Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
JOOAN vs SONOFF
JOOAN vs SONOFF: the differences
| Compare |  JOOAN |  SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.99 | €20.47 |
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell | Camera, Alarm |
| Free features | 30 days free cloud storage | 1080P live view, free motion detection push alerts, local microSD (TF) recording up to 128GB, two-way audio, sleep mode, privacy zones and RTSP; CAM-C44HE adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee |
| Top resolution | 2k | 4k |
| Minimum contract | Not confirmed | 0 months |
| Professional monitoring | Not confirmed | No |
| Local storage | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Recording retention | Not confirmed | 90 days |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Products: only JOOAN offers Video doorbell.
- Products: only SONOFF offers Alarm.
- Support channels: only JOOAN offers Phone.
- SONOFF is available in 28 more countries.
- Power source: only JOOAN offers Battery, Solar.
- Power source: only SONOFF offers Wired.
Our verdict on each
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.
SONOFF
SONOFF suits people building a wired or Zigbee home on a tight budget who want cameras and climate gear that keep working without a subscription. Entry costs start at €6.16, the range is Matter certified, and local storage holds recordings for 90 days. The catch is support, which runs on email and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | JOOAN | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9Hardware starts at $13.99, under $19.99 and £36.98, and cloud storage needs no subscription. | 9.9Entry price runs €6.16 and a camera sits at €20.47, with monitoring and contracts at 0 months, well under the €61.38 typical band. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA free trial of 30 days free cloud storage sits alongside a 30 days window, both longer than most rivals offer. | 9.0Free features cover local AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP, and energy reporting is included. |
| Trust | 9.1A stated founding year of 2010 and a published legal entity, HK RUIXUN INTELLIGENT TECH CO., LIMITED, sit behind a DIY model. | 9.12 years of cover, local storage as standard, and support limited to email and help centre, which is thinner than most rivals. |
How they place
| Ranking | JOOAN | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 14 of 75 | 15 of 75 |
Feature by feature
| Products | JOOAN | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | No | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | No |
Availability and regulation
| Country | JOOAN | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | China |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for SONOFF: 28.
Where these facts come from
JOOAN
- shop.jooancam.com: 6 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- jooancam.com: 4 facts, checked September 30, 2026
SONOFF
- sonoff.tech: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | JOOAN | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Solar | Wired |
| Ecosystems | Not confirmed | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, Smartthings |
| Legal entity | HK RUIXUN INTELLIGENT TECH CO., LIMITED | Shenzhen Sonoff Technologies Co.,Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | China |
| Founded | 2010 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | JOOAN | SONOFF | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum contract | Not confirmed | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Recording retention | Not confirmed | 90 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
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.
SONOFF
Pros
- Matter certified gear across thermostat, trv and lighting, covering matter, thread and zigbee so it fits most existing setups
- Entry prices from €6.16 and cameras from €20.47
- Free features include local AI detection, security modes, privacy zones and RTSP with no monthly fee
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alarms stay self-served
- A hub is required for the Zigbee thermostat, adding cost to a heating setup
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone or live chat line
Who each suits
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
SONOFF
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who already run a Matter or Zigbee home
- People who want camera recording on a card rather than a cloud subscription
- Builders covering lighting, plugs, sensors, blinds and climate from one maker
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants professional alarm monitoring, which Sonoff does not sell
- Households on Z-Wave, a protocol outside the matter, thread and zigbee list
- Buyers who want phone or chat support, since email and help centre is the limit
Current offers
SONOFF
Current offer
Discount code
10% OFF your first order for newsletter subscribers: 10% off first order
Email newsletter signup; valid for 30 days; one-time use per customer; cannot be combined with other offers
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | JOOAN | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Estonia | No | Yes |
8 of 29 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
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.
SONOFF
What does SONOFF hardware cost to get started?+
Entry prices run €6.16 across the range, and a security camera starts at €20.47. There is no separate hardware bundle to buy, so the outlay is the device itself plus a hub if the product needs one.
Is there a monthly subscription or contract?+
No. Contract length is 0 months, and local card recording, AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP are listed as free features. The dual-lens hub camera adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee attached.