Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Lorex vs Philips Hue
Where Lorex and Philips Hue differ
| Compare |  Lorex |  Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99Lower | $65 |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbell |
| Free features | local recording, live view, playback and alerts without plan | live streaming, 24-hour video history, light and sound alarms, instant notifications |
| Top resolution | 4k | 2k |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Cloud plan per month | $5.99 | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security update period | Not confirmed | 3 years |
Same on both: Monitoring per month ($0), Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Money-back period (30 days), Recording retention (60 days), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Lorex scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Price is lower at Lorex: $29.99 vs $65.
- Products: only Lorex offers Smart lock.
- Products: only Philips Hue offers Alarm.
- Support channels: only Lorex offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Power source: only Lorex offers Solar, Poe.
- Ecosystems: only Philips Hue offers Smartthings.
Our verdict on each
Lorex
Lorex suits households that want cameras, video doorbells and smart locks from the same brand, with local recording, live view, playback and alerts working before any plan is bought. Entry hardware starts at $29.99, and the Lorex Connect cloud plan is $5.99 a month on top of that.
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 | Lorex | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1No contract term at 0 months, a monitoring charge of $0, and cloud extras at $5.99. | 9.4HigherCost score rests on hardware entry at $15.99, a $0 subscription and $65 cameras, so nothing recurs monthly. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherThe range spans camera, smart lock and video doorbell, and the core camera features work before any cloud plan is bought. | 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 | 9.3HigherTrading since 1991 as Lorex Technology Inc., with a 30 days return window. | 8.6Backed by Signify Holding with a 2 to 3 years warranty and 30 days returns, against help limited to help centre. |
How the counts compare
| Fact | Lorex | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $65 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 60 days | 60 days |
Side by side, item by item
| Products | Lorex | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | No | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | No |
| Video doorbell | Yes | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lorex | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Canada | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Lorex | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 9 of 83 | 15 of 83 |
| Video doorbells | 9 of 54 | 15 of 54 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lorex | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Solar, PoeCovers more | Battery, Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more |
| Legal entity | Lorex Technology Inc. | Signify Holding |
| Headquarters | Canada | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1991 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lorex | Philips Hue | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99below the median | $65below the median | $69.99 |
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $5.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | $3 |
| Recording retention | 60 daysabove the median | 60 daysabove the median | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Lorex
Pros
- Local recording, live view, playback and alerts all work with no plan, and local storage is supported, so footage can stay on a drive the buyer owns.
- Cameras, video doorbells and smart locks come from the same brand, and installation is not required, so a homeowner can cover a front door and garden without hiring an installer.
- Cameras reach 4k and run on battery, wired and solar options, covering outdoor and off-grid spots.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so an alarm travels no further than the owner's own devices and the DIY approach is the only route.
- Cloud video is kept for 60 days, so anything that must stay retrievable longer has to sit on local storage.
- Entry hardware at $29.99 is above The Home Security Superstore at $13.95 and Annke at $19.99, so the ticket at the till is the weak spot.
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
Lorex
Who it suits
- Households that want footage kept on their own drive rather than rented cloud space.
- Renters and owners fitting cameras, a video doorbell and a smart lock without tradesmen.
- Buyers who read the running cost before the ticket, since Lorex carries no contract term.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households after a professionally monitored alarm, since Lorex does not offer professional monitoring and a monitored brand fits that need better.
- Shoppers on the smallest budget, because entry hardware at $29.99 sits above The Home Security Superstore at $13.95.
- Buyers who want cloud features folded into the hardware price, because the Lorex Connect plan is $5.99 a month on top.
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
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 | Lorex | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Mexico | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Lorex
What does Lorex cost to get started?+
Entry hardware starts at $29.99 for a camera, and the range also covers video doorbells and smart locks, so the same brand can cover a whole front door. Nothing recurring is due at the point of sale, and the purchase carries no contract, so the hardware price is the whole commitment at checkout.
Is there a monthly subscription?+
The Lorex Connect cloud plan is $5.99 a month and is the only recurring charge. The monthly monitoring cost is $0, so hardware already paid for adds no monitoring bill, and the cloud plan stays optional rather than required for core use.
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.