Smart Bulb vs. Smart Switch: Which Is Best for You? (2024)

Ever find yourself in the smart lighting aisle wondering: what is a smart switch? How do smart bulbs work? Which one is best for my home and my needs?

Well, we completely understand. Smart lighting is still a relatively new technology for many people. And to get the bang for your buck, it helps to have answers to your questions—and a plan. So today, we’re going to compare the two most popular new-user products: smart bulb vs. smart switch. And we’re going to give you an expert breakdown on both, so you can decide which is the smartest choice for your home.

What Are Smart Bulbs?

Smart bulbs, including smart lighting fixtures, pair with a single app (e.g., the CYNC smart home app) that allows you to set schedules, control with voice assistants, control away from home, dim and brighten, as well as customize and save the perfect scene—all under one ecosystem. All Cync smart bulbs are available in two easy connection options. Both provide all the smart features you love. Choose the bulbs that work best for your lifestyle from our wide selection—which includes full color bulb options for interior and exterior fixtures, decorative led bulbs for chandeliers, and many more.

What Are the Advantages of Using Smart Bulbs in the Home?

Smart bulbs are the easiest way to get instant smart benefits. All you need to do is screw in a light bulb and connect it to the Cync App. Voila! Now you’re able to schedule your lights to turn on so you feel more comfortable when you get home from work at night. You can change the mood of a room in seconds with millions of colors and dimming capabilities at your fingertips—which is perfect for holidays or entertaining. And you can set and save scenes, control your lights from anywhere, and even pair with a voice assistant for voice control. So, if you’re looking for a solution that’s quick, easy, and colorful, starting with smart bulbs is a bright idea.

What Is a Smart Switch?

A smart switch can replace your traditional switch to give you smart control of your traditional non-smart bulbs. Which means you can keep all of your current bulbs and control them using the Cync App from anywhere, as well as through a connected voice assistant or right at the switch. We offer a variety of smart switches—including the new ceiling fan switch that controls the speed of your ceiling fan from anywhere. And of course, there’s our wireless smart switch that can be added anywhere on a wall—with no electrical box needed. May we suggest, right next to your bed or couch?

What are the Advantages of Using Smart Switches for the Home?

There are a few reasons to choose a smart switch over smart bulbs. For starters, let’s say you want to keep your current light bulbs—whether it’s because they’re too difficult to reach, you have multiple downlights and other specialty fixtures, or you’re simply happy with the light quality. Smart switches give you the complete smart experience of your current lighting with one installation. So now, you can group multiple bulbs together to turn them on/off with one touch of the switch or our app—which is great for large open kitchens or living rooms. You can also control lights away from home, set lighting schedules, and more. Plus, with a peel-and-stick backing, our wire-free switch option gives you the freedom to add a switch anywhere—offering touch control where it’s most convenient. Do any of these benefits match your needs? If so, it’s time to switch to a smart switch.

How Do Smart Bulbs Work with Smart Switches?

Like all our products, smart switches and smart bulbs pair seamlessly in the Cync App. With our wire-free and wired smart switch options, you can group your smart bulbs in the Cync app to get simple one-touch control of large areas and common spaces. In fact, you can use the Cync app to control your lights from anywhere and even turn them on when they’re turned off at the switch. Plus, they allow you to adjust the lighting temperature at the switch, control your ceiling fan and lights from your comfortable bed, and so much more. Sounds like a perfect smart pair!

Smart Bulbs vs. Smart Switches—Which Are Best for My Home?

Whether you opt for a smart bulb or a smart switch or both, you will experience the best that smart lighting has to offer. Smart switches give you the ability to make any of your existing light bulbs and fixtures smart, while smart bulbs give you the ability to play with color. Luckily, you don’t have to choose between the two. We thoughtfully developed our family of products, so every purchase comes with multiple life-enhancing benefits that work together seamlessly. This allows you to build onto your smart home as you see fit. And now that you have answers to some of your biggest questions, you can enter the lighting aisle ready to make a more informed decision for your unique home and needs. Happy smart shopping!

Once you’ve installed your new tech, be sure to take a pic and share it with us on social (@GELighting).

