IoT & Smart Home · head to head
LIFX vs Zigbee Alliance
LIFX
IoT & Smart Home
WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Zigbee Alliance
IoT & Smart Home
Low-power wireless standard for IoT and smart home
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zigbee Alliance 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.; Zigbee Alliance the Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.
- They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which LIFX and Zigbee Alliance actually diverge.
| Attribute | LIFX | Zigbee Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms |
| Founded | 2012 | 2002 |
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 Zigbee Alliance
- Low Power
- Mesh Networking
- Self-Healing
- Scalable
- Smart home devices
- Hubs
- Controllers
- Integration platforms
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
LIFX
- Ambient lightingnot Zigbee Alliance
- Gaming setupnot Zigbee Alliance
- Photography lightingnot Zigbee Alliance
- Smart homenot Zigbee Alliance
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot LIFX
- Sensor networksnot LIFX
- Home automationnot LIFX
- Industrial 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.
Zigbee Alliance
- The Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.
Pricing, plan by plan
LIFX
On request- LIFX Bulb$40/month
- 16M colors
- WiFi direct
- No hub required
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
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 Zigbee Alliance if
- You need low power.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- You also want mesh networking.
Questions people ask
- Is LIFX or Zigbee Alliance better?
- Neither clearly leads. LIFX starts at On request and Zigbee Alliance at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, LIFX or Zigbee Alliance?
- Zigbee Alliance has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for LIFX and Free for Zigbee Alliance.
- Does LIFX or Zigbee Alliance run on more platforms?
- LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS. Zigbee Alliance runs on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- Can I use Zigbee Alliance for free?
- Yes. Zigbee Alliance 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 Zigbee Alliance is typically brought in for.
- What can LIFX do that Zigbee Alliance cannot?
- LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness. Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable.