Re-read step 2 and make sure your new bulb is turned on!.Hit the Search button to search for your new bulb.Open your Hue app and go to Settings -> Light Setup and click the + button to add a new bulb.TURN THE LIGHT ON! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD REMEMBER TO TURN THE LIGHT ON!.Install one new bulb in the light or fixture of your choice.Here is my never fail* six step process to adding third party bulbs to Hue I’m here to tell you that it is a much simpler process than these companies let on. Pairing 3rd Party BulbsĬree, Sylvania and GE would have you believe that it takes a team of engineers with protractors and other nerd related gear to pair their bulbs with Hue. You can find all of these bulbs from $12-15/bulb at Amazon or big box stores on the right day. I highly recommend tracking the price or shopping around. On any given day, the bulbs linked above will cost between $15 and $40 per bulb. While I generally enjoy making money, I caution you that Amazon sellers of all smart home products like to play with the prices. *A note about pricing: I provide links to Amazon because Amazon pays me to do so. By out of the box I mean that just like a new Hue bulb, if you turn on one of these bulbs and search for new bulbs in your Hue app, you should be able to quickly and easily connect them to your Hue Bridge. These companies sell quality smart bulbs that will work with Hue out of the box. The most notable name brand bulbs that work with Hue are GE Link, Ikea Trådfri, Cree Connected and Sylvania Smart+ (aka Osram Lightify, aka Silvania Lightify)*. I can’t stop you from buying these products, but I’d advise against it. I have said it numerous times, but it’s worth repeating home automation is an expensive hobby. Having tested a couple, I can say that they’re generally cheaply made and the light quality and dimming options pale in comparison to even the cheapest name brand bulbs. In this case, there are a number of light bulbs that will work with Hue, made by these off-brand “companies” (many don’t even have a company name, they’re just a product listing). They’re not necessarily knockoffs, but products that perform the same or similar tasks at a significantly lower price. That said, there are now many companies, mostly Chinese and Korean, that are flooding the market with cheaper alternatives to name brand products.

There are many reputable companies, like Philips, churning out fantastic, well made products that make our lives easier. Despite its long history, the smart home market as we know it is still in its infancy. Before we get into the name brands, a little aside. The 3rd Party BulbsĪt this time, there are quite a few companies that make bulbs that work with Hue. Thankfully, Philips has developed the “Friends of Hue” program, and by extension, has also decided to work with a number of major manufacturers to make their bulbs work with Hue. Usually companies will cite security concerns, but in reality, it’s normally because they want to force you to buy more of their products. For one reason or another companies decide that they want to block their products from communicating with other ZigBee products. The downside here is that not all ZigBee devices are compatible. If not, you’ll need to have a Hue Bridge on your home network before you can add any 3rd party bulbs to your Hue ecosystem. If you have a Hue Bridge set up, you’re already good to go. ZigBee is an open source standard for wireless communication used mainly in smart home products, and it is one of the most popular standards used in smart lighting. Hue uses the ZigBee protocol to communicate. These third party bulbs are generally just as capable as Hue bulbs but for 25-50% less money. While even 3rd party bulbs can still cost $15-$50, it can still save you a ton of money over buying regular Hue bulbs. What many people don’t know is that Hue works with a number of other manufacturer’s bulbs right out of the box. I’ve already written about how you can score great deals on the Hue Lux Starter Kit if you shop around.

The problem is that Hue bulbs tend to be very expensive, easily costing 20x more that a standard LED bulb. They offer a wide range of products from colored bulbs, to light strips, to white bulbs and ambient lighting. Philips Hue has long been one of the better and more versatile options for DIY smart lighting on the market. What bulbs are compatible with Philips Hue? (Must Read!)

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