Comparison

Hue Lights vs Hue Essentials

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hue Lights

Unlock advanced control for your smart lights. Create custom scenes, schedules, and dynamic lighting effects. Enhance your home ambiance with unique features like simulated weather and fire.

Highlights
  • Precise lighting control
  • Multi-room scenes
  • Customizable schedules
  • Dynamic lighting effects
  • Hue sensor and switch configuration
  • Apple Watch integration
  • In-app purchase for special effects
Features
Read full description

Hue Lights offers full feature support for all of your smart lighting needs: Precise control, multi-room scenes, schedules, sequences, dynamic lighting, and special effects. Create advanced configurations for your Hue motion sensor, Hue dimmer switch or Hue Tap. Check out our sample videos and FAQ at https://huelights.com. Teach your lights new tricks with Hue Lights! Completely customize each button on your Hue dimmer switch or Hue Tap. Control 8 scenes from a single Hue dimmer switch, change brightness speeds, or select groups based on duration of button press. Hue Lights leverages the latest firmware to store scene details directly on the bridge. You can view and edit shared scenes from any device on your network. The UI offers improved visual feedback and easier on/off/brightness controls directly from the home screen. Try the sequences feature to see amazing possibilities at your fingertips. Use your Apple Watch to activate scenes, adjust group brightness and trigger alerts. Escape to the beach with soothing ocean, lake, or creek sounds while your lights gently change and dim (Water In-App purchase). Experience amazing thunderstorms (In-App purchase) with customized controls for lightning strikes, rain density, bird songs, wind speed, sleep timer, brightness and sky color! Simulate realistic fires (In-App purchase) with dedicated controls for fire type, fire size, flare-ups and brightness. If you have any problems with previous In-App purchases, tap "Restore." Please see the comprehensive FAQ and documentation at https://huelights.com for App help. The free version allows control of lights 1 and 2. In-App purchases can unlock all lights and special effects. Hue Lights brings you shared scenes and groups, comprehensive scheduling, sequences and powerful light controls. Create multiple "On" and "Off" schedules per scene. Tap a row to select a light, group, or scene. Use quick controls at the bottom of the screen. Long press a row for quick actions (on, choose color, edit, off). Save scenes from any third-party app and use Hue Lights to activate these on your Apple Watch. Dynamically animate or schedule any scene from third-party apps. All screens are optimized for your favorite iOS devices in portrait and landscape mode. Hue Lights works well with any third-party app that saves scenes or schedules on the bridge. Do you have a favorite scene from another app that you use frequently? With Hue Lights you can turn this scene on or off with one tap! Hue Lights will show every schedule saved on your bridge from any app and give you the option to disable or remove unwanted schedules. Features: • Interactive widgets • Fire and candle effects • Light and group timers • Remote control • Hue motion sensor support • Hue dimmer switch/Hue Tap support • Sunrise/sunset actions • View/edit scenes and schedules on bridge • View/delete rules and sensors • See exact watts used on supported lights • 3D Touch on app icon • TouchLink for finding lost bulbs • Sequences • Apple Watch support • Dynamic animations • Scene themes • Supports multiple third-party ZigBee lights • Light, group and scene schedules • Tap bulb image to apply a favorite color • Localized VoiceOver support • Heuristics for working around common errors • Create transition times up to 90 minutes • Designed to work well with 50+ light deployments Experience multi-track, synchronized and visually appealing light animations and sequences. Requires "Hue Personal Wireless Lighting Starter Set" to operate. "Hue Personal Wireless Lighting" is a trademark owned by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., see www.meethue.com for more information. LapApps, LLC is in no way affiliated with the Philips organization. Follow @HueLights on X and like our Facebook page for the latest news and updates. See https://huelights.com for more documentation and supported hardware.

About

Hue Essentials

Unlock the full potential of your smart lighting system. Create custom scenes, dynamic effects, and automate your lights with schedules and triggers. Control multiple smart home bridges and devices seamlessly for a personalized ambiance.

Highlights
  • Custom scenes and effects
  • Music and entertainment sync
  • Sunrise/sunset automation
  • Multi-bridge control
  • Device discovery and setup
  • Button and sensor automation
  • Away from home control
Features
Read full description

