Philips Hue

This popular brand's ecosystem has no limits when it comes to lighting your home from the inside out with the bulb of your choice, and it has excellent smart home integration if you own other devices. It's not the cheapest, but the Hue app offers tons of features for your lights and makes installation easy and exciting.

Philips Hue vs. C by GE: Which smart light bulb is best for your home?

Massive ecosystem

Huge reputable ecosystemBluetooth or bridge (Zigbee) systemsEasy installationExtensive smart home integrationFantastic, updated appExpensiveOverwhelming number of productsBridge is necessary to unlock all features

C by GE

C by GE is a great place to go if you're just getting started with smart lighting. Its ecosystem isn't huge, but it offers indoor smart bulbs for a reasonable price that you can control via voice or the handy Cync app. There's less variety with C by GE, but the price and reputation are hard to beat.

Affordable lighting

No hub necessaryAffordableGreat reputationWorks with Alexa and Google AssistantOut of home control with Direct Connect (Wi-Fi) bulbsLimited features with Bluetooth-enabled bulbsSmaller line of productsOnly A19 bulbs and BR30No outdoor bulbs

A bulb for every socketThis Philips Hue starter kit includes a Hue bridge and four dimmable warm white bulbs. It's the perfect way to start or add to your existing smart lighting ecosystem.

Trusted legacy

C by GE

Smart home noviceC by GE doesn't have a massive range of smart bulbs, but you'll find what you need to get started with this four-pack of dimmable soft white bulbs.