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Yeelight vs ESPHome

Yeelight logo

Yeelight

Software

Smart lighting for modern homes

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ESPHome logo

ESPHome

Software

Custom firmware for ESP8266/ESP32 smart home devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ESPHome has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Yeelight requires owning Yeelight-branded smart lighting hardware; the app itself is a controller with no standalone function; 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: Yeelight covers Color control, ESPHome covers YAML Configuration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Yeelight and ESPHome actually diverge.

Attributes where Yeelight and ESPHome differ
AttributeYeelightESPHome
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timeopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, AndroidESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi
Founded20122018

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 Yeelight

  • Color control
  • Brightness dimming
  • Schedules
  • Music sync
  • Sunrise/sunset
  • Scenes
  • Google Assistant
  • Amazon Alexa

Only in ESPHome

  • YAML Configuration
  • OTA Updates
  • Home Assistant Native
  • Custom Components
  • MQTT
  • API
  • Native integration
  • ESP8266 support

Both cover

  • Home Assistant

What people use each for

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

Yeelight

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

ESPHome

  • Building custom smart home sensors and switches on ESP32 hardwarenot Yeelight
  • Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based devices with locally controlled firmwarenot Yeelight
  • Integrating DIY devices into Home Assistant over a native API or MQTTnot 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

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

Yeelight

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

ESPHome

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Full firmware
    • Home Assistant integration
    • Custom sensors

Which should you pick?

Choose Yeelight if

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

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.
ESPHome review

Questions people ask

Is Yeelight or ESPHome better?
Neither clearly leads. Yeelight 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, Yeelight or ESPHome?
ESPHome has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Yeelight and Free for ESPHome.
Does Yeelight or ESPHome run on more platforms?
Yeelight runs on IOS, Android. 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. Yeelight starts at On request.
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 ESPHome is typically brought in for.
What can Yeelight do that ESPHome cannot?
Yeelight covers Color control, Brightness dimming, Schedules, Music sync. ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, OTA Updates, Home Assistant Native, Custom Components. Both handle Home Assistant.
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