Not sold on Philips Hue light strips? Try these instead
- jun
- 30
Philips Hue's smart lighting line can give you everything you need from smart bulbs to smart accent lighting, but there's one place where its product line fails to — pardon the pun — shine: Its smart light strip. There are alternatives, similarly priced strips that offer more functionality, and lesser priced strips that provide the same functionality. If you're looking to save a little money while adding smart accent lighting to your home, check out these alternatives!
Best overall alternative
LIFX Z Smart Light Strip
Staff Favorite
The LIFX Z Smart Light Strip is easily the best choice for the best Philips Hue alternative. This 6.6-foot strip has eight individual zones, so instead of a single accent color, you can paint your wall or entertainment center with multiple colors, creating all kinds of fun looks. The LIFX Z works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, plus, it cranks out a whopping 1400 lumens of brightness with 16 million shades of whites and colors.
$85 at Amazon$85 at Best Buy$161 at Walmart
Modular design
Sylvania Smart+ Light Strip
This light strip comes in three two-foot LED sections (six feet in total) that you can adhere to and mold into all kinds of shapes. The modular nature means you can add some lighting to your favorite bookcase, create a cozy light feature for your kitchen cabinets, or add some bias lighting to your television. Just keep in mind that this light strip uses Bluetooth for a direct connection to your phone, and only you will need a HomeKit hub for controls outside of the home.
$37 at Amazon$60 at Best Buy$40 at Walmart
Weather resistant
Vocolinc LS1 Smart LED Lightstrip
Vocolinc's LS1 Smart LED Lightstrip features an IP67 water-resistant rating, allowing placement in the great outdoors. This will enable it to function as holiday or accent lighting, and its thin profile can keep it hidden throughout the year. The light strip also supports the ability to display up to 16 million different colors, and it is compatible with all of the major smart home platforms, keeping you in the game if you decide to switch things up.
$40 at Amazon$44 at Walmart$42 at Newegg
Cost effective
Govee USB Light Strip
Govee offers a unique light strip that gets its power from any USB port. Simply plug it into your computer for quick and easy lighting for your desk, or to that USB port on the back of your TV to give it a bias lighting upgrade. This light strip even features a microphone so that it can automatically react to any music that is playing, creating an instant party.
Great lengths
HitLights Smart Strip
The HitLights Smart Strip comes in lengths of 16.4 feet and offers 16 million colors. There's no hub required, and it works with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, so voice control is an option. It doesn't have multiple zones, so the strip can only be one color at a time, but its low price point and its extra-long size make it a great alternative.
Bright beauty
Eve Light Strip
Eve Light Strip is one of the most powerful light strips around with the ability to output up to 1,800 lumens of brightness. This light strip is also hub free, using Wi-Fi to connect directly to Apple's HomeKit, which creates a fast, reliable connection that respects your privacy.
Worthy alternatives
While it may be the most familiar name in smart lighting, Philips Hue isn't the only one around when it comes to light strips. The LIFX Z Smart Light Strip is the closest to the Philips Hue strip as it sports almost identical features, brightness, and functionality. While its price is a little higher, you will save a little without having to shell out for a separate hub.
If you're looking for a great alternative that also works outdoors, then check out the Vocolinc LS1 Smart LED Lightstrip. This light strip features IP67 weather resistance rating that lets it withstand some of mother nature's elements, plus it connects directly to all of the smart voice assistants, Alexa, HomeKit, and Google Assistant, through Wi-Fi without a hub. Regardless of which option you go with, a smart LED light strip will allow you to light your home your way.