Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Shelly vs SONOFF
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Shelly |  SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €12.90 | €6.16Lower |
| Hub required | No | YesHas it |
| Warranty | 2 to 5 yearsHigher | 2 years |
| Markets | 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 | AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, GB, US |
| Subscription per month | €3.99 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Matter certified (Yes), Local control (Yes), Energy reporting (Yes).
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Key differences
- SONOFF scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Price from is lower at SONOFF: €6.16 vs €12.90.
- Hub required: only SONOFF.
- Warranty is higher at Shelly: 2 to 5 years vs 2 years.
- Support channels: only Shelly offers Chat, Phone, Community.
- Device types: only SONOFF offers Trv.
- Protocols: only Shelly offers Z wave.
- Protocols: only SONOFF offers Thread.
- Ecosystems: only SONOFF offers Smartthings.
- Markets: only Shelly offers AU, CH, NZ.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Shelly | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Entry price €12.90 sits under the €15.36 median for smart thermostat brands here. | 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 | 9.2HigherNo hub required, local control, energy reporting, and cloud extras left to an optional €3.99 plan. | 9.0Free features cover local AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP, and energy reporting is included. |
| Trust | 9.1Matter certification, 2 to 5 years cover and 14 days returns, all under Shelly Europe Ltd. | 9.12 years of cover, local storage as standard, and support limited to email and help centre, which is thinner than most rivals. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Shelly | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bulgaria | China |
Available in 26 countries for both. Additional countries for Shelly: 3. Additional countries for SONOFF: 3.
If neither fits
Lennox has warranty at 10 years, against 2 to 5 years for Shelly and 2 years for SONOFF.
Lennox reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Shelly | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 33 of 75 | 15 of 75 |
| Security cameras without a subscription | 23 of 53 | 9 of 53 |
| Smart thermostats | 12 of 24 | 4 of 24 |
| Matter smart home devices | 17 of 33 | 5 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Shelly | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, Blinds | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more |
| Protocols | Matter, Zigbee, Z wave, Wi fi | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more |
| Legal entity | Shelly Europe Ltd | Shenzhen Sonoff Technologies Co.,Ltd |
| Headquarters | Bulgaria | China |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Home security
| Fact | Shelly | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €39.90 | €20.47Lower |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 months |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock | Camera, Alarm |
| Professional monitoring | Not confirmed | No |
| Local storage | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy |
| Money-back period | 14 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Cloud plan per month | €3.99 | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Free features | Camera live streaming, 5 events of event history, motion events with recordings, smart notifications (Shelly Smart Control standard 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 |
| Top resolution | 1080p | 4k |
| Power source | Battery, WiredCovers more | Wired |
| Recording retention | 30 days | 90 daysHigher |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Shelly | SONOFF | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | €12.90lowest quarter | €6.16lowest quarter | €19.99 |
| Subscription per month | €3.99above the median | Not confirmed | €2.00 |
| Warranty | 2 to 5 yearshighest quarter | 2 yearsat the median | 2 |
Median across 34 listed brands.
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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
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
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 | Shelly | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Malta | No | Yes |
| New Zealand | Yes | No |
| Switzerland | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
| Austria | Yes | Yes |
| Belgium | Yes | Yes |
8 of 32 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
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.
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.