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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Hubitat Elevation vs Philips Hue

Hubitat Elevation logo

Hubitat Elevation

IoT & Smart Home

Local home automation hub for advanced users

From
$189.95/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Philips Hue logo

Philips Hue

IoT & Smart Home

Smart lighting system with millions of colors

From
$119.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hubitat Elevation limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms; Philips Hue bridge requirement adds $100+ to initial cost and requires Ethernet connection despite marketing some wireless features
  • They diverge on capability: Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, Philips Hue covers 16 Million Colors.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hubitat Elevation and Philips Hue actually diverge.

Attributes where Hubitat Elevation and Philips Hue differ
AttributeHubitat ElevationPhilips Hue
Starting price$189.95/one-time$119.99/one-time
PlatformsLocal hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android)iOS, Android, Web
Founded20162018

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Hubitat Elevation

  • Local Processing
  • Rule Machine
  • Z-Wave Plus
  • Zigbee 3.0
  • Dashboard
  • Voice assistants
  • Custom apps
  • MQTT

Only in Philips Hue

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

What people use each for

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

Hubitat Elevation

  • Advanced automationnot Philips Hue
  • Local controlnot Philips Hue
  • Complex rulesnot Philips Hue
  • Multi-protocol integrationnot Philips Hue

Philips Hue

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

Where each one falls short

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

Hubitat Elevation

  • Limited app ecosystem compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Home platforms
  • Requires purchase of hub hardware; no free tier

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

Hubitat Elevation

$189.95/one-time
  • Hub Hardware$189.95/one-time
    • Z-Wave Plus 800 and Zigbee 3.0
    • Matter 1.5 support
    • Local automation engine
  • Cloud Backup (optional)$30/year
    • Cloud backup of automations
    • Automatic backups
  • Remote Admin (optional)$36/year
    • Remote access via cloud
    • Mobile app remote control

Philips Hue

$119.99/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Philips Hue review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Hubitat Elevation if

  • You need local processing.
  • You work on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android).
  • You also want rule machine.
Hubitat Elevation 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 Hubitat Elevation or Philips Hue better?
Neither clearly leads. Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time 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, Hubitat Elevation or Philips Hue?
Hubitat Elevation starts at $189.95/one-time and Philips Hue at $119.99/one-time.
Does Hubitat Elevation or Philips Hue run on more platforms?
Hubitat Elevation runs on Local hub (Model C-8), Local hub (Model C-7), Mobile app (iOS and Android). Philips Hue runs on iOS, Android, Web.
What is Hubitat Elevation best used for?
Hubitat Elevation is most often used for advanced automation, local control, complex rules, multi-protocol integration. Of those, advanced automation and local control are not what Philips Hue is typically brought in for.
What can Hubitat Elevation do that Philips Hue cannot?
Hubitat Elevation covers Local Processing, Rule Machine, Z-Wave Plus, Zigbee 3.0. Philips Hue covers 16 Million Colors, White Ambiance, Schedules, Geofencing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat require a cloud connection or subscription?

No. All automations and device control run locally without cloud dependency. Hubitat does not require subscriptions for core features; optional cloud backup ($30/year) and remote admin ($36/year) are available.

Source
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
Hubitat Elevation: How many devices can Hubitat control?

The Hubitat Elevation Model C-8 supports 1,000+ devices across 100+ brands through Zigbee, Z-Wave 800 Long Range, Matter 1.5, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi protocols.

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
Hubitat Elevation: Does Hubitat work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit?

Yes. Hubitat integrates with Alexa and Google Home for voice control, and also supports Apple HomeKit via direct integration for HomeKit devices.

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
Hubitat Elevation: What is the difference between the C-7 and C-8 models?

The C-8 ($189.95) features Z-Wave Plus 800, Zigbee 3.0, and expanded memory for handling complex automation. The C-7 is an older model with fewer protocol options and lower performance.

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
Hubitat Elevation: Can I access my hub remotely?

Yes. Local area network (LAN) access is always available. Remote access via the Hubitat mobile app and cloud services requires an optional subscription ($36/year for remote admin).

Source
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