Software · head to head
LIFX vs ESPHome
The short version
- Only ESPHome 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.; ESPHome eSPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects
- They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, ESPHome covers YAML Configuration.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which LIFX and ESPHome actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 LIFX
- No Hub Required
- 16 Million Colors
- WiFi Direct
- High Brightness
- HomeKit
- Alexa
- Google Home
- SmartThings
Only in ESPHome
- YAML Configuration
- OTA Updates
- Home Assistant Native
- Custom Components
- Home Assistant
- MQTT
- API
- Native integration
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
LIFX
- Ambient lightingnot ESPHome
- Gaming setupnot ESPHome
- Photography lightingnot ESPHome
- Smart homenot ESPHome
ESPHome
- Building custom smart home sensors and switches on ESP32 hardwarenot LIFX
- Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based devices with locally controlled firmwarenot LIFX
- Integrating DIY devices into Home Assistant over a native API or MQTTnot 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.
ESPHome
- ESPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects
- Support for ESP32-H2, RP2040 and other newer chips is documented as less mature
- Large displays and some sensors do not work well on ESP8266 because of its limited RAM, which is roughly a fifth of an ESP32
Pricing, plan by plan
LIFX
On request- LIFX Bulb$40/month
- 16M colors
- WiFi direct
- No hub required
ESPHome
Free- CommunityFree
- Full firmware
- Home Assistant integration
- Custom sensors
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.
Choose ESPHome if
- You need yaml configuration.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
- You also want ota updates.
Questions people ask
- Is LIFX or ESPHome better?
- Neither clearly leads. LIFX starts at On request and ESPHome at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, LIFX or ESPHome?
- ESPHome has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for LIFX and Free for ESPHome.
- Does LIFX or ESPHome run on more platforms?
- LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS. ESPHome runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
- Can I use ESPHome for free?
- Yes. ESPHome 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 ESPHome is typically brought in for.
- What can LIFX do that ESPHome cannot?
- LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, OTA Updates, Home Assistant Native, Custom Components.