Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Annke vs Shelly
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Annke |  Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | €39.90 |
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell | Camera, Smart lock |
| Money-back period | 30 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Free features | Local SD card storage without monthly fees | Camera live streaming, 5 events of event history, motion events with recordings, smart notifications (Shelly Smart Control standard plan) |
| Top resolution | 4k | 1080p |
| Minimum contract | Not confirmed | 0 months |
| Cloud plan per month | Not confirmed | €3.99 |
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Recording retention | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Local storage (Yes).
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Key differences
- Annke scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Products: only Annke offers Video doorbell.
- Products: only Shelly offers Smart lock.
- Support channels: only Shelly offers Community.
- Money-back period is higher at Annke: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Annke is available in 23 more countries.
- Power source: only Annke offers Solar, Poe.
- Ecosystems: only Shelly offers Google, Homekit, Matter.
Our verdict on each
Annke
Annke is a straightforward way to cover a house with cameras and video doorbells without a subscription line, and the entry figure of $19.99 sits below Aqara. It suits homeowners who want card storage and Alexa voice control more than a full alarm system.
Shelly
Shelly suits homeowners and renters who want broad smart home kit with no hub to buy first. Device prices start at €12.90, the range covers thermostat, lighting, plug, hub, sensor and blinds work over matter, zigbee and z wave, and local control keeps routines running when the internet drops.
Score breakdown
| Area | Annke | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7HigherEntry price of $19.99 sits below the £36.98 listed by Aqara, and the cost score of 9.7 reflects that. | 9.1Entry price €12.90 sits under the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands here. |
| Offer | 9.2The range spans camera and video doorbell with 4k at the top and card recording as standard, for an offer score of 9.2. | 9.2No hub required, local control, energy reporting, and cloud extras left to an optional €3.99 plan. |
| Trust | 9.1Sold by ANNKE INNOVATION (HK) CO., LIMITED with support on email, chat and phone; the trust score is 9.1. | 9.1Matter certification, 2 to 5 years cover and 14 days returns, all under Shelly Europe Ltd. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Annke | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Bulgaria |
Available in 23 countries for both. Additional countries for Annke: 29. Additional countries for Shelly: 6.
Side by side, item by item
| Products | Annke | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | No | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | No |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Annke | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 32 of 83 | 14 of 83 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 15 of 53 | 13 of 53 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Annke | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Solar, PoeCovers more | Battery, Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa | Alexa, Google, Homekit, MatterCovers more |
| Legal entity | ANNKE INNOVATION (HK) CO., LIMITED | Shelly Europe Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Bulgaria |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Annke | Shelly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum contract | Not confirmed | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 14 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | Not confirmed | €3.99at the median | €3.99 |
| Recording retention | Not confirmed | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Annke
Pros
- The entry price of $19.99 is below the £36.98 listed by Aqara, and a little above $13.99.
- Local storage is listed as yes, and card recording comes with no monthly fee, so the running cost stays flat.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, which is wider than email alone at this price.
Cons
- The starting figure of $19.99 sits above $13.95 and $13.99, so the smallest budgets are served elsewhere.
- The listed ecosystems are alexa, so a Google Home or HomeKit household has nothing here to link to.
- The range covers camera and video doorbell, with no alarm panel or smart lock to add to the same order.
Shelly
Pros
- A hub is not required, so plugs, sensors and switches start working without bridge hardware.
- Local control is supported and energy reporting comes as standard, so offline routines and consumption figures arrive together.
- Entry price €12.90 sits below the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands.
Cons
- Camera video tops out at 1080p, below the higher resolutions common on other security cameras.
- Cloud retention of 30 days needs the Shelly Smart Control premium plan at €3.99 a month.
- The camera runs on battery and wired, so placement decides between wiring and battery changes.
Who each suits
Annke
Who it suits
- Households that want footage kept on a card inside the home: local storage is listed as yes and card recording carries no monthly fee.
- People covering a front door and a garden in a single purchase, since camera and video doorbell handle both jobs.
- Alexa homes, where voice control is the main way the cameras get used; the listed ecosystems are alexa.
Who should look elsewhere
- Tight budgets: JOOAN lists $13.99 and The Home Security Superstore $13.95, each under Annke's $19.99.
- Google Home and Apple HomeKit households: the listed ecosystems are alexa only, so Aqara is worth weighing even at £36.98.
- Shoppers who want a wider basket, such as alarms alongside cameras: Annke's range is camera and video doorbell, so a broader comparison is worth making against Aqara at £36.98.
Shelly
Who it suits
- Renters and new buyers who want a hub-free start and automations that keep working offline.
- Households already running Alexa, Google or HomeKit, or planning to settle on Matter later.
- Anyone tracking energy use, since energy reporting is standard across the range.
Who should look elsewhere
- SONOFF, if you want thermostatic radiator valves, since thermostat, trv and lighting includes trv and the Shelly range leaves it out.
- Aqara or Lutron, if the same device mix suits you better from another brand, since hub, sensor and lighting and lighting, blinds and thermostat cover the same categories.
Current offers
Shelly
Current offer
Free trial
3 months free on Shelly Smart Control Premium: 3 months free
Free for 3 months, then EUR 3.99/month (monthly plan) or EUR 35.99/year (yearly plan); offer only available if you have not tried Premium before; cancel anytime
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Annke | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Yes | No |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Brazil | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Chile | Yes | No |
| Colombia | Yes | No |
| Costa Rica | Yes | No |
8 of 58 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Annke
How much does Annke cost to get started?+
Hardware starts at $19.99. That is below the £36.98 Aqara lists and a little above the $13.99 and $13.95 shown for JOOAN and The Home Security Superstore. Across the brands ranked here, Annke sits at position 8 of 70 on price, so the entry figure is competitive rather than the cheapest.
Are there monthly fees or a contract to renew?+
No plan sits behind the hardware. Recording runs on an SD card in the camera with no monthly fee, which is the free tier the brand describes. Across the site, monthly monitoring sits at €0 and the typical contract term is 0 months, so there is nothing to renew and the outlay stops at the point of purchase.
Shelly
What does Shelly hardware cost to start with?+
Entry price is €12.90, which covers the cheapest device in the range rather than a bundle. The camera sits higher at €39.90, and the catalogue spans camera and smart lock. Budget for hardware first, then decide whether the cloud extras earn their monthly fee.
Is there a monthly fee or a contract?+
The Shelly Smart Control premium plan costs €3.99 a month, and it is optional rather than required. There is no minimum term, since the contract length is 0 months. The Shelly Smart Control standard plan keeps live streaming, motion event recordings and smart notifications at no cost.