Smart bulbs offer a simple way to upgrade your home. Not only are they affordable, but they’re much easier to install than most other smart gadgets — allowing even DIY novices a chance to join in on the smart home movement. From allowing you to program schedules and change their colors to setting a “vacation mode” and syncing with other smart devices, they’re a well-rounded addition to most rooms.
However, choosing the best smart light bulb for your home can be a challenge, as there are tons of options on the market. Many of them share similar specs, but not all of them are reliable. Some are also slow to respond to your commands. Others are low-quality bulbs with a lackluster range of colors to choose from. Thankfully, the majority of smart light bulbs are LED bulbs, so regardless of which product you choose, it'll likely do a great job of cutting down your energy consumption.
Need help picking out the right smart bulb for your needs? Here’s a look at several of the best models available today, including choices for all budgets. We’ve also included products that work with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, while some feature Matter support for added longevity.
Best smart bulb kit
Philips Hue Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit
- Useful features
- Great range and responsiveness
- Extensive third-party app compatibility
- Works with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant
- Bridge must be plugged into your router
- Expensive
Though it's a bit expensive, the Philips Hue White Ambiance Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit is the best by far. The kit comes with four A19 LED smart bulbs that project a soft, white light, that can be warmed up or cooled down to your liking, from “warm white to cool daylight.” Up to 50 bulbs can be linked together using the Philips Hue Bridge that comes in the kit. To change the brightness, put the lights on a schedule, or dim the bulbs, you can use the Hue app on iOS or Android.
While the kit works with the app, the Philips Hue Smart Light Bulb can also be controlled with a wide range of hubs, such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple HomePod and more. This means you can control the bulbs using just your voice.
The best budget kit
Sengled Element Classic A19 Kit
- Affordable
- Energy efficient
- Support Alexa and Google Assistant
- Not as premium as other options
The Element Classic A19 Kit by Sengled is an affordable all-in-one kit that includes two bulbs and one hub as well as an Ethernet cable. Emitting the power of 800 lumens on a mere 9 watts of energy, these super-efficient bulbs will last up to 25,000 hours. They also connect to your Amazon Echo and Google Home devices, allowing for hands-free voice control.
The Element Home app is compatible with both iOS or Android, and the group control function lets you turn all the lights in your home on or off at the same time. You can also schedule when you want your lights to turn on, and plan your mornings with the Wake-up Time feature. The performance section shows you how much power you are using relative to the money you are saving. The Sengled Element Classic A19 is the perfect kit for newbies.
The best starter bulb
Sengled Wi-Fi Smart Bulb
- Easy installation
- Intuitive smartphone app
- Affordable
- Lacking some smart home integrations
The Sengled Wi-Fi smart bulb connects to your 2.4 GHz network without a hub. It is super easy to set up. You just download the Sengled Home app, twist in the bulb, and the bulb flashes on and off to indicate it is ready to set up. Once you go through the usual steps (log in, connect the device to Wi-Fi, etc.), you have dimmable smart lights you can control with your phone or with your voice via Amazon Alexa.
The low cost and easy setup make the Sengled Wi-Fi Smart Bulb the perfect starter bulb. The Sengled WiFi bulb comes in 2700K soft white.
The best budget bulb
Wyze Color Bulb
- Really bright output
- Colors are very saturated
- Doesn't require a bridge
- Ridiculously low-priced
- Basic scene modes
At under $10 (and under $40 for a four-pack), the Wyze bulb is a no-brainer. You can control all of your bulbs, or just one, using your Alexa or Google Assistant or the Wyze app. The bulb is dimmable and you can control how cool or warm the light it emits is to set the mood you want in a room. The Wyze Bulb’s temperatures range from 2,700k – 6,500k and a dimmable 800 lumen (60W equivalent).
If you love everything about the Wyze Bulb Color but only need various shades of white, be sure to look at the standard Wyze Bulb.
The best smart bulbs for Matter
Nanoleaf Matter A19 Smart Bulb
- Tons of color options
- Full support for Matter
- Control with voice or app
- Expensive
They're a bit expensive at $20 a bulb, but the Nanoleaf Matter A19 Smart Bulbs are a solid pick if you need something with support for the interoperability standard. Featuring more than 16 million color options, easy control using the Nanoleaf app or voice control, and dozens of ways to customize their performance, these bulbs are among the best on the market. They're also one of the few smart bulbs that actually support Matter, putting them ahead of the curve and making them stand out from the competition.
The best smart light bulbs for customization
Govee Smart Light Bulbs
- Syncs with music
- Support for 16 million colors
- Mobile app offers heaps of customization
- No Apple Home support
With support for 16 million colors, 54 preset scenes, and a companion app that lets you modify their performance, the Govee Smart Light Bulbs are a colorful addition to any smart home. They can even sync to music using your phone’s microphone. That makes the Govee Smart Light Bulbs shockingly versatile despite their low price.
Another benefit of this four-pack is that they can be grouped together for easy access. For example, if you place two bulbs in your living room, they can be paired together and modified simultaneously. Schedules and timers are supported too, so you can wake up to a simulated sunrise and unwind at night with lights that slowly dim. If you do buy these, be sure to make liberal use of the Govee Home App, as it’s where you’ll find all of their coolest features.
