Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Lorex
Where Aqara and Lorex differ
| Compare |  Aqara |  Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarmCovers more | Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell |
| Cloud plan per month | $0Lower | $5.99 |
| Free features | 7 days free cloud event clips | local recording, live view, playback and alerts without plan |
| Top resolution | 2k | 4k |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Price | Not confirmed | $29.99 |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Monitoring per month ($0), Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Local storage (Yes), Money-back period (30 days), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Lorex scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Products: only Aqara offers Smoke alarm.
- Cloud plan per month is lower at Aqara: $0 vs $5.99.
- Recording retention is higher at Lorex: 60 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Support channels: only Lorex offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Founded is lower at Lorex: 1991 vs 2009.
- Power source: only Lorex offers Solar.
- Ecosystems: only Aqara offers Smartthings.
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.
Lorex
Lorex suits households that want cameras, video doorbells and smart locks from the same brand, with local recording, live view, playback and alerts working before any plan is bought. Entry hardware starts at $29.99, and the Lorex Connect cloud plan is $5.99 a month on top of that.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher$0 on automation subscriptions and 0 months on contract length keep the recurring cost at nothing. | 9.1No contract term at 0 months, a monitoring charge of $0, and cloud extras at $5.99. |
| Offer | 8.97 days free cloud event clips come with entry hardware at $17.99, so a small kit starts cheap. | 9.2HigherThe range spans camera, smart lock and video doorbell, and the core camera features work before any cloud plan is bought. |
| Trust | 8.8End to end encryption is in place, with security support running 2 years and warranty cover of 1 year. | 9.3HigherTrading since 1991 as Lorex Technology Inc., with a 30 days return window. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Aqara | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Canada |
Pick Aqara if, pick Lorex if
Pick Aqara if cost, products, and cloud plan per month matter most.
Pick Lorex if offer, trust, and recording retention matter most.
Feature by feature
| Products | Aqara | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 25 of 75 | 19 of 75 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 15 of 53 | 12 of 53 |
| Video doorbells | 20 of 54 | 16 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 14 of 42 | 10 of 42 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Poe | Battery, Wired, Solar, PoeCovers more |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Lorex Technology Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Canada |
| Founded | 2009 | 1991Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Aqara | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Lorex | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | $29.99below the median | $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 | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $0below the median | $5.99highest quarter | $3 |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | 60 daysabove 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.
Lorex
Pros
- Local recording, live view, playback and alerts all work with no plan, and local storage is supported, so footage can stay on a drive the buyer owns.
- Cameras, video doorbells and smart locks come from the same brand, and installation is not required, so a homeowner can cover a front door and garden without hiring an installer.
- Cameras reach 4k and run on battery, wired and solar options, covering outdoor and off-grid spots.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so an alarm travels no further than the owner's own devices and the DIY approach is the only route.
- Cloud video is kept for 60 days, so anything that must stay retrievable longer has to sit on local storage.
- Entry hardware at $29.99 is above The Home Security Superstore at $13.95 and Annke at $19.99, so the ticket at the till is the weak spot.
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.
Lorex
Who it suits
- Households that want footage kept on their own drive rather than rented cloud space.
- Renters and owners fitting cameras, a video doorbell and a smart lock without tradesmen.
- Buyers who read the running cost before the ticket, since Lorex carries no contract term.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households after a professionally monitored alarm, since Lorex does not offer professional monitoring and a monitored brand fits that need better.
- Shoppers on the smallest budget, because entry hardware at $29.99 sits above The Home Security Superstore at $13.95.
- Buyers who want cloud features folded into the hardware price, because the Lorex Connect plan is $5.99 a month on top.
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | Lorex |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Mexico | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | 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.
Lorex
What does Lorex cost to get started?+
Entry hardware starts at $29.99 for a camera, and the range also covers video doorbells and smart locks, so the same brand can cover a whole front door. Nothing recurring is due at the point of sale, and the purchase carries no contract, so the hardware price is the whole commitment at checkout.
Is there a monthly subscription?+
The Lorex Connect cloud plan is $5.99 a month and is the only recurring charge. The monthly monitoring cost is $0, so hardware already paid for adds no monitoring bill, and the cloud plan stays optional rather than required for core use.