Lighting is often the first part of a home to be automated, adding convenient control and potential energy savings. Homey extends that control beyond a smartphone on/off button with advanced trigger- and time-based Flows.
You can automate existing bulbs by replacing wall switches or fitting discreet switch modules behind wall plates. Smart bulbs, however, offer the simplest approach.
What to consider before buying
- Connectivity: Favor reliable protocols such as Matter (Thread) or Zigbee that can strengthen a home mesh network.
- Lighting controls: Decide whether you need dimming and colors. A basic on/off bulb may be sufficient in a hallway.
- Brand quality: Consider the manufacturer’s reputation; the brands below offer options worth assessing.
- Efficiency: Look for high efficiency ratings and avoid more wattage than you need to limit electricity costs and environmental impact.
- Budget: A home may need 10 to 50 bulbs, so individual prices quickly add up.
Smart bulbs require continuous power. Turning off the wall switch disconnects them from the network. Keep the switch on and control the bulb through Homey, consider removing the switch, or pair the bulb with a wireless wall switch to replace the traditional control.
| Brand | Models | Protocol | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 Aqara | T2 LED Bulbs |  Thread | From €19.99 |
 Govee | Smart LED Bulbs |  Wi-Fi | From €12.99 |
 IKEA | KAJPLATS Smart Bulbs | Thread | From €6.99 |
 Innr | Smart Lighting |  Zigbee | From €9.99 |
 LIFX | Smart Lights | Wi-Fi | From €25.99 |
 Nanoleaf | Essentials Light Bulbs | Thread | From €19.99 |
 Nous | Matter Light Bulbs |  Matter | From €9.99 |
 Philips Hue | White and Color Ambiance | Zigbee | From €29.99 |
 Sengled | Smart Bulbs | Zigbee | From €14.99 |
 Shelly | Duo & Vintage Smart Bulbs | Wi-Fi | From €14.40 |
 Wiz | Connected Smart Bulbs | Wi-Fi | From €10.99 |
 Yeelight | Smart Bulbs | Wi-Fi | From €15.95 |
Aqara LED Bulb T2
Strengths: Two wireless protocols, high brightness and a broad color range. Limitation: The E27 version is slightly larger than a standard bulb.
Homey support: Homey Pro, Homey Pro mini, Homey Cloud* and Homey Self-Hosted Server*. * Requires Homey Bridge.
The Aqara LED Bulb T2 comes in E26, E27 and GU10 fittings, with Tunable White (CCT) and RGB versions. Its dual-protocol design lets you choose Zigbee or the newer Thread protocol through Matter.
Both connection methods provide the same feature set with Homey Pro. In either mode, the bulb acts as a router to extend the mesh without a proprietary hub. Zigbee mode also allows direct connection to Homey Bridge or Homey Pro.
With a CRI of >90, the T2 produces vivid colors and clear whites across 2000K-9000K. Maximum brightness reaches 1100 lumens for E26/E27 models and 450 lumens for GU10. Power-Off Memory lets you choose whether the bulb resumes its previous state or remains off after an outage, particularly useful in bedrooms. Check fixture clearance for the E27 model, which measures 60x108mm.
Govee smart bulbs
Strengths: Affordable pricing, vivid colors and suitability for ambient lighting. Limitation: Low maximum brightness.
Homey support: Homey Cloud and Homey Self-Hosted Server.
Govee makes ambient lighting, smart appliances and other IoT products, including bulbs for several fittings and bases. Almost all its bulbs support RGB, with good color rendering and up to 16 million colors.
Most suit small-to-medium spaces, while the ceiling-recessed BR30 can cover larger rooms. Their lively colors work well for ambience, but maximum output may be insufficient for full-room lighting. Homey provides on/off, color, temperature and brightness controls.
IKEA KAJPLATS
Strengths: Very low prices, Matter over Thread and a wide bulb selection.
IKEA KAJPLATS bulbs are fully Matter over Thread certified and connect directly to Homey Pro without the IKEA Dirigera hub. The range includes E27 and E14 globes, GU10 recessed spotlights and clear-glass decorative filament bulbs for exposed fixtures.
Depending on the model, options include dimmable warm white, Tunable White for warm-to-cool adjustment, and full Color (RGB). Some E27 models reach 1600 lumens, enough to illuminate a large room with one bulb. Dynamic color loops and adjustable transition times support smooth fades and automated mood lighting through Homey.
Basic models start around €5, while color versions cost around €10-€13, placing KAJPLATS among the lowest-cost routes into a Matter-based home.
Innr smart bulbs
Strengths: Very affordable, long-lasting and able to route Zigbee traffic. Limitation: Unsuitable for large rooms.
Founded in 2012 by two former Phillips managers, Innr produces affordable bulbs, LED strips, ceiling lamps and recessed puck lights. Its bulbs offer accurate temperature adjustment, strong color rendering and smooth dimming from 1 to 100%.
The Innr App supports the entire product range and allows direct connection to Homey Bridge or Homey Pro. All Innr Smart Bulbs serve as Zigbee routers, extending coverage throughout the home.
A life span of 50.000 hours puts them among the longest-lasting bulbs in this comparison. Their maximum brightness is better suited to medium-sized spaces than large rooms.
LIFX Smart Lights
Strengths: High build quality, excellent CRI and a Night Vision Infrared model. Limitation: Higher prices than comparable competitors.
LIFX Smart Lights are energy-efficient, multicolor Wi-Fi LED bulbs with a distinctive flathead design. Their high Color Rendering Index (CRI) provides accurate, vibrant colors, useful for color-sensitive tasks such as artwork or applying makeup.
