Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Shelly
Aqara vs Shelly: the differences
| Compare |  Aqara |  Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarmCovers more | Camera, Smart lock |
| Money-back period | 30 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $0 | €3.99 |
| Free features | 7 days free cloud event clips | Camera live streaming, 5 events of event history, motion events with recordings, smart notifications (Shelly Smart Control standard plan) |
| Top resolution | 2k | 1080p |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Price | Not confirmed | €39.90 |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Professional monitoring | No | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Local storage (Yes), End-to-end encryption (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Products: only Aqara offers Video doorbell, Smoke alarm.
- Recording retention is higher at Shelly: 30 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Shelly offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Money-back period is higher at Aqara: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Power source: only Aqara offers Poe.
- 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.
Shelly
Shelly suits homeowners and renters who want broad smart home kit with no hub to buy first. Device prices start at €12.90, the range covers thermostat, lighting, plug, hub, sensor and blinds work over matter, zigbee and z wave, and local control keeps routines running when the internet drops.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher$0 on automation subscriptions and 0 months on contract length keep the recurring cost at nothing. | 9.1Entry price €12.90 sits under the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands here. |
| Offer | 8.97 days free cloud event clips come with entry hardware at $17.99, so a small kit starts cheap. | 9.2HigherNo hub required, local control, energy reporting, and cloud extras left to an optional €3.99 plan. |
| Trust | 8.8End to end encryption is in place, with security support running 2 years and warranty cover of 1 year. | 9.1HigherMatter certification, 2 to 5 years cover and 14 days returns, all under Shelly Europe Ltd. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Aqara | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Bulgaria |
Also worth a look
AOSU has recording retention at 120 days, against 7 days for Aqara and 30 days for Shelly.
AOSU reviewWhat we checked
Aqara
- aqara.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- us.aqara.com: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Shelly
- shelly.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 25 of 75 | 33 of 75 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 15 of 53 | 23 of 53 |
| Smart locks | 14 of 42 | 17 of 42 |
| Smart thermostats | 9 of 24 | 12 of 24 |
| Matter smart home devices | 12 of 33 | 17 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, PoeCovers more | Battery, Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Shelly Europe Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Bulgaria |
| Founded | 2009 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Aqara | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more | Thermostat, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, Blinds |
| Price from | $17.99 | €12.90 |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi | Matter, Zigbee, Z wave, Wi fi |
| Matter certified | Yes | Yes |
| Hub required | YesHas it | No |
| Local control | Yes | Yes |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription per month | $0 | €3.99 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 to 5 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, TT | AT, AU, BE, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, NL, NZ, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Shelly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | €39.90below the median | €69.99 |
| 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 | 14 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Security update period | 2 yearsbelow the median | Not confirmed | 3 years |
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.
Shelly
Pros
- A hub is not required, so plugs, sensors and switches start working without bridge hardware.
- Local control is supported and energy reporting comes as standard, so offline routines and consumption figures arrive together.
- Entry price €12.90 sits below the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands.
Cons
- Camera video tops out at 1080p, below the higher resolutions common on other security cameras.
- Cloud retention of 30 days needs the Shelly Smart Control premium plan at €3.99 a month.
- The camera runs on battery and wired, so placement decides between wiring and battery changes.
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.
Shelly
Who it suits
- Renters and new buyers who want a hub-free start and automations that keep working offline.
- Households already running Alexa, Google or HomeKit, or planning to settle on Matter later.
- Anyone tracking energy use, since energy reporting is standard across the range.
Who should look elsewhere
- SONOFF, if you want thermostatic radiator valves, since thermostat, trv and lighting includes trv and the Shelly range leaves it out.
- Aqara or Lutron, if the same device mix suits you better from another brand, since hub, sensor and lighting and lighting, blinds and thermostat cover the same categories.
Current offers
Shelly
Current offer
Free trial
3 months free on Shelly Smart Control Premium: 3 months free
Free for 3 months, then EUR 3.99/month (monthly plan) or EUR 35.99/year (yearly plan); offer only available if you have not tried Premium before; cancel anytime
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Estonia | No | Yes |
8 of 29 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.
Shelly
What does Shelly hardware cost to start with?+
Entry price is €12.90, which covers the cheapest device in the range rather than a bundle. The camera sits higher at €39.90, and the catalogue spans camera and smart lock. Budget for hardware first, then decide whether the cloud extras earn their monthly fee.
Is there a monthly fee or a contract?+
The Shelly Smart Control premium plan costs €3.99 a month, and it is optional rather than required. There is no minimum term, since the contract length is 0 months. The Shelly Smart Control standard plan keeps live streaming, motion event recordings and smart notifications at no cost.