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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

LIFX vs Govee

LIFX logo

LIFX

IoT & Smart Home

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Govee logo

Govee

IoT & Smart Home

Colorful smart home and lighting solutions

From
On request
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.; Govee products are sold individually at hardware prices, e.g. the Uplighter Floor Lamp lists at 179.99 USD and the TV Backlight 3 Lite at 69.99 USD, rather than bundled into a subscription
  • They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, Govee covers RGBIC technology.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LIFX and Govee actually diverge.

Attributes where LIFX and Govee differ
AttributeLIFXGovee
PlatformsIOS, Android, Windows, MacOSIOS, Android
Founded20122017

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (one-time), 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
  • HomeKit
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings

Only in Govee

  • RGBIC technology
  • Music sync
  • DreamView
  • DIY scenes
  • Timer
  • Voice control
  • Amazon Alexa
  • Google Assistant

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 Govee
  • Gaming setup
  • Photography lightingnot Govee
  • Smart homenot Govee

Govee

  • Gaming setup
  • TV ambient lightingnot LIFX
  • Room decornot LIFX
  • Outdoor lightingnot LIFX

Both are used for gaming setup, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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.

Govee

  • Products are sold individually at hardware prices, e.g. the Uplighter Floor Lamp lists at 179.99 USD and the TV Backlight 3 Lite at 69.99 USD, rather than bundled into a subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

LIFX

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

Govee

On request
  • LED Strip Lights$20/month
    • Music sync
    • App control
    • Voice control
  • TV Backlights$70/month
    • Camera-based sync
    • RGBIC
    • Scene modes
  • Outdoor Lights$100/month
    • Weather resistant
    • RGBIC
    • Smart control

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 Govee if

  • You need rgbic technology.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want music sync.
Govee review

Questions people ask

Is LIFX or Govee better?
Neither clearly leads. LIFX starts at On request and Govee at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LIFX or Govee?
LIFX starts at On request and Govee at On request.
Does LIFX or Govee run on more platforms?
LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS. Govee runs on 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 photography lighting are not what Govee is typically brought in for.
What can LIFX do that Govee cannot?
LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. Govee covers RGBIC technology, Music sync, DreamView, DIY scenes. Both handle IOS support, Android support.
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