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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

LIFX vs Ecobee

LIFX logo

LIFX

IoT & Smart Home

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ecobee logo

Ecobee

IoT & Smart Home

Smart thermostats with room sensors for whole-home comfort

From
$139.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Ecobee installation requires a C-wire in most cases, necessitating professional installation for some users unfamiliar with HVAC wiring
  • They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, Ecobee covers Room Sensors.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LIFX and Ecobee actually diverge.

Attributes where LIFX and Ecobee differ
AttributeLIFXEcobee
Starting priceOn request$139.99/one-time
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
PlatformsIOS, Android, Windows, MacOSWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20122007

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 LIFX

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

Only in Ecobee

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

LIFX

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

Ecobee

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

LIFX

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

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

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 Ecobee if

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

Questions people ask

Is LIFX or Ecobee better?
Neither clearly leads. LIFX starts at On request and Ecobee at $139.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LIFX or Ecobee?
LIFX starts at On request and Ecobee at $139.99/one-time.
Does LIFX or Ecobee run on more platforms?
LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS. Ecobee runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 Ecobee is typically brought in for.
What can LIFX do that Ecobee cannot?
LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. Ecobee covers Room Sensors, Built-in Alexa, Energy Reports, Smart Recovery. 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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