Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Welock
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aqara | Welock ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £36.98 | €119 |
| Monitoring per month | £0 | €0 |
| 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 | Free app with Bluetooth unlock and access sharing |
| Local storage | Yes | 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), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Products: only Aqara offers Camera, Smoke alarm, Video doorbell.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Welock offers Email.
- Money-back period is higher at Welock: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Founded is lower at Welock: 2013 vs 2016.
- Welock is available in 4 more countries.
- Power source: only Aqara offers Wired.
- Ecosystems: only Aqara offers Google, Homekit, Matter.
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.
Welock
Welock suits homeowners who want a self-installed cylinder lock with nothing to pay each month after the purchase. The fingerprint cylinder costs €119 with monitoring at €0 and a contract of 0 months, and professional monitoring is off, so there is no renewal to budget for.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. | 9.0Entry price €119 with monitoring of €0 and a contract of 0 months. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherMatter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. | 8.6Bluetooth unlock and access sharing ship in the free app, and the range covers smart lock. |
| Trust | 8.7Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. | 8.9HigherSupport runs on email and help centre, and the company has been going since 2013. |
Which one suits you
Pick Aqara if offer and products matter most.
Pick Welock if money-back period matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Aqara | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Smart locks | 8 of 42 | 3 of 42 |
If neither fits
SimpliSafe has money-back period at 60 days, against 14 days for Aqara and 30 days for Welock.
SimpliSafe reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, WiredCovers more | Battery |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | China | China |
| Founded | 2016 | 2013Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Welock | 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.
Welock
Pros
- No subscription attached: monitoring runs at €0 and the contract is 0 months, so there is nothing to renew.
- The app is free and includes Bluetooth unlock with access sharing, so a spare key or code can be issued to someone from a phone.
- Entry price of €119 sits below the smart lock category median of €87.69, so a fitted cylinder costs less than a typical one.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is off, so the lock secures the door and shares access but does not alert anyone during an intrusion.
- The range covers smart lock only, so cameras, sensors or an alarm panel have to come from another maker.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for a lock that has to be fitted to a door.
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.
Welock
Who it suits
- Homeowners or renters swapping an existing cylinder who want no monthly fee after the purchase
- People already using the voice assistant listed in alexa elsewhere in the house
- Buyers who want a battery lock that runs on its own, with the model listed as diy
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants professional monitoring, because that option is off and no response desk is offered
- Households wanting cameras or alarms in the same basket, since the range is smart lock only
- Smart home setups built on other ecosystems, as voice support covers alexa alone
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 | Welock |
|---|---|---|
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Spain | 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.
Welock
How much does a Welock smart lock cost?+
The entry price is €119 for the lock, with no subscription layered on top. The smart lock category median on this site is €87.69, and Welock sits below it. Returns run for 30 days if the cylinder does not suit your door.
Is there a monthly fee for a Welock lock?+
No. Monitoring runs at €0, so there is nothing to pay each month. The contract is also 0 months, meaning there is no minimum term to serve and nothing to renew. You buy the hardware and that is the cost.