Philips Hue smart lights are some of the coolest on the market, and they're definitely some of the most popular, but they can be quite expensive, especially once you get into colored bulbs. So if you're looking for a less expensive option, or just something other than what's popular (maybe something without a hub?), then check out these other best Philips Hue alternatives.
What are the best Philips Hue alternatives?
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Best alternative
Philips WiZ Connected bulbs don't require a hub, connecting directly to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth via the WiZ app. Despite being less expensive and not working with the rest of the Philips Hue ecosystem, these bulbs aren't any less capable. They can be dimmed and color-tuned to your liking. In our testing of these bulbs, we found that the powerful WiZ Connected app is full of excellent customization options, and the bulbs perform wonderfully.
Super bright 1000 lumen
These smart bulbs from Govee fit are a standard A19 size, but unlike other bulbs, these have a stunning 1000 lumens of brightness. You can also ask Alexa to turn on/off or brighten/dim your smart lightbulb or use the Govee app to set automated schedules and countdown timers. Like many of the best Govee smart lights, their bulb benefits from an app that is packed with customization options to set your light exactly the way you want it.
Set it up with Matter
One of the best things about Philips Hue is the variety. Matter helps solve that by making smart home tech setup and management much more seamless. This color smart bulb from Tapo is Matter-certified and super bright with up to 1055 lumens. You can change the color or set a comfortable white color temperature.
Get the perfect color temperature
Color temperature refers to how yellow the light looks with warmer temperatures looking more like firelight, and these Wyze bulbs can deliver a wide color temperature range. You get dimmable white lighting and don't have to worry about a hub. We loved the speedy connectivity and excellent color saturation in our review of the Wyze Bulb Color.
Affordability in reach
The price of these bulbs from Sylvania might seem too good to be true, but it's not. The Smart+ Wi-Fi bulbs offer easy connectivity, and in our testing, we found that the Sylvania app offers plenty of options for control and customization. These are highly affordable bulbs that are compatible with all of the best smart speakers, so you can simply ask for any lighting changes you want.
Special Effects
The LIFX White E26 is a bright, warm-white lightbulb that features voice-dimming capabilities and is compatible with all the major voice platforms, including Alexa, Google, and Apple HomeKit. It also works via Wi-Fi, meaning you don't need a bridge or hub to set it up. LIFX is known for making bulbs capable of high-brightness levels, which is why it's on our best smart lights for dark spaces list.
Works with everything
Yeelight's bulbs work with Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, and Apple Homekit. No matter which smart service you rely on, chances are Yeelight supports it. This particular bulb has a dimmable white light, can be controlled remotely, and doesn't need a hub.
Twice the color
For fabulous, multicolored bulbs at a great price, this two-pack of some of the best smart lights from GE Cync is impossible to ignore. For the price of a single bulb from some other companies, you get two from Cync. Each bulb features millions of color options, and automation schedules and doesn't require a hub to work. In testing these bulbs, we really like how easy they are to set up and the helpful accessories from Cync that work with them, like wireless dimmers.
Light-up wall art
While most of the time, when you think of the best Nanoleaf lights, you think of the excellent wall panels like the Nanoleaf Canvas, they also make some really great bulbs. But, in true Nanoleaf fashion, its bulbs feature a unique shape that helps to let the millions of color options shine out wonderfully. The Nanoleaf app offers seemingly unlimited options to customize your lights so you can get just the right light anytime.
So many bulbs, so little time
Philips Hue bulbs might be among the most recognizable in the smart lighting space, but as you can see, they're far from your only option. Surprisingly, one of the best alternative to a Philips Hue is another Philips product. Whether it's the color-changing WiZ Connected bulbs or the all-white WiZ Connected bulbs, Philips now has your home covered for less money than ever. The best part? These don't even require a hub to work, yet they can connect directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth or be controlled by your favorite virtual assistant.
Govee is a great pick for a large room that needs a lot of light. It's bright A19 bulbs offer up to 1000 lumens of brightness with CRI90+, which means colors are represented in a more natural way that looks more vibrant. Some cheap bulbs don't give off the full range of colors and can make your home look less colorful.
Finally, if you don't want to be locked into any single ecosystem, the Tapo L535E smart bulb is Matter-certified meaning it can be set up with any Matter hub or app. Since Matter is a universal protocol, it doesn't need a specific app to set up. You could even use it with your Philips Hue hub if it's gotten the matter update.
No matter which smart bulbs you get, you have many great options to choose from for kicking off (or expanding) your favorite smart home devices.
