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The Best Smart Bulbs For Amazon Alexa of 2023

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Editor's Choice Product image of Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 Starter Kit (Gen 3, Bluetooth)
Best Overall

Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 Starter Kit (Gen 3, Bluetooth)

The Philips Hue Color and White Ambience Bulb was a painless experience to set up and also lets you adjust the temperature of the bulb. Read More

Pros

  • Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri
  • Rich color palette
  • Easy setup plus an intuitive app

Cons

  • Requires a hub to work remotely
2
Editor's Choice Product image of WiZ Color and Tunable White A19 Smart LED Bulb
Best Value

WiZ Color and Tunable White A19 Smart LED Bulb

This smart bulb offers high-class features for an affordable price that makes it one of the best deals you can find on a smart bulb right now. Read More

Pros

  • Vibrant colors
  • Easy to use
  • Good features

Cons

  • App scenes can be confusing
3
Product image of Wyze Bulb Color
Best Color

Wyze Bulb Color

The Wyze Bulb Color is a fantastic choice for an LED smart bulb if you want big, bold, and bright color for your smart home. Read More

Pros

  • Vibrant color
  • Good app controls
  • Works with Google and Alexa

Cons

  • Does not support HomeKit
4
Product image of TP-Link Kasa Smart Light Bulb - Multicolor
Best for Energy Monitoring

TP-Link Kasa Smart Light Bulb - Multicolor

Kasa's multicolor bulb offers fun lighting settings, energy tracking, and works well with Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free voice control. Read More

Pros

  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Multicolor bulb
  • Easy-to-use app

Cons

  • Some connectivity issues
5
Product image of Ring A19 LED Smart Bulb
Best for Ring

Ring A19 LED Smart Bulb

This inexpensive white smart lightbulb is easy to set up, so easy that you can set up your new lights in the blink of an eye. Read More

Pros

  • Easy setup
  • Works with Alexa
  • Dimmable in Alexa app

Cons

  • No Colors
  • Bridge required

There are dozens of smart bulbs available, but Alexa light bulbs have the added benefit of being compatible with Amazon’s voice assistant—as well as Echo devices—to help you control the lights in your home.

After extensive testing, the best smart bulb for Alexa is the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit (available at Amazon) , because of its vibrant colors, easy installation, and ease of use.

For something less expensive, the Wiz Color and White Smart Bulb (available at Amazon offers strong performance on a budget, with no need for a hub.

We’ve tested a wide range of different bulbs, with different features and unique uses, so you can pick the perfect fit for your home.

The Philips Hue White + Color bulbs offer the brightest and most vibrant colors of any smart bulb we've tested.
Credit: Reviewed / Nick Schmiedicker

The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance bulbs offer some of the brightest and most vibrant colors of any smart bulb we've tested that works with Alexa.

Best Overall
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit (Gen 3)

Across the board, Philips Hue makes the best smart bulbs for Alexa. The bulbs are among the brightest and easiest to use of any we’ve tested. When using Alexa voice control, you can call out to your Echo speaker or use the Alexa app to change the bulb’s 16 million colors and tunable whites, adjust the brightness, and activate special lighting presets.

The only downside is that, unlike some other smart bulbs, the Hue light bulbs do require a hub in order to work. Additional hardware isn’t usually a selling point, but it’s a small price to pay for the sheer performance and reliability the Hue bulbs offer—especially if you opt for the Starter Kit that comes packaged with the Hue bridge.

Pros

  • Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri

  • Rich color palette

  • Easy setup plus an intuitive app

Cons

  • Requires a hub to work remotely

The Wiz smart bulb displayed in yellow light
Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

The Wiz smart bulb, which displays 16 million colors as well as shades of white, is the best smart bulb for the money.

Best Value
Wiz Color and White Smart Bulb

The Wiz Color Smart Bulb is affordably-priced, compatible with Alexa, and doesn’t require any special hubs in order to work. It offers a wide array of whites and brilliant colors, and an app to control hue and brightness easily.

The app also lets you set scenes and schedules (though scenes are a little confusing). The app also offers energy insights, which is unusual, especially at such an affordable price.

If you want to dip your toe into smart lighting with Alexa but you don’t want to fully commit to a huge setup, Wiz has a great offering. It crams a lot of features, great colors, and a solid app into a shockingly affordable smart bulb.

Pros

  • Vibrant colors

  • Easy to use

  • Good features

Cons

  • App scenes can be confusing

The Wyze Bulb Color on a peach-colored background
Credit: Reviewed / Wyze

The Wyze Bulb Color offers some of the brightest, most vibrant colors of any smart bulb we've tested.

Best Color
Wyze Bulb Color

There are plenty of smart bulbs that offer vibrant colors, or a wide array of colors, but the Alexa-compatible Wyze Bulb Color does it the best. The company claims this bulb has a 90+ color rendering index, and in our testing it got brighter and dimmer than many other bulbs in our guide. Even the most discriminating eye for color would be thrilled.

