Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Lorex vs SONOFF
Lorex vs SONOFF: the differences
| Compare |  Lorex |  SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | €20.47 |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell | Camera, Alarm |
| Free features | local recording, live view, playback and alerts without plan | 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 |
| Recording retention | 60 days | 90 daysHigher |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Cloud plan per month | $5.99 | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Professional monitoring (No), Local storage (Yes), Money-back period (30 days), Top resolution (4k).
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Key differences
- SONOFF scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Products: only Lorex offers Smart lock, Video doorbell.
- Products: only SONOFF offers Alarm.
- Recording retention is higher at SONOFF: 90 days vs 60 days.
- Support channels: only Lorex offers Chat, Phone.
- SONOFF is available in 24 more countries.
- Power source: only Lorex offers Battery, Solar, Poe.
- Ecosystems: only SONOFF 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.
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 | Lorex | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1No contract term at 0 months, a monitoring charge of $0, and cloud extras at $5.99. | 9.9HigherEntry 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 | 9.2HigherThe range spans camera, smart lock and video doorbell, and the core camera features work before any cloud plan is bought. | 9.0Free features cover local AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP, and energy reporting is included. |
| Trust | 9.3HigherTrading since 1991 as Lorex Technology Inc., with a 30 days return window. | 9.12 years of cover, local storage as standard, and support limited to email and help centre, which is thinner than most rivals. |
By the numbers
| Fact | Lorex | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 60 days | 90 days |
What each covers
| Products | Lorex | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | No | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | No |
| Video doorbell | Yes | No |
If neither fits
AOSU has recording retention at 120 days, against 60 days for Lorex and 90 days for SONOFF.
AOSU reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Lorex | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 19 of 75 | 15 of 75 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 12 of 53 | 9 of 53 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lorex | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Solar, PoeCovers more | Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more |
| Legal entity | Lorex Technology Inc. | Shenzhen Sonoff Technologies Co.,Ltd |
| Headquarters | Canada | China |
| Founded | 1991 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lorex | SONOFF | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $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 | 90 dayshighest quarter | 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.
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
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.
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 | Lorex | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
8 of 32 countries where either is available.
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.
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.