Google has done a great job building out it’s smart home ecosystem by working with a growing number of smart bulb manufacturers. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to decide which brand to invest in, but we’ve broken down the best options that work seamlessly with Google Home.
Add some funky colors to your home
Philips Hue Smart Bulb Starter Kit (3-pack w/Hub)
Philips is the the leading manufacturers of wireless LED smart bulbs. The Philips Hue lineup features a multitude of different lighting options for around your home, which must be configured through the Philips Hue Bridge. Your best bet is this starter kit that includes the necessary Hue Hub and three color A19 LED smart bulbs to get you started.
$160 at Amazon
No hub required
LIFX Wi-Fi Smart LED Light Bulb (4-pack)
LIFX offers its third generation of smart bulbs for both indoors and outdoors. Both offer 1100 lumens of brightness, with options to customize the look with 16 million colors and 1000 shades of warm to cool whites. No additional hardware is required to get things set up with Google Assistant as each bulb connects directly to your Wi-Fi network. Get a 4-pack of multicolor A19 bulbs for $196.
$196 at Amazon
Best smart bulbs on a budget
TP-Link Kasa LED Bulbs (3-pack)
If you’re fine with standard white, dimmable smart bulbs and don’t want to spend a fortune, TP-Link offers an insane value. You can get a three-pack of smart bulbs right now for just $40 bucks. No hub is required and everything can be controlled through the Kasa app or configured through the Google Home app to be controlled using just your voice.
$44 at Amazon
Budget bulbs that require a hub
Sengled Element Classic Smart LED bulbs (2-pack w/Hub)
Sengled technically offer the best value for budget-conscious consumers looking to invest in smart bulbs — but you’re going to need to buy a hub. The two-bulb starter pack is a good deal to start, but the value really starts to roll in if you then get an 8-pack of Classic Smart LED Bulbs ($77). Together, these deals allow you to set up 10 smart bulbs throughout your home for just over $100.
$32 at Amazon
If we had to pick one…
While there are some great options available at lower price points, its hard not to pick the Philips Hue as the best smart light ecosystem to invest in. Sure, it requires a hub to connect with Google Home, but once you’ve started investing, you’re able to manage up to 50 different lights and it’s the variety of lighting options that Philips offers that lets them shine brighter than the competition. From the stylish LightStrip Plus ($72) to Flood Light bulbs for use outside, your home will look amazing with Philips Hue bulbs lighting everything up. You can group lights together to create rooms or program scenes that you can activate with your voice.
Our pick
Philips Hue Smart Bulb Starter Kit (3-pack w/Hub)
A great way to illuminate your home with fancy colors.
Philips is the the leading manufacturers of wireless LED smart bulbs. The Philips Hue lineup features a multitude of different lighting options for around your home, which must be configured through the Philips Hue Bridge. Your best bet is this starter kit that includes the necessary Hue Hub and three color A19 LED smart bulbs to get you started
$170 at Amazon
Update September 5, 2018: Revamped article with updated pricing and formatting.
Google Hardware
- Google Wifi review
- Google Home review
- Chromecast Ultra: all you need to know
- Which Chromecast should you buy?
Google Wifi: Google
Amazon
Google Home: Google
Best Buy
Chromecast Ultra: Google
Best Buy