You can adjust the color verbally with Alexa, or go deeper into customization through the Wyze app. There you can set up timers, routines, or even automation alongside other Wyze devices. For example, you can configure the bulb to turn on to a specific color when someone rings your Wyze doorbell.

The Wyze bulb color isn’t meant for outdoor use, but that’s one of its few drawbacks. If you’re looking for dramatic, brilliant color, this is the top choice.

Pros

  • Vibrant color

  • Good app controls

  • Works with Google and Alexa

Cons

  • Does not support HomeKit

The Kasa Multicolor Smart Bulb and Packaging on a peach-colored background
Credit: Reviewed / Kasa

The Kasa app offers energy monitoring, so you can keep track of your usage.

Two Ring smart bulbs and a Ring lighting bridge on a peach-colored background
Credit: Reviewed / Ring

The Ring smart bulb requires a Ring lighting bridge, and can be used indoors and outdoors (in a covered fixture).

Best for Ring
Ring A19 LED Smart Bulb

The Ring A19 Smart LED bulb is a white smart light bulb that's easy to set up and affordable. It does require the Ring Smart Lighting Bridge in order to control it from the app or connect it to Alexa for voice control.

These bulbs are a little light on features compared to other smart bulbs that work with Alexa. While dimmable, the Ring A19 bulb doesn't have warmth or coolness settings (in other words, it's not tunable), let alone any fading options. Ring’s app does offer security features like mandatory two-factor authentication to secure your account.

You can create custom schedules for when you want the lights on and off, but Away Mode is not available. The bulb can be paired with your Ring doorbell or home security cameras, popping on when they detect motion as an added security feature.

If you're invested in Ring, Alexa, or both, the A19 Smart LED light bulb is a solid, low-cost addition to rooms where you don't need to worry about changing the color temperature.

Pros

  • Easy setup

  • Works with Alexa

  • Dimmable in Alexa app

Cons

  • No Colors

  • Bridge required

Other Smart Bulbs We Tested

Product image of Feit Electric Smart WiFi Bulb (OM60/RGBW)
Feit Electric Smart Bulb

Feit Electric Smart Bulbs are easy to set up and use with Alexa. They’re also affordably-priced, connect over a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection, and come with a companion app that lets you control them from anywhere.

We had a little trouble figuring out how to use the app to change the lights’ color at first, but once we got it sorted, it was easy—just press and hold the bulb in the app. Feit’s bulbs can be set to millions of colors and shades of white, and you can dim them through voice commands or the app.

They aren’t as feature-rich as some options. They support scheduling and groups, but not more complex timers or integration with other devices. They also don’t have two-factor authentication as a security measure.

Pros

  • Color changing bulb

  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

  • Simple setup

Cons

  • App is slightly confusing

A side by side image of the Geeni Prisma Smart Bulb and the Geeni app
Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

The Geeni Prisma Smart Bulb is a steal at twice the price.

Product image of Geeni Prisma 800
Geeni Prisma LED Smart Bulb

The Alexa-compatible Geeni Prisma Plus LED smart bulb is a solid place to start. It’s affordable, and it offers intuitive Alexa voice commands like "Alexa, dim the bedroom light to 25%" or "Alexa, set the bedroom light to cool white." You can also control the lights via the Geeni app, which is secured with two-factor authentication.

You can choose preset light scenes like rainbow, cocktail, night, reading, and rave, or create your own. You can also schedule lighting patterns out in advance. Overall, Geeni is a great value option for Alexa users.

Pros

  • App offers two-factor authentication

  • Color or white tunable bulb

  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

Cons

  • None we could find

Product image of Cync Full Color Direct Connect Smart Bulb
Cync Full Color Direct Connect Smart Bulb

The newest GE Cync bulbs no longer need a hub, which is great for folks who want an affordable, easy, app-controlled setup. You can also use Alexa voice control to dim the lights and change the color of the bulb.

In the app, you can tap anywhere on the color wheel to choose the exact shade and hue you want, or keep each bulb white and select the warmth or coolness that suits your mood. These bulbs don't offer any preset lighting scenes, which is a fun extra you'll find in other Alexa light bulbs in our guide.

Pros

  • App offers two-factor authentication

  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

  • No hub required

Cons

  • Slow app on iOS

Product image of Abode Color Bulb
Abode Color Bulb

Abode’s 800-lumen bulb puts out bright and vibrant white light and colors remotely via the Abode app. It also works for voice control with Alexa.

Abode’s bulbs technically don’t need a hub for basic controls like changing the color and dimming the lights, but there’s a catch. If you want more in-depth scheduling features (that other bulbs provide natively), you will need a hub. If you already have an Abode smart home hub via their Iota Security System, then Abode’s Color Bulbs make a lot of sense. You can keep your smart home all in one ecosystem without buying an additional hub. They also work well with Alexa.

