Best Smart Light Bulbs of 2024

We tested Philips Hue, Wyze, LIFX, and Sylvania smart bulbs to rank our list.
Best overall
Philips Hue White and Color LED Smart Bulb
Philips Hue
  • pro
    16 million colors
  • pro
    Energy Star certified
  • pro
    Lasts up to 22 years
Best budget white
Cree Connected LED Bulb
Cree Connected
  • pro
    One color
  • con
    Not Energy Star certified
  • pro
    Lasts up to 22 years
Best budget color
Wyze Bulb Color
  • pro
    16 million colors
  • pro
    Energy Star certified
  • pro
    Lasts up to 22 years
Best Wi-Fi bulb
LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb
LIFX Mini
  • pro
    One color
  • con
    Not Energy Star certified
  • pro
    Lasts nearly 23 years
Best color
Sylvania Smart+ WiFi Lighting
Sylvania Smart+
  • pro
    Almost unlimited colors
  • con
    Not Energy Star certified
  • pro
    Lasts up to 13 years

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

We rated the best smart light bulbs based on price, energy savings, features, and compatibility with other home automation products. The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 LED Smart Bulb took the cake for its millions of color options, free app, high quality, and long lifetime.

Plus, the Hue Bridge is now optional for this bulb—not required. That means more money and less hassle for you.



Compare the best smart light bulbs

Product
Best for
Price
Watt equivalent
Smart home compatibility Icon Tooltip  Dark
Learn more
Read review
Best overall 60W, 75W, 100WAmazon, Apple, Google, SmartThings
Best budget white bulb 60WAmazon, Zigbee
Best budget color bulb 75WAmazon, Google
Best Wi-Fi bulb 60WAmazon, Apple, Google, SmartThings
Best color60WAmazon, Apple, Google
Best splurge N/AAmazon, Apple, Google, SmartThings

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

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Best smart light bulbs reviews

1. Philips Hue: Best overall

Best overall

The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 LED Smart Bulb delivers a brilliant array of up to 16 million (yes, that’s MILLION!) color options. These bulbs really bring the best of all worlds—fun light displays along with energy efficiency and security applications.

You’ll pay a pretty penny for these smart light bulbs, but if you’re into mood lighting, we say go for it. And the Hue Bridge is now optional to operate these, so that's a huge plus.

Read our full Philips Hue review to learn more.

pro
Pros
pro 16 million colors
pro Easy setup and control
pro Programmable settings you can save
pro Free mobile app
pro Compatibility with Hue Dimmer, Hue Tap, and Hue Motion Sensor
pro No longer need Hue Hub to operate
con
Cons
con Lower brightness than other smart light bulbs
con Big price tag
Light Bulb
Pre-programmed light settings

Use Philip Hue’s pre-programmed light settings to relax, improve focus for studying, get energized, and more.

2. Cree Connected: Best budget white bulb

Best budget
Cree Connected LED Bulb

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

You can’t beat the Cree Connected smart light bulb for price or brightness. This is one of the brightest lights we found, and it doesn’t gouge your pocketbook. If you’re not sure that smart lighting is for you, the Cree smart bulb is an affordable way give it a test run.

And best of all, you don’t need a special hub. Cree is compatible with any Zigbee-enabled hub out there. So if you have an Amazon Echo or Nest hub, you’re ready to go.

pro
Pros
pro Cheap price tag
pro Compatibility with multiple hubs and platforms
pro Easy setup
con
Cons
con Harsher light
con Slower response time
con Inconsistent quality

3. Wyze Bulb Color: Best budget color bulb

Best budget color

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Wyze Bulb Color doesn't sacrifice quality for affordability. We were impressed with how bright this bulb got during testing (up to 1100 lumens) and how radiant its colors looked. 

It's dimmable via the app and toggles between warm and cool white light temperatures. One of the coolest things about the Wyze Bulb Color is its daylight-matching feature. Yep, this bulb detects the sunlight coming through your window and automatically changes its brightness and color to match. How neat is that?

