diyHue vs Philips Hue
An honest comparison to help you choose the right solution
At a Glance
| Feature | diyHue | Philips Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | Free (+ hardware) | €60-80 Bridge |
| Compatible Devices | 50+ brands | Hue ecosystem |
| DIY Lights | ||
| Privacy / Local Control | Partial | |
| Open Source | ||
| Setup Complexity | Moderate | Plug & Play |
| Official App Support | Limited | |
| Entertainment Areas | ||
| Warranty & Support | Community | Official |
| Device Limit | Unlimited* | 50 lights |
* Limited by your server's resources
Key Differences
Cost Savings
diyHue
- • Software: Free (open source)
- • Hardware: Raspberry Pi (~€40) or existing PC
- • Lights: Budget-friendly options available
- • DIY lights: €5-15 per light
Philips Hue
- • Bridge: €60-80
- • Bulbs: €15-60 per bulb
- • LED strips: €80-120
- • Premium pricing for ecosystem
Save 50-70% on large installations
Flexibility & Choice
diyHue
- • 50+ compatible platforms
- • Tasmota, ESPHome, WLED, Shelly
- • Zigbee via Zigbee2MQTT (2000+ devices)
- • Build your own lights
- • Mix WiFi and Zigbee freely
Philips Hue
- • Philips Hue ecosystem only
- • Some IKEA/Innr compatibility
- • Zigbee protocol (limited brands)
- • No DIY options
Unlimited device combinations
Privacy & Control
diyHue
- • 100% local processing
- • No telemetry or tracking
- • No account required
- • Open source code (auditable)
- • Optional remote access (your choice)
Philips Hue
- • Local + cloud hybrid
- • Account required for some features
- • Telemetry collection
- • Proprietary software
- • Remote access via Philips cloud
Your data, your network, your control
Ease of Use
diyHue
- • Initial setup: 10-30 minutes
- • Requires Docker/Home Assistant install
- • Basic tech knowledge helpful
- • Community support (forums, Discord)
- • Works with most Hue apps
Philips Hue
- • Setup: 2-5 minutes
- • Plug & play
- • No technical knowledge needed
- • Official customer support
- • Polished official app
Hue wins for simplicity, diyHue for power users
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose diyHue if you...
- Want to save money on a large installation
- Already have compatible devices (Tasmota, WLED, etc.)
- Value privacy and local control
- Want to build DIY smart lights
- Enjoy tinkering and customization
- Run Home Assistant or similar platforms
- Need more than 50 lights
- Support open source projects
Choose Philips Hue if you...
- Want the simplest plug-and-play experience
- Need official support and warranty
- Prefer a curated, tested ecosystem
- Value premium build quality
- Don't want to deal with technical setup
- Use the official Hue app extensively
- Have a small to medium setup (<50 lights)
- Want guaranteed compatibility and updates
Why Not Both?
Many users run diyHue alongside their original Hue Bridge, using diyHue for DIY lights and budget devices while keeping the official bridge for premium Hue bulbs. You can even migrate lights between bridges as needed!