Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
AOSU vs SONOFF
AOSU vs SONOFF: the differences
| Compare | AOSU ReviewVisitVisit |  SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35.99 | €20.47 |
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell | Camera, Alarm |
| 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 | 1080P live view, free motion detection push alerts, local microSD (TF) recording up to 128GB, two-way audio, sleep mode, privacy zones and RTSP; CAM-C44HE adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee |
| Recording retention | 120 daysHigher | 90 days |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Cloud plan per month | $4.99 | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Local storage (Yes), Money-back period (30 days), Top resolution (4k).
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Key differences
- SONOFF scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Products: only AOSU offers Video doorbell.
- Products: only SONOFF offers Alarm.
- Recording retention is higher at AOSU: 120 days vs 90 days.
- Support channels: only AOSU offers Phone, Community.
- SONOFF is available in 1 more country.
- Power source: only AOSU offers Battery, Solar.
- Ecosystems: only SONOFF 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.
SONOFF
SONOFF suits people building a wired or Zigbee home on a tight budget who want cameras and climate gear that keep working without a subscription. Entry costs start at €6.16, the range is Matter certified, and local storage holds recordings for 90 days. The catch is support, which runs on email and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | AOSU | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Kits start at $35.99 with $0 monitoring and 0 months contract, plus a free Standard aosuProtect+ plan. | 9.9HigherEntry price runs €6.16 and a camera sits at €20.47, with monitoring and contracts at 0 months, well under the €61.38 typical band. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherCovers camera and video doorbell with 4k video, battery, solar and wired options and alexa, google and smartthings voice assistant support. | 9.0Free features cover local AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP, and energy reporting is included. |
| Trust | 8.5Backed by email, phone and help centre and a 30 days return window, with 120 days of cloud retention. | 9.1Higher2 years of cover, local storage as standard, and support limited to email and help centre, which is thinner than most rivals. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | AOSU | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | China |
Available in 21 countries for both. Additional countries for AOSU: 7. Additional countries for SONOFF: 8.
Choosing between them
Pick AOSU if recording retention matter most.
Pick SONOFF if cost and trust matter most.
Where these facts come from
AOSU
- aosulife.com: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
SONOFF
- sonoff.tech: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | AOSU | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 2 of 75 | 15 of 75 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 2 of 53 | 9 of 53 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AOSU | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Solar, WiredCovers more | Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Smartthings | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more |
| Legal entity | HONG KONG GLAZERO INTERNATIONAL TRADE CO., LIMITED | Shenzhen Sonoff Technologies Co.,Ltd |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | China |
| Founded | 2021 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AOSU | SONOFF | 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 | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $4.99above the median | Not confirmed | $3 |
| Recording retention | 120 dayshighest quarter | 90 dayshighest quarter | 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
SONOFF
Pros
- Matter certified gear across thermostat, trv and lighting, covering matter, thread and zigbee so it fits most existing setups
- Entry prices from €6.16 and cameras from €20.47
- Free features include local AI detection, security modes, privacy zones and RTSP with no monthly fee
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alarms stay self-served
- A hub is required for the Zigbee thermostat, adding cost to a heating setup
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone or live chat line
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
SONOFF
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who already run a Matter or Zigbee home
- People who want camera recording on a card rather than a cloud subscription
- Builders covering lighting, plugs, sensors, blinds and climate from one maker
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants professional alarm monitoring, which Sonoff does not sell
- Households on Z-Wave, a protocol outside the matter, thread and zigbee list
- Buyers who want phone or chat support, since email and help centre is the limit
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
SONOFF
Current offer
Discount code
10% OFF your first order for newsletter subscribers: 10% off first order
Email newsletter signup; valid for 30 days; one-time use per customer; cannot be combined with other offers
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | AOSU | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| 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.
SONOFF
What does SONOFF hardware cost to get started?+
Entry prices run €6.16 across the range, and a security camera starts at €20.47. There is no separate hardware bundle to buy, so the outlay is the device itself plus a hub if the product needs one.
Is there a monthly subscription or contract?+
No. Contract length is 0 months, and local card recording, AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP are listed as free features. The dual-lens hub camera adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee attached.