Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs eufy
Where Aqara and eufy differ
| Compare |  Aqara |  eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £36.98 | $199 |
| Monitoring per month | £0 | $4.99 to $9.99 |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Smoke alarm, Video doorbell | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Alarm |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Money-back period | 14 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Free features | 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording | On-device local storage, on-device AI detection and face recognition, cross-camera tracking, self-learning AI, instant notifications and playback with no monthly fee |
| Top resolution | 2k | 4k |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 90 to 365 daysHigher |
| Cloud plan per month | Not confirmed | $3.99 |
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Two-factor sign-in | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Local storage (Yes), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Products: only Aqara offers Smoke alarm.
- Products: only eufy offers Alarm.
- Professional monitoring: only eufy.
- Recording retention is higher at eufy: 90 to 365 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only eufy offers Email, Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at eufy: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Founded is lower at eufy: 2011 vs 2016.
- eufy is available in 18 more countries.
- Pricing model: only eufy offers Monitored.
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.
eufy
eufy suits homeowners who want cameras, doorbells, locks and alarms that keep working without a subscription, and who add professional monitoring only when they want it. The contract term is 0 months, and on-device local storage, AI detection and playback come with no monthly fee.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. | 8.7Bundle price $199 sits above $13.95 at The Home Security Superstore, but cloud storage costs $3.99. |
| Offer | 9.2Matter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. | 9.4HigherWide catalogue across camera, video doorbell and smart lock, on-device AI detection with no monthly fee, and robot vacuum suction of 30,000 Pa. |
| Trust | 8.7Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. | 9.0HigherFounded 2011, sold by Fantasia Trading LLC, with end-to-end encryption and two factor both yes, plus 30 days returns. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 14 days | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 90 to 365 days |
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 13 of 75 | 6 of 75 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 8 of 53 | 6 of 53 |
| Video doorbells | 11 of 54 | 6 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 8 of 42 | 5 of 42 |
Side by side, item by item
| Products | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | No | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | No |
What we checked
Aqara
- aqara.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- aqara-shop.co.uk: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
eufy
- eufy.com: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- us.eufy.com: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy, MonitoredCovers more |
| Power source | Battery, Wired | Battery, Solar, Wired, PoeCovers more |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Homekit |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Fantasia Trading LLC |
| Headquarters | China | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Floor care
| Fact | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | Not confirmed | eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S2, eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E35, eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25, eufy Robot Vacuum Omni C28 |
| Entry price | Not confirmed | $169.99 |
| Flagship price | Not confirmed | $1,599.99 |
| Top suction (Pa) | Not confirmed | 30,000 |
| Self-empty dock | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Mop type | Not confirmed | Roller |
| Mop lift (mm) | Not confirmed | 12 |
| Obstacle avoidance | Not confirmed | Camera AI |
| LiDAR navigation | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Matter support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Works offline | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yearsHigher | 1 year |
| Spare parts shop | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Markets | GB | US, CA, GB, DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, IE, GR, HU, HR, PL, AU, SG, NZ, AE, VN, TWCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | eufy | 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 |
| Cloud plan per month | Not confirmed | $3.99above the median | $3 |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | 90 to 365 dayshighest quarter | 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.
eufy
Pros
- Contract term: 0 months, so nothing forces a long commitment, and the on-device storage, detection and playback come at no monthly charge.
- One brand across camera, video doorbell and smart lock, with battery, solar and wired options for powering each unit.
- Cloud storage is optional at $3.99 a month, and local recordings are kept 90 to 365 days.
Cons
- Bundle price $199 compares poorly with $13.95 at The Home Security Superstore and $19.99 at Annke.
- Professional monitoring costs $4.99 to $9.99 a month, and the monitoring price position is 39 of 51.
- Price rank sits at 62 of 70, so eufy is not the cheap option in this group.
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.
eufy
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want one brand across cameras, video doorbells, smart locks and alarms: camera, video doorbell and smart lock.
- Renters and flat owners who will not sign a contract, since the term is 0 months.
- People who want footage kept on their own hardware: local storage is yes, with retention of 90 to 365 days.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers chasing the lowest entry price on cameras: The Home Security Superstore lists cameras at $13.95 against the eufy bundle at $199.
- Buyers who would rather start at Annke's $19.99 entry point than pay bundle pricing.
- Readers set on Aqara's camera entry point of £36.98 and its own support setup.
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
eufy
Current offer
Discount code
10% off and up to $50 off for newsletter signup: 10% off, up to $50
Email newsletter signup; coupon offered on the sign-up form
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Greece | No | Yes |
| Hungary | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
8 of 19 countries where either is available.
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.
eufy
Do I have to pay a monthly fee to use the cameras?+
No. The free feature set keeps storage, detection and face recognition on the device itself, adds tracking across cameras and self-learning, and gives instant alerts with playback at no monthly charge. Cloud storage is optional at $3.99 a month, and the contract term is 0 months.
Is there a minimum contract to sign up for?+
The contract term is 0 months, so there is nothing to serve and nothing to cancel early. That puts eufy at 1 of 60 brands on contract length, ahead of brands that lock customers into a minimum period.
Other options to compare
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