Softwr

IoT & Smart Home · head to head

LIFX vs Meross

LIFX logo

LIFX

IoT & Smart Home

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Meross logo

Meross

IoT & Smart Home

Affordable smart home devices with HomeKit support

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, Meross covers Apple HomeKit.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LIFX and Meross actually diverge.

Attributes where LIFX and Meross differ
AttributeLIFXMeross
PlatformsIOS, Android, Windows, MacOSIOS, Android
Founded20122016

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
  • Windows support

Only in Meross

  • Apple HomeKit
  • No hub required
  • Energy monitoring
  • Schedules
  • Voice control
  • Scene automation
  • Apple HomeKit
  • Amazon Alexa

Both cover

  • SmartThings
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

LIFX

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

Meross

  • Smart plugsnot LIFX
  • Lighting controlnot LIFX
  • Garage automationnot LIFX
  • Energy monitoringnot 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.

Meross

Nothing recorded yet. See the Meross review.

Pricing, plan by plan

LIFX

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

Meross

On request
  • Smart Plug$15/month
    • WiFi
    • Energy monitoring
    • Voice control
  • Smart Switch$25/month
    • In-wall
    • No neutral required option
    • HomeKit
  • Garage Opener$40/month
    • Remote control
    • Status alerts
    • HomeKit

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 Meross if

  • You need apple homekit.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want no hub required.

Questions people ask

Is LIFX or Meross better?
Neither clearly leads. LIFX starts at On request and Meross at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LIFX or Meross?
LIFX starts at On request and Meross at On request.
Does LIFX or Meross run on more platforms?
LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS. Meross 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 gaming setup are not what Meross is typically brought in for.
What can LIFX do that Meross cannot?
LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. Meross covers Apple HomeKit, No hub required, Energy monitoring, Schedules. Both handle SmartThings, IOS support, Android support.

Related pages

Other head to heads