Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
INKBIRD Tech. C.L. vs Shelly
INKBIRD Tech. C.L. vs Shelly: the differences
| Compare | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15.99 | €12.90 |
| Subscription per month | $0 | €3.99 |
| Warranty | 1 to 2 years | 2 to 5 yearsHigher |
| Markets | US, CN, CA, GB | AT, AU, BE, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, NL, NZ, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK |
| Matter certified | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Local control | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Energy reporting | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Hub required (No).
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Key differences
- Warranty is higher at Shelly: 2 to 5 years vs 1 to 2 years.
- Support channels: only Shelly offers Chat, Phone.
- Shelly is available in 26 more countries.
- Device types: only Shelly offers Lighting, Plug, Blinds.
- Protocols: only Shelly offers Matter, Zigbee, Z wave.
- Ecosystems: only Shelly offers Google, Homekit, Matter.
- Markets: only INKBIRD Tech. C.L. offers US, CN, CA.
- Markets: only Shelly offers AT, AU, BE.
Our verdict on each
INKBIRD Tech. C.L.
INKBIRD Tech. C.L. suits homeowners who want cheap temperature readings and voice control without a hub or a monthly bill. Hardware starts at $15.99 and the app fee is $0, though the range stays narrow next to Aqara or SONOFF.
Shelly
Shelly suits homeowners and renters who want broad smart home kit with no hub to buy first. Device prices start at €12.90, the range covers thermostat, lighting, plug, hub, sensor and blinds work over matter, zigbee and z wave, and local control keeps routines running when the internet drops.
Score breakdown
| Area | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherEntry hardware starts at $15.99 and the app adds $0, so running cost stays at hardware only. | 9.1Entry price €12.90 sits under the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands here. |
| Offer | 8.9The line covers thermostat, sensor and hub, and alexa voice control works without extra hardware. | 9.2HigherNo hub required, local control, energy reporting, and cloud extras left to an optional €3.99 plan. |
| Trust | 9.1Delivery is published for US, CN and CA and cover runs 1 to 2 years, with email, help centre and community backing it up. | 9.1Matter certification, 2 to 5 years cover and 14 days returns, all under Shelly Europe Ltd. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | China | Bulgaria |
Additional countries for INKBIRD Tech. C.L.: 3. Additional countries for Shelly: 29.
Also worth a look
Lennox has warranty at 10 years, against 1 to 2 years for INKBIRD Tech. C.L. and 2 to 5 years for Shelly.
Lennox reviewHow they place
| Ranking | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Smart thermostats | 10 of 24 | 12 of 24 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Sensor, Hub | Thermostat, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more |
| Protocols | Wi fi | Matter, Zigbee, Z wave, Wi fiCovers more |
| Ecosystems | Alexa | Alexa, Google, Homekit, MatterCovers more |
| Legal entity | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. | Shelly Europe Ltd |
| Headquarters | China | Bulgaria |
| Founded | 2010 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Home security
| Fact | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | €39.90 |
| Minimum contract | Not confirmed | 0 months |
| Products | Not confirmed | Camera, Smart lock |
| Local storage | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Diy |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Cloud plan per month | Not confirmed | €3.99 |
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Free features | Not confirmed | Camera live streaming, 5 events of event history, motion events with recordings, smart notifications (Shelly Smart Control standard plan) |
| Top resolution | Not confirmed | 1080p |
| Power source | Not confirmed | Battery, Wired |
| Recording retention | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. | Shelly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 1 to 2 yearsat the median | 2 to 5 yearshighest quarter | 2 |
Median across 34 listed brands.
Pros and cons
INKBIRD Tech. C.L.
Pros
- No monthly fee: the app adds $0, so nothing is due at renewal
- No hub required, and wi fi keeps setup to a single device on your own network
- Entry hardware starts at $15.99, well under the median entry price across the site
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so no phone or live chat route is listed
- The range is limited to thermostat, sensor and hub, well short of the lighting, blinds and plug lines at Aqara and SONOFF
- Voice support covers alexa only, narrower than the multi-platform setups rivals carry
Shelly
Pros
- A hub is not required, so plugs, sensors and switches start working without bridge hardware.
- Local control is supported and energy reporting comes as standard, so offline routines and consumption figures arrive together.
- Entry price €12.90 sits below the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands.
Cons
- Camera video tops out at 1080p, below the higher resolutions common on other security cameras.
- Cloud retention of 30 days needs the Shelly Smart Control premium plan at €3.99 a month.
- The camera runs on battery and wired, so placement decides between wiring and battery changes.
Who each suits
INKBIRD Tech. C.L.
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who want a temperature sensor or thermostat on a budget, given hardware from $15.99
- People already using alexa for spoken control and happy with thermostat, sensor and hub
- Households in the United States, CN and CA who want cover of 1 to 2 years without a subscription
Who should look elsewhere
- Households that want lighting, blinds or smart plugs in the same app, since Aqara and SONOFF cover those and INKBIRD covers thermostat, sensor and hub
- Anyone who needs phone support, since email, help centre and community lists email, a help centre and a community only
- People running homes in a country outside US, CN and CA, where delivery and returns are not published
Shelly
Who it suits
- Renters and new buyers who want a hub-free start and automations that keep working offline.
- Households already running Alexa, Google or HomeKit, or planning to settle on Matter later.
- Anyone tracking energy use, since energy reporting is standard across the range.
Who should look elsewhere
- SONOFF, if you want thermostatic radiator valves, since thermostat, trv and lighting includes trv and the Shelly range leaves it out.
- Aqara or Lutron, if the same device mix suits you better from another brand, since hub, sensor and lighting and lighting, blinds and thermostat cover the same categories.
Current offers
Shelly
Current offer
Free trial
3 months free on Shelly Smart Control Premium: 3 months free
Free for 3 months, then EUR 3.99/month (monthly plan) or EUR 35.99/year (yearly plan); offer only available if you have not tried Premium before; cancel anytime
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | INKBIRD Tech. C.L. | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| China | Yes | No |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
8 of 32 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
INKBIRD Tech. C.L.
What does INKBIRD cost to get started?+
Hardware starts at $15.99, and the app adds $0 each month. Buying the device is the only spend, with nothing due at renewal. Budgets are easier to plan than with setups that charge for a plan after the first year.
Do I need a separate hub?+
No hub is needed, so a device talks to your router over wi fi straight away. That keeps the first setup short: plug it in, join it to your network and you are done. Devices that need a hub mean one more box and one more step.
Shelly
What does Shelly hardware cost to start with?+
Entry price is €12.90, which covers the cheapest device in the range rather than a bundle. The camera sits higher at €39.90, and the catalogue spans camera and smart lock. Budget for hardware first, then decide whether the cloud extras earn their monthly fee.
Is there a monthly fee or a contract?+
The Shelly Smart Control premium plan costs €3.99 a month, and it is optional rather than required. There is no minimum term, since the contract length is 0 months. The Shelly Smart Control standard plan keeps live streaming, motion event recordings and smart notifications at no cost.