Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Philips Hue vs Shelly
Philips Hue vs Shelly: the differences
| Compare |  Philips Hue |  Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15.99 | €12.90 |
| Hub required | YesHas it | No |
| Subscription per month | $0 | €3.99 |
| Warranty | 2 to 3 years | 2 to 5 yearsHigher |
| Energy reporting | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Security update period | 3 years | Not confirmed |
| Markets | Not confirmed | 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 |
Same on both: Matter certified (Yes), Local control (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Shelly scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Hub required: only Philips Hue.
- Warranty is higher at Shelly: 2 to 5 years vs 2 to 3 years.
- Support channels: only Shelly offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Device types: only Shelly offers Thermostat, Blinds.
- Protocols: only Shelly offers Z wave.
- Ecosystems: only Philips Hue offers Smartthings.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Philips Hue | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherCost score rests on hardware entry at $15.99, a $0 subscription and $65 cameras, so nothing recurs monthly. | 9.1Entry price €12.90 sits under the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands here. |
| Offer | 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. | 9.2HigherNo hub required, local control, energy reporting, and cloud extras left to an optional €3.99 plan. |
| Trust | 8.6Backed by Signify Holding with a 2 to 3 years warranty and 30 days returns, against help limited to help centre. | 9.1HigherMatter certification, 2 to 5 years cover and 14 days returns, all under Shelly Europe Ltd. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Philips Hue | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Bulgaria |
Pick Philips Hue if, pick Shelly if
Pick Philips Hue if cost and hub required matter most.
Pick Shelly if offer, trust, and warranty matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Philips Hue | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 15 of 83 | 14 of 83 |
| Matter smart home devices | 10 of 34 | 8 of 34 |
Where these facts come from
Philips Hue
- philips-hue.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Shelly
- shelly.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Philips Hue | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor | Thermostat, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more |
| Protocols | Matter, Zigbee, Wi fi | Matter, Zigbee, Z wave, Wi fiCovers more |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter |
| Legal entity | Signify Holding | Shelly Europe Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Bulgaria |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Home security
| Fact | Philips Hue | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65 | €39.90 |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 months |
| Products | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbell | Camera, Smart lock |
| Professional monitoring | No | Not confirmed |
| Local storage | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Money-back period | 30 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Cloud plan per month | Not confirmed | €3.99 |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Free features | live streaming, 24-hour video history, light and sound alarms, instant notifications | Camera live streaming, 5 events of event history, motion events with recordings, smart notifications (Shelly Smart Control standard plan) |
| Top resolution | 2k | 1080p |
| Power source | Battery, Wired | Battery, Wired |
| Recording retention | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Philips Hue | Shelly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security update period | 3 yearsabove the median | Not confirmed | 2.5 years |
| Warranty | 2 to 3 yearsabove the median | 2 to 5 yearshighest quarter | 2 |
Median across 34 listed brands.
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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
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
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 | Philips Hue | Shelly |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | 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
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.
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.