Best Smart Light Bulbs

Smart light bulbs are like the gateway drug to a full-on smart stuff obsession. It starts with just a single bulb that you can control with your voice or through your phone, and then suddenly you’re putting in smart outlets, smart door locks, and home security cameras.

But don’t take our word for it. Try it out for yourself. Take your fingers off that outdated manual light switch and check out our top picks for the best smart light bulbs.

Philips Hue is the standard when it comes to smart lighting. It integrates with many other smart devices, giving you a full range of colors and temperatures to choose from. If you don’t care about color-changing light bulbs, you can also get tunable white bulbs that just let you adjust the temperature (stark white, soft white, etc.).

You'll get two different connectivity options with Philips Hue: Bluetooth and Zigbee. If you opt for Bluetooth, then the installation is easy. You just screw in the light bulb and connect it to the Philips Hue Bluetooth app.

But if you want all the smart features Philips Hue can offer, then you will want to opt for the Zigbee connection. Which means you’ll need a Philips Hue bridge. The bridge works as a Zigbee hub and gives you remote control over your lights. Plus, it has a much longer range than Bluetooth.

The Bluetooth option covers only one room, and you have to be within Bluetooth range to control the lights with your phone. The hub lets you control your lights from anywhere and covers your entire house.

The main catch is that Philips Hue lights are expensive. And with so many smart light bulb options on the market these days, sometimes you have to wonder if it’s really worth the extra cash.

That said, the starter kit is a pretty good deal. You get four bulbs and a Hue hub all in one kit.

The Wyze Bulb also works with the major smart home platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. Plus, you don’t have to buy a hub. The Wyze Bulb works via your Wi-Fi network.

What we don’t like

The Wyze Bulb is pretty basic, but it's also affordable. It doesn’t give you multiple colors (outside the white range), and it doesn’t work with Apple HomeKit.

If you really want to save on energy costs, the LIFX Mini White bulb doesn’t take a lot of power. It only uses 8 Watts while still giving off 650 lumens in bright white light.

The LIFX Mini White bulb is unobtrusive. A lot of smart bulbs are tall enough that they stick out of lamps or fixtures. But the LIFX Mini bulb can keep a low profile while still fitting into the E26 sockets most of your light fixtures use.

LIFX has an impressive array of smart home integrations. It works with Alexa and Google, as well as SmartThings, HomeKit, and even Microsoft Cortana (if you’re into that).

And while this version of the LIFX Mini bulb offers only one color (white), you can get a version that lets you choose from millions of colors.

The LIFX Mini bulb is a little dimmer than most of the picks on this list. It may use less energy, but it also gives off less light for what you get.

The Sengled Smart Wi-Fi Bulb connects directly to your wireless network without a hub. You can control your lights from anywhere, as well as set schedules and routines that work automatically. You can also operate your lights through voice control.

At less than $30 for a two-pack of bulbs, the Sengled Smart Wi-Fi Bulb is pretty affordable. The Soft White version comes in one single color and color temperature, but you can opt for a multicolor option if you want to spice things up. The white bulb is still dimmable through the app or through voice control.

The Sengled also worked with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. There’s no HomeKit support for the Apple fans out there, but we think Alexa and Google cover it for most people.

Sengled doesn’t support a ton of third-party integrations with brands. You can set up routines with third-party devices through your smart speaker or IFTTT, but direct integrations are often easier.

If you already use other Sengled products, like a Sengled outdoor security light then these smart bulbs fit right in with your existing stuff.

The Kasa filament bulb is more than just a pretty face—it’s also super energy efficient. This bulb uses only 7 watts of energy. You do sacrifice some brightness in the process, but these bulbs are best for mood-lighting anyway.

These bulbs will fit in a standard E26 light socket. Plus, the TP-Link Kasa Filament bulb works with the most popular smart home speakers: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. (Sorry Apple peeps; there’s no HomeKit support.)

It would be nice if the Kasa Filament Smart Bulb were tunable, meaning you could adjust the light temperature. As it is, the Kasa gives you only one color and temperature: warm white.

Again, not bad for mood lighting. And the bulb is still dimmable. But we like having options.

The Nanoleaf Canvas is for people who really want to add a unique look to their space. If you have a home office or an entertainment room that could use a little sprucing up, then the Nanoleaf Canvas Smart Light Panels give you a way to add some flair.

The Nanoleaf Canvas Smart Light Panels come in a 9-panel starter kit. If you want more panels than that, you can buy expansion packs. Just know that you’ll need an additional power source (a.k.a. a panel with a power cord) for every 25 squares.

We like that you don’t need a drill or any kind of special mounting hardware to put up these light panels. The Nanoleaf Canvas Smart Light Panels use an adhesive to stick to flat, non-porous surfaces. You don’t have to break out the drywall anchors this time.

These lights are fun, but they’re also pretty pricey. There are definitely other things you could do to make a space unique that would give you more bang for your buck.

But if you love the concept of customizable smart lighting as an art piece you design yourself, then the Nanoleaf will let your artistic spirit roam free.

The Philips Hue Outdoor Lightstrip works both outdoors and indoors. It has an impressive IP67 weather rating, which means it can handle some nasty elements. And it’ll make any backyard gathering a bit more festive.

The Philips Hue lightstrip is just plain fun, as well as being useful for safety and ambiance. You can put this thing just about anywhere, and you can adjust the color and color temperature from your phone.

This lightstrip has all the same smart home integrations as Philips Hue’s other smart lights. It’ll work with your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, as well as Apple HomeKit and IFTTT.

Unlike Philips Hue’s smart light bulbs, the outdoor lightstrip doesn’t have a Bluetooth connection option. You’ll have to invest in the Hue hub for this one (if you don’t already have one).

Smart lighting is one of the simplest and easiest ways to make your home just a little bit smarter. With so many bulb options on the market, you can find ones that work with your other smart stuff and with your budget.

Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance Starter Kit: Best for smart homes—Philips Hue is the gold standard for smart lighting. It works with a ton of other brands and smart home platforms. Just know you’ll probably want to buy the optional Hue Bridge too.

Yeelight Smart LED Color Bulb: Best hub-free option—The Yeelight offers a lot of the same features as the Philips Hue system, but it has fewer direct third-party integrations. On the upside, you don’t need a hub.

Wyze Bulb: Best budget buy—The Wyze Bulb is an affordable way to break into smart lighting. Just know you can’t get a multicolor option.

LIFX Mini White: Most energy efficient—The LIFX Mini Warm White bulb is subtle and won’t stick out of the tops of lamps. Plus, it uses less energy than some other options.

Sengled Smart Wi-Fi Bulb Soft White: Best dimmable white bulb—The Sengled Smart Wi-Fi Bulb Soft White doesn’t let you adjust color temperature, but it does give you a dimmable smart bulb for a reasonable price.

TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb: Most decorative bulb—The TP-Link Kasa Filament Smart Bulb has a stylish filament look that will brighten up any room. Just know it’s not quite as bright as other options.

Nanoleaf Canvas Smart Light Panels: Best panel lights—Nanoleaf Canvas Smart Panels let you create your own designs and sync the lights to music and movies. They’re great for parties, but not so great for your budget.

Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance Outdoor Lightstrip: Best smart lightstrip—Lightstrips are bright and can light up outdoor spaces and add ambiance to your patio. The Philips Hue Outdoor Lightstrip works with tons of other smart stuff and has a high weather rating for outdoor use.