Our choice: This affordable smart bulb is one of the brightest we tested. It doesn't offer special effects, but it does offer excellent color and reliable basic functions, including remote control, scheduling and timers. Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT Offering an output of 1,100 lumens, the equivalent of a 75-watt bulb, the Wyze Bulb Color connects to your home Wi-Fi network and is one of the brightest bulbs we tested (most lamps emit approximately 800 lumens). Despite that bright light, it has a low price, an easy-to-use app and a good color temperature range, and it can dim as low as you need. The timers and scheduling work reliably, as do useful features such as the ability to simulate sunrise and sunset light, holiday mode and Power Loss Recovery, which allows you to adjust what settings your lamp will have after it turns back on after a power outage.

Runner-up: This model costs less than our other picks and exudes bold color. It also has useful scenes (color and brightness presets) and works with various smart platforms. Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri Shortcuts, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThingsIf you want to browse the colors for the holidays, a dinner party, or just for fun, the Philips Wiz Smart Wi-Fi LED Color Bulb is a good choice. It delivers bright white light and great-looking colors, as well as reliable scheduling and some special effects. It also has a beautiful range of white tones that are perfect for task lighting or a relaxing atmosphere in the home. This lamp includes several presets (such as Fireplace, Party and Christmas), the ability to save favorite colors and scenes, and a holiday mode, where the lamp turns on and off randomly, so it seems like you are at home. you're not. Please note that Philips Wiz bulbs are not compatible with Philips Hue bulbs, so if you are already using Hue bulbs, we recommend that you continue to use them.

Also great: The Meross lamp doesn't have as wide a brightness range as our top two picks. but it's easy to use, has a good color palette, and works with all major smart home platforms. Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThingsThe Meross MSL120 Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb works with every major smart-home platform, especially Apple's HomeKit, without the need for a hub, so you can use it can activate to turn it on or off based on any other smart home device, such as a camera, water leak sensor or smart plug. It also works with voice commands for Siri, Alexa and Google Home. It doesn't offer any special effects and doesn't produce as strong a range of white tones as our top two picks, but it has decent range, a vibrant color palette and enough brightness for everyday use. It's also cheaper than most other HomeKit-compatible lights.

Choose an upgrade: Hue bulbs are expensive, but they can be paired with a wide selection of other Hue lighting devices, all of which communicate wirelessly to avoid range issues. Hue also supports most smart home platforms. Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThingsPhilips Hue White and Color Ambiance smart lights create vibrant, colorful scenes and can be controlled via your smartphone connected via Bluetooth. (We tested an 800-lumen version and a 1,100-lumen version.) However, the real magic happens when you add a Hue hub or a device like the Amazon Echo, which has a built-in Zigbee wireless hub. This allows you to control lights remotely, use schedules and integrate the lights with devices from the Hue accessory family and with all major smart home platforms. Because the Hue hub uses a Zigbee connection, your lights work separately from the WiFi in your home, making them more stable and reliable. The downside is that Hue bulbs are more expensive than our other choices; we recommend the White and Color Ambiance A19 Starter Kit, which includes three bulbs, a Hue hub and the Hue dimmer switch.

More smart lighting ideas for your home: The best smart plugs A smart plug increases the IQ of non-smart devices like lamps, fans, or string lights, allowing you to schedule or control them via app or voice commands.