Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs JOOAN
Aqara vs JOOAN: the differences
| Compare |  Aqara |  JOOAN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £36.98 | $13.99 |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Smoke alarm, Video doorbellCovers more | Camera, Video doorbell |
| Money-back period | 14 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Free features | 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording | 30 days free cloud storage |
| Monitoring per month | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | Not confirmed |
| Professional monitoring | No | Not confirmed |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Recording retention | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Top resolution (2k).
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 Smart lock, Smoke alarm.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Support channels: only JOOAN offers Email.
- Money-back period is higher at JOOAN: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Founded is lower at JOOAN: 2010 vs 2016.
- Power source: only Aqara offers Wired.
- Power source: only JOOAN offers Solar.
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.
JOOAN
JOOAN suits renters and homeowners who want cameras and video doorbells on a tight hardware budget, with $13.99 as the entry point and 30 days free cloud storage to carry the first month. Buyers wanting professional monitoring or a mature support desk should look elsewhere, since the lineup is DIY.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | JOOAN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. | 9.9Hardware starts at $13.99, under $19.99 and £36.98, and cloud storage needs no subscription. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherMatter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. | 9.1A free trial of 30 days free cloud storage sits alongside a 30 days window, both longer than most rivals offer. |
| Trust | 8.7Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. | 9.1HigherA stated founding year of 2010 and a published legal entity, HK RUIXUN INTELLIGENT TECH CO., LIMITED, sit behind a DIY model. |
Feature by feature
| Products | Aqara | JOOAN |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | No |
| Video doorbell | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | No |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Aqara | JOOAN |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | China | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Aqara: 1. Additional countries for JOOAN: 1.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Aqara | JOOAN |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 13 of 75 | 14 of 75 |
| Video doorbells | 11 of 54 | 12 of 54 |
Choosing between them
Pick Aqara if products matter most.
Pick JOOAN if trust and money-back period matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | JOOAN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired | Battery, Solar |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, Smartthings | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | HK RUIXUN INTELLIGENT TECH CO., LIMITED |
| Headquarters | China | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | 2010Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | JOOAN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | Not confirmed | 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.
JOOAN
Pros
- Entry hardware price of $13.99 sits below both $19.99 and £36.98, which suits a first camera or a spare door.
- 30 days free cloud storage gives buyers a free month of cloud recording, so alerts and playback work before any subscription decision.
- A 30 days return window is longer than the typical trial most camera sellers offer, easing an uncertain first install.
Cons
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with no live chat in that set, so questions outside office hours wait on email or a call back.
- Peak resolution of 2k on the range trails brands that advertise higher-resolution sensors, so detail at distance is limited.
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.
JOOAN
Who it suits
- Renters and first-time buyers who want indoor coverage on a small budget
- Homeowners covering a back garden, garage or side gate where cabling is awkward
- Shoppers who want a camera and a front-door video doorbell from one maker
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after professional monitoring, since the model is diy
- Buyers who need long-range detail beyond 2k, where a higher-resolution range suits better
- Shoppers who expect a bigger support desk, since help runs on email, phone and help centre
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 | JOOAN |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
JOOAN
How much does the cheapest JOOAN camera cost?+
The entry point is $13.99 for the indoor and outdoor WiFi camera, which is the figure most people will see first. That is below $19.99 and well under £36.98, so JOOAN makes sense for a first camera or a second unit. Prices sit at hardware level with no subscription needed to start.
Is there a monthly subscription for cloud recording?+
Not to begin with. 30 days free cloud storage gives buyers a free trial of cloud storage, so you can check playback and alerts before deciding on a plan. The hardware works on its own in the meantime, and the diy approach means the setup is yours to run rather than a monitoring team's.