Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Lockin
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aqara | Lockin ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £3.49 | $129.99 |
| Hub required | YesHas it | No |
| Warranty | 2 yearsHigher | 1 year |
| Markets | GB | US |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Matter certified (Yes), Local control (Yes).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Hub required: only Aqara.
- Warranty is higher at Aqara: 2 years vs 1 year.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Support channels: only Lockin offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Lockin: 2014 vs 2016.
- Protocols: only Aqara offers Zigbee.
- Markets: only Aqara offers GB.
- Markets: only Lockin offers US.
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.
Lockin
Lockin suits people who want a lock and a video doorbell with no running fees. The range starts at $129.99, with cloud and monitoring both at $0. Expect US only, a 0 months commitment, and no one watching your alarms.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Lockin |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. | 9.2Entry price of $129.99 with cloud plan of $0 and monitoring of $0 keep running cost at nil. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherMatter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. | 9.0Range covers smart lock and video doorbell on a diy model, with video kept on the device and detection. |
| Trust | 8.7Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. | 8.8HigherFounded 2014, Matter certified, US market, warranty of 1 year and 30 day returns. |
What we checked
Aqara
- aqara-shop.co.uk: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- aqara.com: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Lockin
- lockin.com: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | Lockin |
|---|---|---|
| Video doorbells | 11 of 54 | 7 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 8 of 42 | 6 of 42 |
| Matter smart home devices | 4 of 33 | 3 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Lockin |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Hub, Sensor, Lighting, Plug, Blinds, Thermostat | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fiCovers more | Matter, Thread, Wi fi |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, Smartthings | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, Smartthings |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | China | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | 2014Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Home security
| Fact | Aqara | Lockin |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £36.98 | $129.99 |
| Monitoring per month | £0 | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 months |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Smoke alarm, Video doorbellCovers more | Smart lock, Video doorbell |
| Professional monitoring | No | No |
| Local storage | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Money-back period | 14 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Cloud plan per month | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Free features | 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording | AI detection, video, remote access and app control with no fee |
| Top resolution | 2k | 2k |
| Power source | Battery, Wired | Battery, Solar |
| Recording retention | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | No |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Lockin | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Security update period | 2 yearsbelow the median | Not confirmed | 2.5 years |
| Warranty | 2 yearsat the median | 1 yearlowest quarter | 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.
Lockin
Pros
- No contract: 0 months means nothing locks you in
- Cloud plan and monitoring both sit at $0, so the buy is the whole cost
- Detection, video, remote access and app control are bundled at no extra charge
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alarms are not watched
- US is the only listed market, so buyers elsewhere face a shipping question
- Warranty runs 1 year, shorter than the life of a front door lock
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.
Lockin
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners replacing a front door lock who refuse subscriptions
- Matter-minded buyers already running Alexa, Google, HomeKit or SmartThings
- People who want video history on their own device rather than in the cloud
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a watched alarm service, since professional monitoring is not part of the Lockin offer and Annke or Aqara suit camera-led setups
- Shoppers outside the US, because US is the only listed market
- Anyone after a wired camera or full alarm kit, since smart lock and video doorbell stops at locks and doorbells
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 | Lockin |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
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.
Lockin
Is there a monthly fee for Lockin smart locks and video doorbells?+
No. The cloud plan is $0 and monthly monitoring is $0, so the hardware price is the only outlay. Detection, video, remote access and app control are all included at no fee, which keeps the running cost at nil for as long as you own the device.
Does Lockin require a contract or subscription?+
The contract term is 0 months, so there is nothing to cancel and no minimum term to serve. That is part of why Lockin places 1 of 60 brands on contract length, the same top spot it takes on monitoring at $0.