Imagine unlimited possibilities in your smart home. Set scenes and fast effects to your mood. Experience Dance Sensation in your entertainment area with Philips Hue Entertainment. Feel more in control with schedules and automation from sunrise to sunset. Control multiple bridges simultaneously without switching between them. Supported devices • Philips Hue bridge • Philips Hue Bluetooth lights • deCONZ (ConBee) • diyHue • LIFX Scenes & effects Create the perfect ambiance from your photos or the included photo library. Experience special animations like lava, fireplace, fireworks, or lightning. Wake up at sunrise and go to sleep at sunset with fading lights. Get into the party on the beats of your music. Sync your lights for a night of disco with strobe effects (updates 25 times/sec). Quick access Create rooms and groups to organize your lights. You can even put a light in several groups. Smart lights & controls The unique ‘Touchlink’ search allows you to find new (3rd party, Zigbee) lights. Use included wizards for easy setup of your devices. You can set scenes, actions, or even multiple scenes on a button to make your switch a real investment. Experience the right ambiance during different times of your day with your motion sensor. All of your creations are stored on the bridge. Easy for you and your family. Advanced Automation allows you to have greater control of your smart home. Turn on your lights when the door opens. Adjust your ventilation when the humidity gets too high. Open or close blinds and curtains based on temperature or sunshine. Make it look like you are at home using 'Away from Home' (out of home control). Communicate directly with your Hue bridge using the API debugger. View technical details of your Hue bridge and update its resources like lights and sensors. You want it all? Fast performance with ad-free experience. Purchase the premium version to unlock full content.

Screenshots

Hue Lights4 screens
Hue Essentials4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hue Essentials at every 2 weeks against Hue Lights's every 5 months. Hue Lights's advantage is review sentiment (46% vs 37%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hue Lights sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and Hue Essentials sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Hue Lights against 4.1 for Hue Essentials. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 393 and 133 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of Hue Lights's written reviews are positive against 37% of Hue Essentials's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hue Lights ships an update every 5 months, Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 20, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Hue Lights versus Hue Essentials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHue LightsHue Essentials
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (393 ratings)4.1 (133 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.7% of reviews — better37.2% of reviews
Number of ratings393 — better133
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB269 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLapApps, LLCThomas Vos

Customer experience

Hue Lights

All ratings132 ratings
Positive47.0%
Neutral7.6%
Negative45.5%
Written reviews219 reviews
Positive45.7%
Neutral8.7%
Negative45.7%

Hue Essentials

All ratings133 ratings
Positive75.9%
Neutral8.3%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews239 reviews
Positive37.2%
Neutral8.4%
Negative54.4%

User reviews

Hue Lights

From 393 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app for controlling Hue lights
  • 👍 Excellent functionality and customization
  • 💡 Helpful for connecting older Hue bulbs
  • 🚀 Touchlink feature works well
  • 👍 Responsive and helpful developer support

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable after updates
  • 👎 Complicated and unintuitive user interface
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases required
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer Hue bridges
  • 👎 Scenes and schedules not working as expected

Hue Essentials

From 133 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent Hue lighting control
  • 👍 Works well with multiple bridges
  • 💡 Customizable remote controls
  • 🚀 Faster than official Hue app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 🔒 In-app purchases required for key features
  • 👎 Poor execution and user experience
  • 🔋 Widgets and Apple Watch app not working

Bugs and requests

Hue Lights

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Lights not responding to commands
  • Scenes not loading or activating properly
  • Frequent crashes and connection issues
  • Unexpected changes to light groups and settings

Requested features

4 requests
  • Alexa/Siri integration and voice control
  • Ability to run effects/animations in the background
  • More customization options for sunrise/sunset scenes
  • Better widget and Apple Watch support

Hue Essentials

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Fade feature not working
  • Saving automations not working
  • Crashes when checking 'About' section
  • Widgets and Apple Watch app issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Repeat/loop function for automations
  • Strobing/flashing effects
  • Dark mode
  • Alexa integration

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Hue Lights

One-time9
  • Unlock 100 ScenesFree
  • Thunderstorm$1.99
  • Fire$1.99
Show 6 more
  • Water$1.99
  • Perfect Sunrise$1.99
  • Richer Colors and Scenes$1.99
  • Premium Actions$1.99
  • Premium Sequences$1.99
  • Unlock 48 Lights$4.99
8 purchases

Hue Essentials

One-time8
  • Effects: Christmas$0.99
  • Effects: Universe$0.99
  • Effects: Wonders of nature$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Effects: Romantic$0.99
  • Effects: Floral fantasy$0.99
  • Effects: Spooky$0.99
  • Multiple bridges$4.99
  • Premium$7.99

Questions

Is Hue Lights free?
Hue Lights is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hue Essentials free?
Hue Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hue Lights or Hue Essentials?
Hue Essentials is rated higher. Hue Lights averages 4.1 out of 5 from 393 ratings, while Hue Essentials averages 4.1 from 133 ratings.
Do Hue Lights or Hue Essentials have ads?
Neither Hue Lights nor Hue Essentials shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hue Lights or Hue Essentials?
Hue Lights ships an update every 5 months, and Hue Essentials every 2 weeks. Most recently, Hue Lights was updated on September 20, 2026 and Hue Essentials on September 20, 2026.

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