs costs $119.99 USD and provides access to all four major smart home ecosystems plus Matter compatibility. Individual bulbs start from approximately $23.99.

Source
Philips Hue: Can Philips Hue bulbs be paired directly without a Bridge?

Yes. Philips Hue bulbs can connect directly via Bluetooth for basic lighting control without requiring a Bridge. However, using the Hue Bridge provides full feature access including advanced automations, remote access, and support for Matter and other smart home integrations.

Source
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