Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
AOSU vs Aqara
What sets them apart
| Compare | AOSU ReviewVisitVisit |  Aqara |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35.99 | £36.98 |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | £0 |
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell | Camera, Smart lock, Smoke alarm, Video doorbellCovers more |
| Money-back period | 30 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Free features | Live view, motion alerts, event notifications, 2-way talk, detection zones, PTZ and siren control; kits record locally on the 32GB aosuBase with no plan, free Standard aosuProtect+ plan gives live mode only | 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording |
| Top resolution | 4k | 2k |
| Recording retention | 120 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $4.99 | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | Not confirmed | 2 years |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Local storage (Yes), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Products: only Aqara offers Smart lock, Smoke alarm.
- Recording retention is higher at AOSU: 120 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only AOSU offers Email.
- Money-back period is higher at AOSU: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Founded is lower at Aqara: 2016 vs 2021.
- AOSU is available in 27 more countries.
- Power source: only AOSU offers Solar.
- Ecosystems: only Aqara offers Homekit, Matter.
Our verdict on each
AOSU
AOSU suits homeowners who want cheap cameras, a video doorbell and no subscription at all. Kits sit at $35.99 with $0 monitoring and no contract. The catch is that end to end encryption is not offered and cloud video needs a paid plan.
Aqara
Aqara suits renters and homeowners who want sensors, locks and cameras to run through one hub without a subscription. Entry hardware starts at £3.49, monitoring stays free, and local control keeps automations on the hub, so the real commitment is buying the hub first and adding devices as the house grows.
Score breakdown
| Area | AOSU | Aqara |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Kits start at $35.99 with $0 monitoring and 0 months contract, plus a free Standard aosuProtect+ plan. | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. |
| Offer | 9.1Covers camera and video doorbell with 4k video, battery, solar and wired options and alexa, google and smartthings voice assistant support. | 9.2HigherMatter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. |
| Trust | 8.5Backed by email, phone and help centre and a 30 days return window, with 120 days of cloud retention. | 8.7HigherLumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. |
If neither fits
eufy has recording retention at 90 to 365 days, against 120 days for AOSU and 7 days for Aqara.
eufy reviewWhere these facts come from
AOSU
- aosulife.com: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Aqara
- aqara.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- aqara-shop.co.uk: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AOSU | Aqara |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 2 of 75 | 13 of 75 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 2 of 53 | 8 of 53 |
| Video doorbells | 2 of 54 | 11 of 54 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AOSU | Aqara |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Solar, WiredCovers more | Battery, Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Smartthings | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more |
| Legal entity | HONG KONG GLAZERO INTERNATIONAL TRADE CO., LIMITED | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | China |
| Founded | 2021 | 2016Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Phone, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AOSU | Aqara | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 14 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $4.99above the median | Not confirmed | $3 |
| Recording retention | 120 dayshighest quarter | 7 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
| Security update period | Not confirmed | 2 yearsbelow the median | 3 years |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
AOSU
Pros
- Kits record to the bundled aosuBase with no plan, so $0 monitoring works as a long term setup
- Cloud retention runs 120 days, with $35.99 hardware and a $4.99 cloud plan on top if you want remote records
- Local storage is supported, so footage can stay on the aosuBase instead of the cloud
Cons
- Professional monitoring is a no, so alerts are not escalated by anyone
- Cloud video needs a paid plan beyond the free Standard aosuProtect+ tier, which gives live mode only
- $0 monitoring still leaves the paid $4.99 plan for playback history
Aqara
Pros
- Monitoring is £0 and the contract term is 0 months, so there is no renewal price to plan for.
- Hardware opens at £3.49 and cameras start at £36.98, against a site entry median of €127.49.
- Local control and local storage are both supported, so automations and recordings can stay on the hub rather than in the cloud.
Cons
- A hub is required before any sensor, lock or blind does anything, which is an upfront cost on top of the devices.
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alerts depend on the household rather than on a watching service.
- Support runs on phone, help centre and community only, with no live chat listed alongside them.
Who each suits
AOSU
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want cameras and a video doorbell on camera and video doorbell from one maker
- Renters and self installers, since installation is not required
- People who keep footage local and want to avoid a subscription
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs end to end encryption on cloud footage
- Households that want professional monitoring rather than self managed alerts
- Buyers who want a premium sensor at the £36.98 level rather than $35.99 value hardware
Aqara
Who it suits
- People who want sensors, locks and cameras under one hub with local control and nothing to pay monthly, since monitoring is £0.
- Households already running Zigbee or Thread kit, since the hub bridges matter, thread and zigbee and can reuse what is already installed.
- Owners who want a do it yourself system, since the model is diy and installation is not required for the camera range.
Who should look elsewhere
- Lutron buyers who only need lighting, blinds and thermostats, since lighting, blinds and thermostat carries no sensor, lock or camera line.
- SONOFF shoppers after radiator valves, since thermostat, trv and lighting includes radiator valves and hub, sensor and lighting does not.
- GHome Smart buyers who want a compact setup, since plug, lighting and thermostat leaves out blinds and a hub that hub, sensor and lighting includes.
Current offers
AOSU
Current offer
Free trial
aosuProtect+ cloud storage 30-day free trial: 30 days
Offered at the start of a paid aosuProtect+ subscription; requires a linked aosu device and payment details; charged after the trial
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Aqara
Current offer
Discount code
5% off your first order via Aqara UK newsletter: 5% off first order
Sign up to the Aqara UK newsletter; code sent by email
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AOSU | Aqara |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Croatia | Yes | No |
| Cyprus | Yes | No |
| Czechia | Yes | No |
| Finland | Yes | No |
8 of 28 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
AOSU
What does AOSU cost to start, and what is the monthly cost after that?+
Kits are priced at $35.99, and $0 is the monthly monitoring charge, so local recording runs without a subscription. Cloud playback is the only recurring line, at $4.99 a month. The free Standard aosuProtect+ plan gives live mode only, so cloud history is what you pay for.
Do I have to sign a contract with AOSU?+
The contract length is 0 months, so nothing ties you in beyond the hardware purchase. There is no minimum term and no early exit fee to think about. If you later want cloud playback, $4.99 a month is a rolling plan you can stop at any time.
Aqara
What does Aqara cost to run after the hardware is bought?+
Monthly monitoring is £0 and the contract term is 0 months, so there is no subscription to renew and no renewal price to plan around. Cameras include 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording as standard, hardware opens at £3.49 and cameras start at £36.98. Nothing steps up when a year passes.
Is Aqara certified for safety and security?+
Aqara's hub is Matter certified, and the security certifications cover camera, smart lock and smoke alarm as a group. Security support runs for 2 years, which is shorter than the 2 years warranty, so buyers planning a long ownership should think about the stretch after the warranty period ends.