Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs eufy
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aqara |  eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $0Lower | $4.99 to $9.99 |
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarm | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Alarm |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Cloud plan per month | $0Lower | $3.99 |
| Free features | 7 days free cloud event clips | On-device local storage, on-device AI detection and face recognition, cross-camera tracking, self-learning AI, instant notifications and playback with no monthly fee |
| Top resolution | 2k | 4k |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 90 to 365 daysHigher |
| Price | Not confirmed | $199 |
| Two-factor sign-in | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Local storage (Yes), Money-back period (30 days), End-to-end encryption (Yes), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Monitoring per month is lower at Aqara: $0 vs $4.99 to $9.99.
- Products: only Aqara offers Smoke alarm.
- Products: only eufy offers Alarm.
- Professional monitoring: only eufy.
- Cloud plan per month is lower at Aqara: $0 vs $3.99.
- Recording retention is higher at eufy: 90 to 365 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only eufy offers Email, Phone, Chat.
- Founded is lower at Aqara: 2009 vs 2011.
- Pricing model: only eufy offers Monitored.
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.
eufy
eufy suits homeowners who want cameras, doorbells, locks and alarms that keep working without a subscription, and who add professional monitoring only when they want it. The contract term is 0 months, and on-device local storage, AI detection and playback come with no monthly fee.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher$0 on automation subscriptions and 0 months on contract length keep the recurring cost at nothing. | 8.7Bundle price $199 sits above $13.95 at The Home Security Superstore, but cloud storage costs $3.99. |
| Offer | 8.97 days free cloud event clips come with entry hardware at $17.99, so a small kit starts cheap. | 9.4HigherWide catalogue across camera, video doorbell and smart lock, on-device AI detection with no monthly fee, and robot vacuum suction of 30,000 Pa. |
| Trust | 8.8End to end encryption is in place, with security support running 2 years and warranty cover of 1 year. | 9.0HigherFounded 2011, sold by Fantasia Trading LLC, with end-to-end encryption and two factor both yes, plus 30 days returns. |
By the numbers
| Fact | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $0 | $4.99 to $9.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $0 | $3.99 |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 90 to 365 days |
Where these facts come from
Aqara
- aqara.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- us.aqara.com: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
eufy
- eufy.com: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- us.eufy.com: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 25 of 75 | 6 of 75 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 15 of 53 | 6 of 53 |
| Video doorbells | 20 of 54 | 6 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 14 of 42 | 5 of 42 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy, MonitoredCovers more |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Poe | Battery, Solar, Wired, PoeCovers more |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Homekit |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Fantasia Trading LLC |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, Blinds | Not confirmed |
| Price from | $17.99 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi | Not confirmed |
| Matter certified | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Hub required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Local control | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Subscription per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| 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, TT | US, CA, GB, DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, IE, GR, HU, HR, PL, AU, SG, NZ, AE, VN, TW |
Floor care
| Fact | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | Not confirmed | eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S2, eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E35, eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25, eufy Robot Vacuum Omni C28 |
| Entry price | Not confirmed | $169.99 |
| Flagship price | Not confirmed | $1,599.99 |
| Top suction (Pa) | Not confirmed | 30,000 |
| Self-empty dock | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Mop type | Not confirmed | Roller |
| Mop lift (mm) | Not confirmed | 12 |
| Obstacle avoidance | Not confirmed | Camera AI |
| LiDAR navigation | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Matter support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Works offline | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Spare parts shop | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | eufy | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | $199highest quarter | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | $4.99 to $9.99highest 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 | $3.99above the median | $3 |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | 90 to 365 dayshighest quarter | 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.
eufy
Pros
- Contract term: 0 months, so nothing forces a long commitment, and the on-device storage, detection and playback come at no monthly charge.
- One brand across camera, video doorbell and smart lock, with battery, solar and wired options for powering each unit.
- Cloud storage is optional at $3.99 a month, and local recordings are kept 90 to 365 days.
Cons
- Bundle price $199 compares poorly with $13.95 at The Home Security Superstore and $19.99 at Annke.
- Professional monitoring costs $4.99 to $9.99 a month, and the monitoring price position is 39 of 51.
- Price rank sits at 62 of 70, so eufy is not the cheap option in this group.
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.
eufy
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want one brand across cameras, video doorbells, smart locks and alarms: camera, video doorbell and smart lock.
- Renters and flat owners who will not sign a contract, since the term is 0 months.
- People who want footage kept on their own hardware: local storage is yes, with retention of 90 to 365 days.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers chasing the lowest entry price on cameras: The Home Security Superstore lists cameras at $13.95 against the eufy bundle at $199.
- Buyers who would rather start at Annke's $19.99 entry point than pay bundle pricing.
- Readers set on Aqara's camera entry point of £36.98 and its own support setup.
Current offers
eufy
Current offer
Discount code
10% off and up to $50 off for newsletter signup: 10% off, up to $50
Email newsletter signup; coupon offered on the sign-up form
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Greece | No | Yes |
| Hungary | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
8 of 19 countries where either is available.
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.
eufy
Do I have to pay a monthly fee to use the cameras?+
No. The free feature set keeps storage, detection and face recognition on the device itself, adds tracking across cameras and self-learning, and gives instant alerts with playback at no monthly charge. Cloud storage is optional at $3.99 a month, and the contract term is 0 months.
Is there a minimum contract to sign up for?+
The contract term is 0 months, so there is nothing to serve and nothing to cancel early. That puts eufy at 1 of 60 brands on contract length, ahead of brands that lock customers into a minimum period.
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