Smart Bulb vs. Smart Switch: Which Is Best for You? (2024)

FAQs

Smart Bulb vs. Smart Switch: Which Is Best for You? ›

Whether you opt for a smart bulb or a smart switch or both, you will experience the best that smart lighting has to offer. Smart switches give you the ability to make any of your existing light bulbs and fixtures smart, while smart bulbs give you the ability to play with color.

Do I need a smart switch if I have a smart bulb? ›

Do I Need a Smart Switch for a Smart Bulb? No. While you do not need a smart switch for a smart bulb, having one helps with interconnectivity throughout your household. Because even if you are using traditional or non-smart bulbs,the smart switch has the power to make any product smart.

What are the disadvantages of smart light switches? ›

Because smart switches are connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, they can sometimes suffer from signal interference or become disconnected if the connection is disrupted.

Is it better to have a smart bulb or smart plug? ›

You can dip your toes into smart lighting by getting a single smart bulb or smart plug. Smart plugs tend to be more affordable while smart bulbs offer extra features such as personalized colors (be sure to read the product descriptions – features vary by bulb).

What are the disadvantages of smart light bulbs? ›

The biggest disadvantage of smart light bulbs is that they're much more expensive than regular lightbulbs. As of this writing, a standard incandescent bulb costs about a dollar, while a non-smart LED light bulb costs around $5. A smart bulb costs around $15 each, and that's not counting additional hub expenses.

Is it a good idea to get a smart switch? ›

The Smart Switch app also ensures that your personal information remains secure during transfer. Overall, it's a reliable and efficient solution for anyone upgrading their phone.

Can you use smart switches and smart bulbs together? ›

Both can be placed together, but like you mentioned, turning off the smart switch kills the smart bulb or if you turn off the bulb the switch needs to stay on doing what a dumb switch can do by just staying on.

What is the difference between smart light and smart switch? ›

Smart bulbs offer more focused control over individual fixtures, while smart switches provide control over entire rooms or spaces. Installation: Assess your permissions, budget, and convenience.

Do smart bulbs use electricity when off? ›

As we mentioned above, smart bulbs are in a class of appliances that use electricity in standby mode: vampire devices. This means that smart bulbs use electricity even when they're off.

Do smart switches waste electricity? ›

Smart plugs themselves consume a minimal amount of energy, typically around 1 watt in standby mode. When connected to Wi-Fi, they use about 1 to 2 watts per day. However, alternative networks like Zigbee or Z-wave can reduce this consumption to between 0.3 and 0.6 watts.

Are smart lights a security risk? ›

Hackers typically look for any weakness that allows them to break into a network. They then use this foothold as a launch point for attacking other devices to steal personal information. So if they can break into your smart lightbulb, they can begin breaking into your other, more sensitive devices.

Do smart light switches work without Wi-Fi? ›

Smart light switches will still work without Wi-Fi, but their advanced features won't be available. You'll only be able to switch the lights on and off, as with a regular light switch. However, with Wi-Fi, you can access a range of features such as scheduling, dimming, and voice control.

Do I need a smart switch for a smart bulb? ›

Smart switches give you the ability to make any of your existing light bulbs and fixtures smart, while smart bulbs give you the ability to play with color. Luckily, you don't have to choose between the two.

Do smart bulbs raise electric bill? ›

Since smart bulbs are vampire devices and powered by electricity, they will still draw power when switched off or in standby mode, which could add up to a significant amount of energy consumption over time.

Is it worth buying smart light bulbs? ›

Smart bulbs tend to be the more affordable option, and the benefit is that you can use them in your existing light fixtures. However, if you're in the market for a whole new light, a smart light isn't a bad choice either.

Do smart switches increase home value? ›

Does a Smart Home Increase a Home's Value? Smart home technology can definitely add to market value. Appraisers make what they call “adjustments” when they compare tech-enabled homes with similar but tech-deficient houses. Smart homes command higher prices and may be easier to sell as a result.

Which rooms should have smart switches? ›

Smart lighting works in any type of home and these fixtures can be a major must-have asset to living rooms and bedrooms, but they are excellent additions in outdoor spaces and patios, as well.

What is the best smart switch for smart bulbs? ›

Best smart light switch

Among all of the smart switches that we've tested at the CNET Smart Home, our favorite has long been the Lutron Caseta. Lutron is a lighting aisle mainstay, and its light switches use a proprietary signal called Clear Connect.

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