The latest SuperBright range reaches 1600 lumens, allowing a single bulb to light a large room. White-only and warm-white-only models serve spaces that do not need RGB lighting. The LIFX Night Vision range supplies infrared illumination to substantially improve security-camera night vision.
Homey integration includes color, temperature and brightness adjustment, plus lighting Flows based on time of day or preset scenes. Outfitting a home with many LIFX bulbs can be costly.
Nanoleaf Essentials Smart Bulbs
Strengths: Matter support, high build quality and Thread routing. Limitation: Inconsistent Matter onboarding.
Known for geometric wall lights and full-color ceiling lighting, Nanoleaf also makes Matter-enabled Essentials bulbs that connect to Homey Pro over Thread. Its bulb selection is small, but offers strong color reproduction, bright whites and precise temperature adjustment.
Through Homey, users can adjust brightness, temperature, hue and saturation, or trigger effects including blink, strobe and flash for ambience or visual alerts. Matter setup can sometimes be troublesome, including difficulties connecting to a phone through Bluetooth.
Nous P-series
Strengths: Very affordable Matter bulbs in several fittings.
The Nous P-series smart bulbs (P3, P4, and P8) provide an inexpensive way into Matter. Rather than requiring proprietary gateways or clouds, they connect directly to Homey Pro using Matter over Wi-Fi.
- P3: E27 bulb, 810 lumens.
- P4: E14 candle bulb, 380 lumens.
- P8: GU10 spotlight, 420 lumens.
All three offer RGB color mixing and Tunable Whites (2700K-6500K), spanning cool work lighting and warmer light for relaxing. They do not match the ultra-high CRI or brightness of premium choices such as Philips Hue or the Aqara T2, but offer good value for secondary rooms, hallways and lamps where premium color rendering matters less.
These 2.4GHz Wi-Fi bulbs require little setup: screw in the bulb, then scan its Matter QR code with Homey.
Philips Hue
Strengths: Premium quality, reliability, durability and excellent color reproduction. Limitation: The highest prices in this comparison.
Philips Hue offers a broad selection of fittings and lighting options, including tunable color, white and warm white bulbs in its White and Color Ambiance lineup. Its color reproduction, light output, temperature adjustment and build quality make it a widely regarded premium choice.
The bulbs have an average lifespan of 25,000 hours. According to the company, they can last up to 25 years.
Connecting through the Hue Bridge gives Homey users full control and automation, including switching, temperature, colors, gradients, lighting effects and brightness. That extensive feature set comes at a substantial price premium.
Sengled
Strengths: Good quality, a varied range and built-in energy metering. Limitation: The bulbs do not act as Zigbee routers.
Sengled produces ambient lights, LED strips and smart bulbs ranging from full-color RGB to simple filament designs. The broad lineup spans budget and premium prices.
Most bulbs include an energy meter for monitoring individual power draw. One distinctive model has a built-in PIR motion sensor and switches on automatically when it detects movement within 12 meters.
Zigbee provides a stable connection to Homey Bridge or Homey Pro. However, Sengled bulbs do not repeat Zigbee signals and therefore cannot extend network coverage.
Shelly Duo and Vintage Light Bulbs
Strengths: Affordable pricing, energy metering and both modern and vintage designs. Limitation: Not suitable for large rooms.
Shelly Duo offers color-changing and white-light variants. Its 9W output suits small-to-medium rooms or ambient lighting in a corner. Vintage Light Bulbs combine smart functionality with the appearance of traditional filament bulbs.
Both ranges connect over Wi-Fi and integrate with Homey for full control, including brightness, color and use in Flows. Built-in energy meters on both Shelly Duo and Vintage Light Bulbs let users track power consumption.
WiZ Connected Smart Bulbs
Strengths: A diverse portfolio, solid build quality and vivid colors. Limitation: Some color presets respond inconsistently.
WiZ began as a Hong Kong startup in 2017 and grew into a major smart-lighting IoT platform. Alongside LED strips, downlights, luminaires and outdoor lights, it offers bulbs in modern and filament categories, with numerous shapes, types and lumen ratings.
The range combines rich colors, smooth controls and good construction. Its filament candle bulbs are particularly praised for subtle, dim ambient light.
WiZ bulbs connect directly to Wi-Fi without a bridge. Homey supports switching, brightness, temperature, color and preset scenes. Occasionally, a color preset may not respond correctly when activated by a third-party controller.
Yeelight
Strengths: Good build quality, strong colors and music synchronization. Limitation: Few model choices.
Yeelight focuses on ambient lighting but also offers high-quality smart bulbs for EU and US markets. The W3 combines very low standby consumption with music and game synchronization, 16 million colors and tunable whites at a comparatively low price.
Homey integration provides brightness, color, scene and temperature controls, along with Flows based on device status. The narrow lineup lacks filament and white-only options, limiting the types of bulbs available.
Other Matter bulbs for Homey Pro
Light bulbs were among the first devices to support Matter over Wi-Fi or Thread. Any Matter-enabled bulb model works with Homey Pro, regardless of brand.
For instance, TP-Link’s Tapo bulbs use Matter-over-Wi-fi without a separate Homey app. Other popular budget choices among early adopters include Linkind, GE Cync and Zemismart bulbs, which also pair to Homey Pro through Matter Wi-Fi.
A bulb bearing the Matter logo works with Homey Pro out of the box. Whether you choose an inexpensive IKEA or Shelly model or a premium Philips Hue or LIFX bulb, match its brightness, features and connectivity to the room and your budget.