If you aren’t already bought into Abode, other bulbs may offer more bang for your buck. On top of the hub cost, these two-packs of smart bulbs come at a higher price per bulb than some other options.

Third-party automation features for Abode bulbs include support for Alexa Hunches, which allows Alexa to intuitively control the lights when you are away or asleep, as well as Alexa Routines.

Pros

  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

  • Bright, vibrant colors

  • Good for Abode ecosystems

Cons

  • Hub required for some basic features


How We Test Smart Bulbs for Amazon Alexa

The Testers

Hi, I’m Rachel, Reviewed’s home editor. I'm adding to the previous testing by Sarah Kovac, Reviewed’s accessibility editor and former smart home editor, and Jill Duffy, a freelance consumer technology and software writer.

The Tests

To find the best smart bulbs for Alexa, we bought the bestselling, highest-rated bulbs and put them through their paces in an actual home, installing them in lamps and various other light fixtures.

We tested each bulb’s functionality through the smart bulb’s companion app on both an iOS and Android device. Then, we also tested each bulb with Alexa to measure the bulb’s functionality and responsiveness to voice commands.

What Does an Alexa Light Bulb Do?

Smart bulbs turned on to a variety of different colors
Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

These are the best smart light bulbs Alexa works with.

Alexa smart bulbs let you control brightness, activate certain lighting presets and scenes, power the lights on/off, and adjust color temperature through Alexa voice commands. In order to enable Alexa voice control, you will need to set up your compatible smart bulbs in the companion app first, and then add them in the Alexa app to enable voice control.

In the smart bulb’s companion app, you can often set schedules so that your bulbs turn on and/or off at a certain time every day. You can also set them to coincide with alarms in the morning, or even changes in your location. For instance, you can set your smart lights to turn off and on as you leave or come home from work.

Many smart bulbs also work with Alexa Routines. Routines let you group together several tasks and execute them with a single voice command. For example, you can set a bedtime routine that turns off all of the Alexa smart bulbs in your home when you say, “Alexa, goodnight.”

Smart Bulbs vs. Smart Switches: What's the Difference

One of the coolest things about smart bulbs is that color bulbs, at least, can display an array of 16 million colors. So, if you're looking to add some color to your home, that's one reason to choose smart bulbs over smart switches.

Additionally, smart bulbs offer versatility and fresh features without making you break out the tool kit or mess with the wiring. They can do so much more than a regular light bulb, but the installation process isn’t onerous. That makes them ideal for renters, or for people who are new to the world of smart home technology.

Smart switches are another way that you can control your lights from anywhere. Installing a smart switch takes longer and is more work compared to installing a smart bulb.

However, one smart switch can control an entire light fixture’s worth of regular light bulbs. That can represent significant savings compared to shelling out to replace a home full of smart bulbs.

And don’t forget about smart plugs. They can’t be used to control hardwired lights the way that smart bulbs or smart switches can. However, they’re an ideal choice for regular lamps that plug into an electrical outlet.

Privacy and Alexa Light Bulbs

Whenever you use internet-connected devices at home, including Alexa, there’s always a potential privacy risk. However, there are steps you can take to help safeguard your smart home.

  • Two-factor authentication: Devices with this security feature send a verification code to your mobile device. If someone tries to hack your account, the device sends an alert and you can take care of the issue before it becomes a problem. Many devices allow you to activate email or other push notifications in the settings to alert you if someone has logged on.

  • Use a unique, strong password: A good password should be composed of multiple characters, numbers, and letters for each of your smart home accounts. Using different passwords for websites and apps can help protect you from data breaches.

When using any devices with Alexa, you can further protect your privacy by regularly deleting your voice recordings and muting the speaker’s mic when it’s not in use.

Looking for more privacy tips? Read our guide on securing your smart home.

Meet the testers

Sarah Kovac

Sarah Kovac

Editor, Accessibility

@thesarahkovac

Sarah Kovac is an award-winning author and accessibility editor for Reviewed. Previously, she worked with a multitude of outlets such as Wirecutter, TIME, PCMag, Prevention, The Atlantic, Reviews.com, CNN, GOOD, Upworthy, Mom.me, and SheKnows.

See all of Sarah Kovac's reviews
Rachel Murphy

Rachel Murphy

Editor, Home

@rachel_murphy

Rachel Murphy is Reviewed's home editor. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Central Florida. Prior to joining the team, she worked as a freelance writer for publications like Insider and Mashable, and as an associate editorial producer for Good Morning America. Aside from smart home tech, her interests include food, travel, parenting, and home renovation. You can usually find her sipping on coffee at any time of the day.

See all of Rachel Murphy's reviews
Jill Duffy

Jill Duffy

Contributor

Jill Duffy is a writer covering consumer technology and software for both personal and business use. She has been testing and reviewing technology since 2011. Before that, she was a writer and editor covering video game development, e-learning, and other areas of tech and science.

See all of Jill Duffy's reviews

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