Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs ecobee
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aqara |  ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £3.49 | $139.99 |
| Hub required | YesHas it | No |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 yearsHigher |
| Markets | GB | US, CA |
| Matter certified | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Local control | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $5 |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Energy reporting (Yes).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Hub required: only Aqara.
- Warranty is higher at ecobee: 3 years vs 2 years.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Founded is lower at ecobee: 2007 vs 2016.
- ecobee is available in 1 more country.
- Device types: only Aqara offers Hub, Lighting, Plug.
- Ecosystems: only Aqara offers Matter.
- Markets: only Aqara offers GB.
- Markets: only ecobee offers US, CA.
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.
ecobee
ecobee suits homeowners who want heating handled properly and security added on the side, rather than a full alarm shop. Entry pricing starts at $139.99, close to the site entry median, and the thermostat warranty runs 3 years, with sales limited to US and CA.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. | 8.4Entry price of $139.99 ranks 41 of 54 brands, so cost sits mid field. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherMatter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. | 8.9Free Core plan covers detection and door or window alerts; the paid tier at $5 a month adds monitoring. |
| Trust | 8.7Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. | 9.5HigherLegal entity ecobee Technologies ULC in CA, founded 2007, support on phone and help centre, monitoring in US and CA. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 7 of 83 | 18 of 83 |
| Video doorbells | 7 of 54 | 18 of 54 |
| Smart thermostats | 2 of 24 | 6 of 24 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | China | Canada |
Additional countries for Aqara: 1. Additional countries for ecobee: 2.
Pick Aqara if, pick ecobee if
Pick Aqara if offer and hub required matter most.
Pick ecobee if trust and warranty matter most.
What we checked
Aqara
- aqara-shop.co.uk: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- aqara.com: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
ecobee
- ecobee.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Hub, Sensor, Lighting, Plug, Blinds, ThermostatCovers more | Thermostat, Sensor |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi | Not confirmed |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Smartthings |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | ecobee Technologies ULC |
| Headquarters | China | Canada |
| Founded | 2016 | 2007Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Home security
| Fact | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £36.98 | $99.99 |
| Monitoring per month | £0 | $5 |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 months |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Smoke alarm, Video doorbell | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbell |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy, MonitoredCovers more |
| Money-back period | 14 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Cloud plan per month | Not confirmed | $5 |
| Free features | 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording | Free Core plan with security devices: motion and person detection, door or window open/close alerts |
| Top resolution | 2k | Not confirmed |
| Power source | Battery, WiredCovers more | Wired |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Two-factor sign-in | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Installation required | No | No |
| Monitoring countries | Not confirmed | United States, Canada |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | ecobee | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $5highest quarter | $0 |
| Security update period | 2 yearsbelow the median | Not confirmed | 2.5 years |
| Warranty | 2 yearsat the median | 3 yearsabove the median | 2 years |
Median across 34 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.
ecobee
Pros
- Entry pricing from $139.99 sits close to the site entry median of €127.49, so heating control is not a premium bet.
- No hub is required, so there is no extra box to buy, and energy reporting comes with the smart thermostats.
- The thermostat warranty runs 3 years, with a 30 day money back period behind the purchase.
Cons
- The security side is a running cost: the paid plan is $5 a month, and professional monitoring only sits on that tier.
- The video doorbell is wired, so it needs a cable run at the front door rather than a battery you swap yourself.
- Recorded video is kept for 30 days, a short window for reviewing anything older.
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.
ecobee
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a thermostat as the anchor and a camera, video doorbell or alarm sensor added to the same brand later.
- Homes that already run alexa, google and homekit and want heating data in the same place as everything else.
- People who want professional monitoring without a long agreement, since the contract length is 0 months.
Who should look elsewhere
- Full home device shoppers, since Aqara's range covers hub, sensor and lighting while ecobee's device types are thermostat and sensor.
- Buyers chasing lighting and blinds control as the main event: Lutron's device list runs lighting, blinds and thermostat, well beyond a heating brand.
- Budget builders who want a hub, heating valve and blinds under one roof, which is what SONOFF lists in thermostat, trv and lighting.
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
ecobee
Current offer
Discount code
$20 off your next purchase with newsletter signup: $20 USD
New customers only; promotional code sent by email after form submit; cannot be combined with other offers; cannot apply to prior purchases
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Free trial
1 month free Smart Security + Professional Monitoring: 1 month
Offered during system setup; no contracts, no credit card required; 24/7 pro monitoring not available in Calgary, AB
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | ecobee |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
ecobee
How much does it cost to get started with ecobee?+
Hardware starts at $139.99, which puts ecobee close to the site entry median of €127.49. That covers the equipment. Anything on the security side, monitoring included, is billed separately each month. A 30 day money back period covers the hardware purchase if the fit turns out wrong.
Do I have to pay a subscription to use the security devices?+
There is a free Core plan that covers motion and person detection along with door or window open and close alerts, so the basics cost nothing to run. Paying $5 a month moves you onto the plan that adds professional monitoring and stored video history. The choice is how much of the security side you want switched on.