Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Eve
Where Aqara and Eve differ
| Compare |  Aqara |  Eve |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarmCovers more | Camera |
| Local storage | YesHas it | No |
| Free features | 7 days free cloud event clips | iCloud storage with local analysis, no subscription |
| Top resolution | 2k | 1080p |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 10 daysHigher |
| Price | Not confirmed | $149.95 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Monitoring per month ($0), Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Cloud plan per month ($0), End-to-end encryption (Yes), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Products: only Aqara offers Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarm.
- Local storage: only Aqara.
- Recording retention is higher at Eve: 10 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Support channels: only Eve offers Email.
- Power source: only Aqara offers Battery, Poe.
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.
Eve
Eve suits households that want heating, lighting and blinds under a single app, and it takes the running cost away: the subscription is €0 a month. The trade-off sits at setup, because a hub is required and heat pump compatible is no, so hardware matters more than monthly cost.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Eve |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher$0 on automation subscriptions and 0 months on contract length keep the recurring cost at nothing. | 8.7Eve sits at 54 of 54 brands on price from, with entry at $550. |
| Offer | 8.97 days free cloud event clips come with entry hardware at $17.99, so a small kit starts cheap. | 8.9Device types span thermostat, trv and lighting and ecosystems alexa, google and homekit, with a hub required. |
| Trust | 8.8End to end encryption is in place, with security support running 2 years and warranty cover of 1 year. | 9.1HigherThe maker is Eve Systems GmbH in DE, support runs on email and help centre, and local control is yes. |
Feature by feature
| Products | Aqara | Eve |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | No |
| Video doorbell | Yes | No |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Aqara | Eve |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 25 of 75 | 48 of 75 |
| Smart thermostats | 9 of 24 | 14 of 24 |
| Matter smart home devices | 12 of 33 | 22 of 33 |
Also worth a look
AOSU has recording retention at 120 days, against 7 days for Aqara and 10 days for Eve.
AOSU reviewSources behind this comparison
Aqara
- aqara.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- us.aqara.com: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Eve
- evehome.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- apple.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Eve |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, PoeCovers more | Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, Smartthings | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, Smartthings |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Eve Systems GmbH |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Founded | 2009 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Aqara | Eve |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Sensor, Blinds |
| Price from | $17.99Lower | $550 |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fiCovers more | Matter, Thread |
| Matter certified | Yes | Yes |
| Hub required | Yes | Yes |
| Local control | Yes | Yes |
| Heat pump compatible | Not confirmed | No |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription per month | $0 | €0 |
| Warranty | 1 year | Not confirmed |
| 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 | AU, AT, BE, CA, CZ, DK, FI, FR, DE, GR, IE, IT, LU, NL, NO, PL, PT, ES, SE, CH, GB, US |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Eve | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | $149.95highest quarter | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $0below the median | $0below the median | $3 |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | 10 dayslowest 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.
Eve
Pros
- The subscription is €0 a month, so there is no renewal step to budget for.
- Contract length is 0 months and the cloud plan is $0 a month, so the model is a sale rather than a rental.
- Matter certified is yes and the protocol list is matter and thread, so the kit can join an existing Matter network.
Cons
- A hub is required, so Thread devices need extra hardware before anything joins the network.
- Heat pump compatible is no, which rules Eve out for a home running a heat pump.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone route during a first install.
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.
Eve
Who it suits
- People on Apple HomeKit or Matter who want local control and a subscription of €0 a month.
- Anyone who wants a single maker to cover heating, lighting, plugs, sensors and blinds, with sales across AU, AT and BE markets.
- Camera buyers who care about privacy: end to end encryption is yes, and the camera is wired and needs no installation.
Who should look elsewhere
- Heat pump households, because heat pump compatible is no, and Aqara and SONOFF both list thermostats and radiator valves in their ranges.
- Anyone who wants professional monitoring, because professional monitoring is no, while Aqara and Lutron both list sensors among their device types.
- Shoppers who want a phone number during install, because support runs on email and help centre only.
Current offers
Eve
Current offer
Discount code
10% off next purchase for newsletter subscribers: 10%
Subscribe to the Eve newsletter; discount applies to next purchase of single units at the Eve Store
Source, checked September 30, 2026
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.
Eve
What does Eve cost to get started, and is there a monthly fee?+
Eve's entry price is $550, which covers the cheapest way into the range rather than a single device, and the subscription is €0 a month. Nothing renews at a higher rate later, so the running cost of kit you already own stays the same.
Do I have to pay for cloud storage or a subscription?+
The subscription is €0 a month and the cloud plan is $0 a month. History sits in iCloud with the analysis done on your side, so the camera works as a purchase rather than a service, and no paid tier is needed for the recording history.