Read more or watch our video in our full Wyze Bulb Color review.

pro
Pros
pro Cheap price tag
pro Compatibility with multiple hubs and platforms
pro Easy setup
pro Up to 1100 lumens
pro Energy Star certified
con
Cons
con Creating rules can be confusing
con No pulse mode or color cycling

4. LIFX Mini: Best Wi-Fi bulb

Best Wi-Fi bulb
LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Most smart light bulbs require you to purchase the bulbs and a hub or bridge to connect them to your Wi-Fi network. With the LIFX Mini White Wi-Fi Smart Bulb, all you need to do is buy the bulb, screw it into a lamp or other lighting fixture, and download the LIFX app.

We like how simple and easy LIFX makes smart home lighting. If you don’t want to hassle with extra devices and connections, these smartbulbs are the way to go.

While the LIFX Mini is a traditional white-light bulb, you can get LIFX smart color bulb for just a few dollars more.

pro
Pros
pro No hub needed
pro Affordable cost
pro Free mobile app
pro IFTTT smart home compatibility
con
Cons
con Some Android issues
con Tricky setup for some users
con Connectivity issues
Light Bulb
Smart ceiling-fan bulbs

Add LIFX bulbs to ceiling fans that have separate controls for the fan and the light—no more mistakes, reaching, or frustration. Now all you have to control manually is the fan.

5. Sylvania Smart+: Best color

Best color
Sylvania Smart+ WiFi Lighting

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you can think of a color, chances are the Sylvania Smart+ Wi-Fi Color can change to it. The app has a full-color pallet that you can use to make the light from this bulb anything you want. You can also dim these bulbs, schedule when they come on, and control them using voice or the app.

Unfortunately, you can't pair the lighting with your favorite music, like with the Nanoleaf lights. That seems like a small problem though since we love these lights.

pro
Pros
pro Almost unlimited color choices
pro Dimmable
pro Compatible with Siri
pro Affordable
con
Cons
con No music compatibility

6. Nanoleaf Aurora: Best splurge

Best splurge
Nanoleaf Rhythm Edition Starter Kit

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you’re more interested in playing with your smart lights than saving money or adding security to your home, then the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit is your smart lighting match.

These fun tiles can be configured into numerous designs to turn any room into an artsy display of LED technological magic. Set the mood for a house party or a quiet night in, with just the touch of a button.

pro
Pros
pro Fun design
pro Multiple configurations
pro No extra hub needed
pro Programmable patterns for different events, moods
pro Ability to dance to your favorite tunes
con
Cons
con Expensive price
con No real security application
con Challenging installation

7. Ring Smart LED Bulb: Best for Ring users

Best for Ring users

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Ring Smart LED Bulb integrates with other Ring equipment for more complex routines and automations. It's Energy Star certified and has a lifespan of up to 22 years, but it only produces white light. 

With limited smart home compatibility (Ring products only work with Amazon Alexa) and a price tag a little higher than other options, we don't recommend the Ring Smart LED Bulb for folks who aren't committed to the Ring ecosystem.

pro
Pros
pro Energy Star certified
pro Alexa compatibility
pro Create routines with other Ring devices
pro 800 lumens
pro Lasts up to 22 years
con
Cons
con Ring Bridge required
con White light only

How to take smart light bulbs to the next level

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi LED Light Switch Dimmer

kasa smart light dimmer in box
Kasa Smart
$22.99

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

  • Dims both smart and “dumb” lights
  • Gives remote control to any light fixture
  • Features Gentle Off setting to help kids (and grownups) drift off to sleep

Learn more about Kasa and other top brands in our review of the best smart light switches.

