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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

LIFX vs Amazon Alexa

LIFX logo

LIFX

IoT & Smart Home

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Amazon Alexa logo

Amazon Alexa

IoT & Smart Home

Amazon's voice-controlled smart home ecosystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Amazon Alexa has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Amazon Alexa amazon Alexa is a free consumer app (per Apple App Store listing under AMZN Mobile LLC) with no subscription required for core voice assistant functionality; premium content and some skills route through separate Amazon subscriptions such as Prime and Amazon Music
  • They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LIFX and Amazon Alexa actually diverge.

Attributes where LIFX and Amazon Alexa differ
AttributeLIFXAmazon Alexa
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, Android, Windows, MacOSEcho devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS
Founded20121994

Identical on both: 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 LIFX

  • No Hub Required
  • 16 Million Colors
  • WiFi Direct
  • High Brightness
  • HomeKit
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings

Only in Amazon Alexa

  • Voice Control
  • Skills Library
  • Routines
  • Multi-Room Audio
  • 100,000+ skills
  • Ring
  • Blink
  • Fire TV

Both cover

  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

LIFX

  • Ambient lightingnot Amazon Alexa
  • Gaming setupnot Amazon Alexa
  • Photography lightingnot Amazon Alexa
  • Smart homenot Amazon Alexa

Amazon Alexa

  • Voice-controlled homenot LIFX
  • Smart shoppingnot LIFX
  • Entertainmentnot LIFX
  • Home securitynot LIFX

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Amazon Alexa

  • Amazon Alexa is a free consumer app (per Apple App Store listing under AMZN Mobile LLC) with no subscription required for core voice assistant functionality; premium content and some skills route through separate Amazon subscriptions such as Prime and Amazon Music

Pricing, plan by plan

LIFX

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

Amazon Alexa

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Voice control
    • Skills
    • Smart home control
  • Alexa Guard Plus$4.99/month
    • Emergency response
    • Hands-free calling
    • Enhanced alerts

Which should you pick?

Choose LIFX if

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

Choose Amazon Alexa if

  • You need voice control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Echo devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS.
  • You also want skills library.
Amazon Alexa review

Questions people ask

Is LIFX or Amazon Alexa better?
Neither clearly leads. LIFX starts at On request and Amazon Alexa at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LIFX or Amazon Alexa?
Amazon Alexa has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for LIFX and Free for Amazon Alexa.
Does LIFX or Amazon Alexa run on more platforms?
LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS. Amazon Alexa runs on Echo devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS.
Can I use Amazon Alexa for free?
Yes. Amazon Alexa has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LIFX starts at On request.
What is LIFX best used for?
LIFX is most often used for ambient lighting, gaming setup, photography lighting, smart home. Of those, ambient lighting and gaming setup are not what Amazon Alexa is typically brought in for.
What can LIFX do that Amazon Alexa cannot?
LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, Skills Library, Routines, Multi-Room Audio. Both handle IOS support, Android support.
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