Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
AOSU vs Shelly
What sets them apart
| Compare | AOSU ReviewVisitVisit |  Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35.99 | €39.90 |
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell | Camera, Smart lock |
| Money-back period | 30 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $4.99 | €3.99 |
| End-to-end encryption | No | YesHas it |
| 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 | Camera live streaming, 5 events of event history, motion events with recordings, smart notifications (Shelly Smart Control standard plan) |
| Top resolution | 4k | 1080p |
| Recording retention | 120 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Professional monitoring | No | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Local storage (Yes).
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Key differences
- Shelly scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Products: only AOSU offers Video doorbell.
- Products: only Shelly offers Smart lock.
- End-to-end encryption: only Shelly.
- Recording retention is higher at AOSU: 120 days vs 30 days.
- Support channels: only Shelly offers Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at AOSU: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Shelly is available in 1 more country.
- Power source: only AOSU offers Solar.
- Ecosystems: only AOSU offers Smartthings.
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.
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 | AOSU | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Kits start at $35.99 with $0 monitoring and 0 months contract, plus a free Standard aosuProtect+ plan. | 9.1Entry price €12.90 sits under the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands here. |
| Offer | 9.1Covers camera and video doorbell with 4k video, battery, solar and wired options and alexa, google and smartthings voice assistant support. | 9.2HigherNo hub required, local control, energy reporting, and cloud extras left to an optional €3.99 plan. |
| Trust | 8.5Backed by email, phone and help centre and a 30 days return window, with 120 days of cloud retention. | 9.1HigherMatter certification, 2 to 5 years cover and 14 days returns, all under Shelly Europe Ltd. |
Also worth a look
eufy has recording retention at 90 to 365 days, against 120 days for AOSU and 30 days for Shelly.
eufy reviewSources behind this comparison
AOSU
- aosulife.com: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Shelly
- shelly.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AOSU | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 2 of 83 | 14 of 83 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 2 of 53 | 13 of 53 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AOSU | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Solar, WiredCovers more | Battery, Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Smartthings | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter |
| Legal entity | HONG KONG GLAZERO INTERNATIONAL TRADE CO., LIMITED | Shelly Europe Ltd |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | Bulgaria |
| Founded | 2021 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AOSU | Shelly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 14 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 120 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
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
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
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
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
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
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 | AOSU | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Estonia | No | Yes |
| Japan | Yes | No |
| Latvia | No | Yes |
| Lithuania | No | Yes |
8 of 36 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.
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.