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Smart Home · head to head

LIFX vs Yeelight

LIFX logo

LIFX

Smart Home

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Yeelight logo

Yeelight

Smart Home

Smart lighting for modern homes

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.; Yeelight requires owning Yeelight-branded smart lighting hardware; the app itself is a controller with no standalone function
  • They diverge on capability: LIFX covers No Hub Required, Yeelight covers Color control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LIFX and Yeelight actually diverge.

Attributes where LIFX and Yeelight differ
AttributeLIFXYeelight
PlatformsIOS, Android, Windows, MacOSIOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (one-time), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Smart Home), founded (2012).

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 Yeelight

  • Color control
  • Brightness dimming
  • Schedules
  • Music sync
  • Sunrise/sunset
  • Scenes
  • Google Assistant
  • 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 lighting
  • Gaming setupnot Yeelight
  • Photography lightingnot Yeelight
  • Smart homenot Yeelight

Yeelight

  • Ambient lighting
  • Entertainment syncnot LIFX
  • Automated schedulesnot LIFX
  • Energy savingnot LIFX

Both are used for ambient lighting, 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.

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

Pricing, plan by plan

LIFX

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

Yeelight

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

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 Yeelight if

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

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LIFX: Does LIFX require a subscription to use its smart lighting products?

No, LIFX products do not require a subscription. Bulbs and fixtures connect directly via Wi-Fi with no hub, wiring, or recurring fees.

Source
Yeelight: Where can I find Yeelight pricing?

The main Yeelight website redirects to a Chinese regional site (cn.yeelight.com) which does not display pricing information. Specific pricing details would need to be found through product pages or local retailers.

Source
LIFX: What is LIFX's return policy?

LIFX offers a 30-day return window for customers who are unsatisfied with their purchase.

Source
LIFX: Do LIFX light bulbs have a trial or money-back guarantee?

Yes, LIFX provides a 30-day return period. Additionally, first-time customers can apply coupon code Welcome20 to save 20% off their first order.

Source
LIFX: What shipping costs apply to LIFX orders?

LIFX offers free shipping on orders over $79. Individual product prices range from $17.50 to $199.99 depending on the type of light.

Source
LIFX: Does LIFX offer commercial or bulk pricing for businesses?

Yes, LIFX references 'Lighting at scale' and provides a Bulk Order Enquiry contact page for commercial customers, though specific enterprise pricing details are not disclosed on their homepage.

Source
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