Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs ecobee
Where Aqara and ecobee differ
| Compare |  Aqara |  ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $0Lower | $5 |
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarm | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbell |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Cloud plan per month | $0Lower | $5 |
| Free features | 7 days free cloud event clips | Free Core plan with security devices: motion and person detection, door or window open/close alerts |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Price | Not confirmed | $99.99 |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Top resolution | 2k | Not confirmed |
| Two-factor sign-in | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
| Monitoring countries | Not confirmed | United States, Canada |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Money-back period (30 days), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Monitoring per month is lower at Aqara: $0 vs $5.
- Products: only Aqara offers Smart lock, Smoke alarm.
- Products: only ecobee offers Alarm.
- Professional monitoring: only ecobee.
- Cloud plan per month is lower at Aqara: $0 vs $5.
- Recording retention is higher at ecobee: 30 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Support channels: only ecobee offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at ecobee: 2007 vs 2009.
Our verdict on each
Aqara
Aqara suits households that want cameras, doorbells, locks and home sensors in the same system without a recurring bill. Monitoring costs $0, local storage keeps footage on your own hardware, and nothing is locked into a minimum term, which makes it a strong pick for self installers put off by subscriptions.
ecobee
ecobee suits homeowners who want heating handled properly and security added on the side, rather than a full alarm shop. Entry pricing starts at $139.99, close to the site entry median, and the thermostat warranty runs 3 years, with sales limited to US and CA.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher$0 on automation subscriptions and 0 months on contract length keep the recurring cost at nothing. | 8.4Entry price of $139.99 ranks 41 of 54 brands, so cost sits mid field. |
| Offer | 8.97 days free cloud event clips come with entry hardware at $17.99, so a small kit starts cheap. | 8.9Free Core plan covers detection and door or window alerts; the paid tier at $5 a month adds monitoring. |
| Trust | 8.8End to end encryption is in place, with security support running 2 years and warranty cover of 1 year. | 9.5HigherLegal entity ecobee Technologies ULC in CA, founded 2007, support on phone and help centre, monitoring in US and CA. |
Feature by feature
| Products | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | No | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | No |
| Video doorbell | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 12 of 83 | 18 of 83 |
| Video doorbells | 12 of 54 | 18 of 54 |
| Smart thermostats | 4 of 24 | 6 of 24 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy, MonitoredCovers more |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, PoeCovers more | Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Smartthings |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | ecobee Technologies ULC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Canada |
| Founded | 2009 | 2007Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Phone, Help centre |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more | Thermostat, Sensor |
| Price from | $17.99Lower | $139.99 |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi | Not confirmed |
| Matter certified | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Hub required | YesHas it | No |
| Local control | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription per month | $0Lower | $5 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 3 yearsHigher |
| Markets | AE, IL, TR, EU, GB, MY, LK, JP, IN, NP, ID, PH, SG, KH, BN, MV, MM, VN, US, CA, UY, AR, CL, BR, GT, DO, MX, CR, TTCovers more | US, CA |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | ecobee | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | $99.99above the median | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | $5highest quarter | $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 | $0below the median | $5highest quarter | $3 |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Aqara
Pros
- Nothing recurs: monitoring is $0 and the cloud plan is $0, so the kit costs what it costs on the shelf.
- Footage can stay at home, since local storage is supported, with the cloud holding event clips for 7 days as a backstop.
- The range spans camera, video doorbell and smart lock, which reaches further than Annke's camera and video doorbell for anyone building out a whole home.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alerts land on the household rather than a response desk.
- Support runs on help centre and community only, with no staffed channel listed for a hub that will not pair.
- A hub is required, so the entry outlay is more than the sticker price of the cheapest device in the range.
ecobee
Pros
- Entry pricing from $139.99 sits close to the site entry median of €127.49, so heating control is not a premium bet.
- No hub is required, so there is no extra box to buy, and energy reporting comes with the smart thermostats.
- The thermostat warranty runs 3 years, with a 30 day money back period behind the purchase.
Cons
- The security side is a running cost: the paid plan is $5 a month, and professional monitoring only sits on that tier.
- The video doorbell is wired, so it needs a cable run at the front door rather than a battery you swap yourself.
- Recorded video is kept for 30 days, a short window for reviewing anything older.
Who each suits
Aqara
Who it suits
- Households covering cameras, doorbells, locks and alarms without a monthly monitoring fee, since monitoring is $0.
- Self installers, because installation is not required and the model is diy.
- Automation builders working across matter, thread and zigbee who want local control and a hub they own.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for shoppers who want an alarm panel or personal alarm in the same basket: The Home Security Superstore lists alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Not for buyers whose list is only cameras and doorbells, since Annke's camera and video doorbell is a shorter, more focused range to browse.
ecobee
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a thermostat as the anchor and a camera, video doorbell or alarm sensor added to the same brand later.
- Homes that already run alexa, google and homekit and want heating data in the same place as everything else.
- People who want professional monitoring without a long agreement, since the contract length is 0 months.
Who should look elsewhere
- Full home device shoppers, since Aqara's range covers hub, sensor and lighting while ecobee's device types are thermostat and sensor.
- Buyers chasing lighting and blinds control as the main event: Lutron's device list runs lighting, blinds and thermostat, well beyond a heating brand.
- Budget builders who want a hub, heating valve and blinds under one roof, which is what SONOFF lists in thermostat, trv and lighting.
Current offers
ecobee
Current offer
Discount code
$20 off your next purchase with newsletter signup: $20 USD
New customers only; promotional code sent by email after form submit; cannot be combined with other offers; cannot apply to prior purchases
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Free trial
1 month free Smart Security + Professional Monitoring: 1 month
Offered during system setup; no contracts, no credit card required; 24/7 pro monitoring not available in Calgary, AB
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Aqara
How much does Aqara charge for monitoring each month?+
Nothing. Monitoring is $0 and the cloud plan is $0, so the only cost is the hardware itself. 7 days free cloud event clips are included at no charge, which is enough to check recent activity on a doorbell or camera. Renewal is not a concern either, because contracts run 0 months.
Is there a contract or minimum term to sign up for?+
No. Contracts run 0 months, so there is no minimum term and nothing that renews on its own. Aqara ranks 1 on contract length among 60 brands, which puts it at the front of the field for anyone who wants to walk away without notice.
ecobee
How much does it cost to get started with ecobee?+
Hardware starts at $139.99, which puts ecobee close to the site entry median of €127.49. That covers the equipment. Anything on the security side, monitoring included, is billed separately each month. A 30 day money back period covers the hardware purchase if the fit turns out wrong.
Do I have to pay a subscription to use the security devices?+
There is a free Core plan that covers motion and person detection along with door or window open and close alerts, so the basics cost nothing to run. Paying $5 a month moves you onto the plan that adds professional monitoring and stored video history. The choice is how much of the security side you want switched on.