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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Yeelight vs Aqara

Yeelight logo

Yeelight

IoT & Smart Home

Smart lighting for modern homes

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Aqara logo

Aqara

IoT & Smart Home

Smart home sensors and automation ecosystem

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Yeelight requires owning Yeelight-branded smart lighting hardware; the app itself is a controller with no standalone function; Aqara a hub is required for full functionality, and Matter accessories need a Matter controller such as the Hub M3 configured in Aqara Home first
  • They diverge on capability: Yeelight covers Color control, Aqara covers Zigbee protocol.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Yeelight and Aqara actually diverge.

Attributes where Yeelight and Aqara differ
AttributeYeelightAqara
Founded20122016

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (one-time), free tier (No), platforms (IOS, Android), 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 Yeelight

  • Color control
  • Brightness dimming
  • Schedules
  • Music sync
  • Sunrise/sunset
  • Scenes
  • SmartThings

Only in Aqara

  • Zigbee protocol
  • Sensor ecosystem
  • Automation scenes
  • Long battery life
  • Local processing
  • IFTTT

Both cover

  • Google Assistant
  • Amazon Alexa
  • Apple HomeKit
  • Home Assistant
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Yeelight

  • Ambient lightingnot Aqara
  • Entertainment syncnot Aqara
  • Automated schedulesnot Aqara
  • Energy savingnot Aqara

Aqara

  • Smart home sensors, switches and cameras on Zigbeenot Yeelight
  • Automations across HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThingsnot Yeelight
  • Matter-based smart home setupsnot Yeelight
  • Door locks and curtain controllers tied to routinesnot Yeelight

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Yeelight

  • Requires owning Yeelight-branded smart lighting hardware; the app itself is a controller with no standalone function
  • Requires iOS 16.2 or later, per the App Store listing

Aqara

  • A hub is required for full functionality, and Matter accessories need a Matter controller such as the Hub M3 configured in Aqara Home first
  • Primarily a hardware company, so the app exists to run devices you have bought
  • Zigbee devices depend on the hub remaining supported

Pricing, plan by plan

Yeelight

On request
  • Smart Bulb$15/month
    • WiFi
    • 16M colors
    • Voice control
  • Light Strip$30/month
    • Music sync
    • Extendable
    • Scene modes

Aqara

On request
  • Door Sensor$15/month
    • Zigbee
    • Long battery
    • Instant alerts
  • Motion Sensor$20/month
    • Light sensor
    • Adjustable sensitivity
    • Pet immune
  • Hub M2$60/month
    • Zigbee hub
    • IR control
    • HomeKit support

Which should you pick?

Choose Yeelight if

  • You need color control.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want brightness dimming.
Yeelight review

Choose Aqara if

  • You need zigbee protocol.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want sensor ecosystem.
Aqara review

Questions people ask

Is Yeelight or Aqara better?
Neither clearly leads. Yeelight starts at On request and Aqara at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Yeelight or Aqara?
Yeelight starts at On request and Aqara at On request.
Does Yeelight or Aqara run on more platforms?
Both run on IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Yeelight best used for?
Yeelight is most often used for ambient lighting, entertainment sync, automated schedules, energy saving. Of those, ambient lighting and entertainment sync are not what Aqara is typically brought in for.
What can Yeelight do that Aqara cannot?
Yeelight covers Color control, Brightness dimming, Schedules, Music sync. Aqara covers Zigbee protocol, Sensor ecosystem, Automation scenes, Long battery life. Both handle Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Home Assistant.
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