Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
ecobee vs Philips Hue
Where ecobee and Philips Hue differ
| Compare |  ecobee |  Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $139.99 | $15.99Lower |
| Hub required | No | YesHas it |
| Subscription per month | $5 | $0Lower |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 to 3 years |
| Matter certified | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Local control | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | Not confirmed | 3 years |
| Markets | US, CA | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Philips Hue scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at Philips Hue: $15.99 vs $139.99.
- Hub required: only Philips Hue.
- Subscription per month is lower at Philips Hue: $0 vs $5.
- Support channels: only ecobee offers Phone.
- Device types: only ecobee offers Thermostat.
- Device types: only Philips Hue offers Lighting, Plug, Hub.
- Ecosystems: only Philips Hue offers Matter.
Our verdict on each
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.
Philips Hue
Philips Hue suits homeowners who want lighting, a camera and a video doorbell working together in a single app, and who would rather own the hardware outright than fund a running plan. Entry hardware starts at $15.99 and the monthly subscription sits at $0.
Score breakdown
| Area | ecobee | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Entry price of $139.99 ranks 41 of 54 brands, so cost sits mid field. | 9.4HigherCost score rests on hardware entry at $15.99, a $0 subscription and $65 cameras, so nothing recurs monthly. |
| Offer | 8.9Free Core plan covers detection and door or window alerts; the paid tier at $5 a month adds monitoring. | 8.9The free tier carries live streaming, video history, light and sound alarms and instant notifications, with 60 days retention across alarm, camera and video doorbell. |
| Trust | 9.5HigherLegal entity ecobee Technologies ULC in CA, founded 2007, support on phone and help centre, monitoring in US and CA. | 8.6Backed by Signify Holding with a 2 to 3 years warranty and 30 days returns, against help limited to help centre. |
Pick ecobee if, pick Philips Hue if
Pick ecobee if trust matter most.
Pick Philips Hue if cost, price from, hub required, and subscription per month matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | ecobee | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 18 of 83 | 15 of 83 |
| Video doorbells | 18 of 54 | 15 of 54 |
| Home alarm systems | 11 of 35 | 9 of 35 |
Licences and countries
| Country | ecobee | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Canada | Not confirmed |
How the counts compare
| Fact | ecobee | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $139.99 | $15.99 |
| Subscription per month | $5 | $0 |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 to 3 years |
Where these facts come from
ecobee
- ecobee.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Philips Hue
- philips-hue.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ecobee | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Sensor | Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | Matter, Zigbee, Wi fi |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Smartthings | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more |
| Legal entity | ecobee Technologies ULC | Signify Holding |
| Headquarters | Canada | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2007 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Home security
| Fact | ecobee | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $65Lower |
| Monitoring per month | $5 | $0Lower |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 months |
| Products | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbell | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbell |
| Professional monitoring | YesHas it | No |
| Pricing model | Diy, MonitoredCovers more | Diy |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $5 | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Free features | Free Core plan with security devices: motion and person detection, door or window open/close alerts | live streaming, 24-hour video history, light and sound alarms, instant notifications |
| Top resolution | Not confirmed | 2k |
| Power source | Wired | Battery, WiredCovers more |
| Recording retention | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Two-factor sign-in | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | No |
| Monitoring countries | United States, Canada | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ecobee | Philips Hue | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $139.99above the median | $15.99lowest quarter | $99.99 |
| Subscription per month | $5highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Security update period | Not confirmed | 3 yearsabove the median | 2.5 years |
| Warranty | 3 yearsabove the median | 2 to 3 yearsabove the median | 2 years |
Median across 34 listed brands.
Pros and cons
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.
Philips Hue
Pros
- Live streaming, video history, light and sound alarms and instant notifications all sit in the plan at $0, so the daily features are not held back for a paid tier.
- Local control is a yes, so automations and the light alarm keep working on the hub when the internet does not.
- The range covers alarm, camera and video doorbell with cameras at $65 and accessories from $15.99, which keeps the opening outlay modest.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is a no, so an alarm reaches the homeowner only and nobody at a monitoring centre responds.
- Support runs on help centre alone, which is thin at the moment a camera is down and a call would be the sensible next step.
- A hub is required, so the bridge sits on top of the $15.99 entry price and becomes the part that has to keep working.
Who each suits
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.
Philips Hue
Who it suits
- Homeowners with Hue lighting already, who want cameras and a doorbell in the same app as the lights.
- People who want alerts and live view without a monthly bill, since the subscription is $0 and monitoring is $0.
- Households on Matter or mixed brand platforms, since Hue is Matter certified and lists alexa, google and homekit.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for a whole house climate project: the Hue lighting, plug and hub stops at lighting, plug, hub and sensor, while the Aqara hub, sensor and lighting and the SONOFF thermostat, trv and lighting both add blinds and thermostats.
- Not for anyone who wants a monitoring centre on call, because professional monitoring is a no here, and the do it yourself diy model leaves the response with the homeowner.
Current offers
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
Philips Hue
Current offer
Discount code
Sign up and save 15%: 15%
Sign up to the Philips Hue newsletter; code received within 1 hour after subscription; not valid on email addresses already enrolled in the Philips Hue newsletter
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ecobee | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Philips Hue
What does Philips Hue cost to get started?+
Lighting and accessories start at $15.99, and the security side begins higher, with cameras at $65. Both are hardware prices paid up front rather than instalments, so the entry cost is simply the kit you pick. Budget for a bridge as well, since a hub is required for the system to run locally.
Is there a monthly fee for the Hue Secure cameras and doorbell?+
No. The Hue Secure subscription is $0 a month and monitoring is $0, so running costs are not where the money goes. Live streaming, video history, light and sound alarms and instant notifications are part of the plan you get for nothing. That covers the alarm, camera and video doorbell in the range, so the only spend is the hardware itself.