Philips Hue Motion Sensor for Smart Lighting

philips hue motion sensor and box

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

  • Adds extra security with motion detection
  • Has night setting that won’t blind you as you head to the bathroom
  • Saves energy with extra daylight sensor

Nexlux LED Strip Lights

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

  • Brings lights to life
  • Has settings for all times of year and holidays
  • Adds safety to stairways and hallways

Smart light bulb FAQ

The easy answer is as much as you want to. But because most of us don’t have piles of money to burn, let’s look at the difference between more expensive smart light bulbs and cheaper ones. All smart lighting solutions are more costly than regular incandescent or LED bulbs, but smartbulbs deliver extra convenience, ambiance, and security.

Philips Hue smartbulbs are the industry standard, and they aren’t cheap (the starter kit we recommend comes with two bulbs and the Philips Hue Hub for around $70).

They do offer a good track record, though—and these bulbs should last about five years. If you want lights that can be controlled remotely and integrated with a security system, then we recommend ponying up the extra cash for Philips Hue bulbs.

If all you want is extra convenience, then you’ll be happy with less expensive (and less feature-rich bulbs) like the Cree smart light bulb (starting around $15 per bulb).

At first glance, it’s easy to wonder, “Why in the world would anyone want 16 million colors?” In fact, I asked that very question. After digging into this highly important topic, I came up with some reasons that 16 million colors may just make sense after all.

In addition to being a whole lot of fun, Philips Hue’s color light bulbs cash in on scientific proof about how color can influence your mood.1 If you want to use these smartbulbs to hack your mind and emotions, here’s a color guide to help you get started (but the Hue app already provides pre-set scenes to help you create the mood you’re looking for).

  • Pump up with red. The vibrant shade is said to boost excitement and strength.
  • Get creative with green. Set your bulbs to a greenish hue to get those creative juices flowing.
  • Zen out with blue and purple. These colors invoke calm, peaceful, spiritual feelings.
  • Don’t read to yellow. This happy color makes your eyes tired, so skip it when you curl up with a book.
  • Warm up with brown. The color of chocolate evokes feelings of warmth, security, and comfort.

Voice control assistants like Amazon Alexa are the new Clapper. Instead of clapping your lamp on, now you can tell it what to do. Not only is this fun and convenient, but for people with physical limitations or those recovering from illness or injury, voice control can actually improve quality of life.

One of the caveats of smartbulbs is that to make many of them work, you have to do more than simply screw in the bulb. And you often have to buy extra equipment, like a hub. A hub, or bridge, helps the smartbulb connect to the internet. That connection lets you control the smartbulb with a mobile app.

It also allows the smartbulb to “talk” to other smart devices, which lets you set up different routines for different scenarios. For example, if you have a doorbell camera, the camera can trigger the porch light when motion is detected. Not all smartbulbs require a hub, and some are compatible with hubs you may already use with other smart products.

The US Department of Energy recommends using LED light bulbs that work with timers and dimmers to help save energy and money.2 Because smart light bulbs are dimmable and can be controlled either remotely or with schedules, they fit the DOE’s prescription. Plus, most smart light bulbs are designed to last between five and fifteen years, which means you’ll spend less money replacing burned out bulbs.

Google transitioned from “Works with Nest” integration to “Works with Hey Google,” so some smart home gadgets dropped the “Works with Nest” compatibility.

Philips Hue was one of the first to go, pulling the virtual plug in November 2020.

How we reviewed smart light bulbs

To find the best smart light bulbs on the market, we read hundreds of customer reviews, dug into industry standards and research, scoured products’ specs and reviews, and did some hands-on testing of our own. 

  • 16 hours researched
  • 12 products considered
  • 500+ customer reviews read
  • 6 coffees consumed
  • 4 bulbs tested

Learn more about how we review products by checking out our methodology page.

Related articles on SafeWise


Sources

  1. Sally Augustin, Psychology Today, "The Surprising Effect of Color on Your Mind and Mood," April 2015. Accessed May 16, 2023.
  2. Energy.gov, "Lighting Choices to Save You Money," September 2021. Accessed May 16, 2023.

Disclaimer

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Cathy Habas
Written by
Cathy Habas
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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