Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Desloc
Where Aqara and Desloc differ
| Compare |  Aqara |  Desloc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £36.98 | $39.99 |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Smoke alarm, Video doorbellCovers more | Smart lock |
| Money-back period | 14 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Free features | 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording | App control and remote control with no gateway required |
| Monitoring per month | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Top resolution | 2k | Not confirmed |
| Recording retention | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Local storage (Yes), Installation required (No).
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
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Products: only Aqara offers Camera, Smoke alarm, Video doorbell.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Support channels: only Desloc offers Email, Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Desloc: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Founded is lower at Desloc: 2009 vs 2016.
- Desloc is available in 1 more country.
- Power source: only Aqara offers Wired.
- Power source: only Desloc offers Solar.
- Ecosystems: only Aqara offers Homekit, Matter, Smartthings.
Our verdict on each
Aqara
Aqara suits renters and homeowners who want sensors, locks and cameras to run through one hub without a subscription. Entry hardware starts at £3.49, monitoring stays free, and local control keeps automations on the hub, so the real commitment is buying the hub first and adding devices as the house grows.
Desloc
Desloc is a straight-talking lock brand for anyone who wants a smart deadbolt without a subscription, a gateway box or a monitoring contract. Entry price of $39.99 and 0 months contract months keep the outlay small, and 9.1 reflects that balance.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Desloc |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. | 9.2Entry price of $39.99 sits well under the smart lock median of €100.84. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherMatter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. | 8.9Smart locks only, 0 months contract and app and remote control with no gateway required. |
| Trust | 8.7Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. | 9.1HigherLocal storage, DIY model, email, chat and phone including phone, and 30 days returns. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Aqara | Desloc |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | China | United States |
Additional countries for Aqara: 1. Additional countries for Desloc: 2.
Which one suits you
Pick Aqara if cost, offer, and products matter most.
Pick Desloc if trust and money-back period matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | Desloc |
|---|---|---|
| Smart locks | 8 of 42 | 15 of 42 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Desloc |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired | Battery, Solar |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | DefendNet LLC |
| Headquarters | China | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | 2009Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Desloc | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 14 dayslowest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Security update period | 2 yearsbelow the median | Not confirmed | 3 years |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Aqara
Pros
- Monitoring is £0 and the contract term is 0 months, so there is no renewal price to plan for.
- Hardware opens at £3.49 and cameras start at £36.98, against a site entry median of €127.49.
- Local control and local storage are both supported, so automations and recordings can stay on the hub rather than in the cloud.
Cons
- A hub is required before any sensor, lock or blind does anything, which is an upfront cost on top of the devices.
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alerts depend on the household rather than on a watching service.
- Support runs on phone, help centre and community only, with no live chat listed alongside them.
Desloc
Pros
- Entry price of $39.99 is far below the smart lock entry median of €100.84
- App control and remote control come with no gateway required, so there is no hub to add later
- 0 months contract months and no professional monitoring, so nothing renews and nothing bills monthly
Cons
- Range is narrow: product types cover smart locks only, so there is no camera or sensor to add to the same system
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so break-ins get no call-out from a monitoring centre
- The product type listed is DIY, which suits confident installers more than people booking a locksmith
Who each suits
Aqara
Who it suits
- People who want sensors, locks and cameras under one hub with local control and nothing to pay monthly, since monitoring is £0.
- Households already running Zigbee or Thread kit, since the hub bridges matter, thread and zigbee and can reuse what is already installed.
- Owners who want a do it yourself system, since the model is diy and installation is not required for the camera range.
Who should look elsewhere
- Lutron buyers who only need lighting, blinds and thermostats, since lighting, blinds and thermostat carries no sensor, lock or camera line.
- SONOFF shoppers after radiator valves, since thermostat, trv and lighting includes radiator valves and hub, sensor and lighting does not.
- GHome Smart buyers who want a compact setup, since plug, lighting and thermostat leaves out blinds and a hub that hub, sensor and lighting includes.
Desloc
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who want remote entry control on one door and nothing more
- People who want local access history on the lock instead of a cloud storage subscription
- US households already using Alexa or Google for voice control
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants a camera, sensor or alarm panel from the same brand
- Households that need professional monitoring call-outs
- Buyers outside the US who want a brand with an established UK range, such as Aqara
Current offers
Aqara
Current offer
Discount code
5% off your first order via Aqara UK newsletter: 5% off first order
Sign up to the Aqara UK newsletter; code sent by email
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | Desloc |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Aqara
What does Aqara cost to run after the hardware is bought?+
Monthly monitoring is £0 and the contract term is 0 months, so there is no subscription to renew and no renewal price to plan around. Cameras include 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording as standard, hardware opens at £3.49 and cameras start at £36.98. Nothing steps up when a year passes.
Is Aqara certified for safety and security?+
Aqara's hub is Matter certified, and the security certifications cover camera, smart lock and smoke alarm as a group. Security support runs for 2 years, which is shorter than the 2 years warranty, so buyers planning a long ownership should think about the stretch after the warranty period ends.
Desloc
How much does a Desloc smart lock cost?+
Desloc locks start at $39.99, which is well under the €100.84 median entry price for smart locks. On price, Desloc ranks 23 of 70 brands, so it reads as a budget choice. The price you see is the price you pay, with no add-ons to price in later.
Is there a monthly fee or contract with a Desloc lock?+
There is no subscription to think about. The contract length is 0 months, and professional monitoring is not offered, so nothing is billed monthly for the lock itself. App control and remote control come with no gateway required, which also removes the cost of a hub or its service plan.