List of Smart Bulbs That Work With Philips Hue [UK Guide]

I’m a big advocate of Philips Hue, not least for the reliability that a Hue setup can offer. However, there’s no denying that it’s one of the pricier options on the market.

If you’ve already bought into the Hue ecosystem but are looking for some cheaper third-party bulbs that work with Philips Hue, then this is the guide for you.

Now, I’m not the first person on the internet to summarize which bulbs work with Philips Hue, however, I am the first person to share it from a UK perspective. So every product in my list below is available from Amazon or other retailers in the UK.

Table Of Contents

Can Other Bulbs Work with Philips Hue?

Yes, there is a range of other bulbs that will work with Philips Hue, these can be connected to the Hue bridge and will have access to most features via the Hue app.

Although Philips Hue uses ZigBee, there are different types of Zigbee (just to make things confusing!). Only Zigbee lights that use the Zigbee Light Link (ZLL) standard will work with Hue. It’s always best to check the manufacturer specifications to ensure hue compatibility. (or check out my list below)

But, there are some limitations when using third party bulbs with Hue:

If you’re integrating with HomeKit, only official Philips Hue bulbs will work via the Hue and HomeKit integration (unless you have Homebridge).
Most third party bulbs support power-on behaviour which allows you to determine what state bulbs return to after a power cut (see my guide to setting up power-on behaviour).
You cannot update the firmware of third party bulbs via the Hue bridge.
You can’t use third-party bulbs with Hue Entertainment, this includes the Hue sync box.
No third party bulbs support Bluetooth. This is a new addition that allows Hue bulbs to work without a bridge by connecting them to your phone or an Amazon Echo.

Which Bulbs Work with Philips Hue?

The best bulbs that work with Philips Hue available in the UK are Innr, Lidl, IKEA Trådfri, and Linkind. Below is some information about each brand.

Keep reading for links to all the specific bulbs in the next section.

1. Innr – My Top Pick

Innr is a European company founded by an ex-Philips employee, so you won’t be surprised to find that they have excellent compatibility with the Hue bridge.

They often recommend a Hue bridge in product listings and even have a video on their official YouTube channel to show you how to pair Innr and the Hue Bridge.

Innr bulbs are available in a wide variety of formats so you can kit out most parts of your home at a good price. Although both Hue and Innr have 805 lumens of light, the Innr bulbs tend to be brighter.

Both have similar colour accuracy with 16 million colours and a colour temperature of 2000K-6500K. The only downsides to these bulbs are those outlined earlier which impact all third party bulbs.

View all Innr smart bulbs on Amazon or see list of compatible bulbs below.

2. Lidl Livarno Lux – Great for Whites

Lidl smart bulbs (branded Livarno Lux) can be paired to work with Hue. The white bulbs are excellent and often brighter than the Hue bulbs, although the colour reproduction of the colour bulbs is not as accurate as Hue.

All of the limitations mentioned earlier also apply such as you cannot use them with HomeKit or Hue Entertainment. As the Lidl bulbs don’t have the ability to gradually turn on, you also can’t use them with sunrise or sunset mode.

These can be hard to get hold of since you can’t buy them online and availability instore seems to be sporadic. When they are available, smart home enthusiasts like myself flock to the stores and buy them in droves.

Visit a Lidl store to view products or find a list of compatible bulbs below.

3. Linkind – Standout Dimming

Linkind bulbs work seamlessly with your Hue bridge as well as Echo Plus, Echo Show (2nd Gen), and IKEA Trådfri Gateway. Linkind bulbs tend to be brighter than other brands with a similar lumen rating.

The bulbs also act as repeaters similar to official Hue bulbs and the 1% dim setting is ideal for use as a night light. Animations work smoothly which means they can be used with Hue’s sunrise and sunset modes.

Whilst the bulbs are available individually, unfortunately, the E27 bulbs are only available as part of a starter bundle with a hub included. It’s a shame they don’t come individually as you don’t need to use the included hub if using a Philips Hue hub.

View all Linkind smart bulbs on Amazon or see list of compatible bulbs below.

4. IKEA Trådfri

IKEA Trådfri bulbs now work directly with the Hue hub. When connecting via the IKEA gateway, you usually use a remote, however, you do not need this when connecting with the Hue bridge.

When connecting IKEA bulbs to Hue, you will need to turn the bulbs on and off 6 times to allow the hub to find them. The colour bulbs are not as bright as Hue colour bulbs (white are about the same).

As you cannot update the firmware of third party bulbs via hue, you should look for a production number above 1721 to ensure it ships with suitable firmware. Hue bulbs will also work with the IKEA hub.

Note: these only seem to be available with the Edison screw head (E27) and not the Bayonet head (B22).

View all IKEA smart lighting or see list of compatible bulbs below.

5. Osram Smart+

Osram Sylvania (formerly Lightify) Smart+ bulbs have had a bad rep in the past with many users reporting trouble connecting them to a Philips Hue bridge. However, a firmware update seems to have solved these issues so ensure you have updated them before trying to connect.

Just to point out that only Osram Smart+ bulbs in Europe work with Hue, if you’ve imported them from the USA then they will use a different Zigbee standard (ZHA) which doesn’t work with Hue.

Overall, I put the Smart+ bulbs in last position because they can struggle with animations and the colour temperature only goes to 2700k whereas most others go to around 2000k.

View all Osram Smart+ bulbs on Amazon or see list of compatible bulbs below.

Best Hue-Compatible Bulbs UK

Below is a complete list of Hue-compatible bulbs available in the UK with links to buy the products. I have not included Lidl Livarno Lux as you need to go in-store to pick them up.

Other Hue-Compatible Bulbs (Not Available in the UK)

So far, this guide has focused on hue-compatible bulbs in the UK. However, there are many more manufacturers that offer support, mostly sold in continental Europe and the USA. I thought it was worthwhile to give them a mention here for any international readers:

AduroSmart ERIA – This Dutch company offers some great lights that are a real contender to Philips Hue in terms of colour

Calex – There are a few ZigBee GU10 bulbs on the market that work with Hue. Calex do sell bulbs in Tesco and other retailers here in the UK, but these are Wi-Fi bulbs and do not work with Hue.

Cree – Cree Zigbee bulbs work with Hue, Smart Things, Wink and more. However, no vendors are selling them in the UK right now.

GLEDOPTO – This is a German-based brand so it’s not too far from our shores. They have Hue-compatible smart bulbs, however, these don’t have great colour reproduction. Where this brand does excel, is their controllers for LED lights which can help you add light strips and other built-in lights to Hue. Hopefully, they will make their products available in the UK soon.

How to Add Third-Party Bulbs to Philips Hue

Adding your third party bulbs to Hue is generally an easy process, but often requires one extra step that can vary by manufacturer.

Here is a guide:

Ensure your light bulb is installed in the socket and it’s switched on
Open the Philips Hue App on your smartphone or tablet.
Go to ‘Settings’, then select ‘Light Setup’.
Choose the ‘+’ icon in the bottom right of the screen.
Tap ‘Search’, to find your new bulb
Turn your bulbs on and off to allow the Hue bridge to find them. [varies by brand]

The final point is unique to third party bulbs because official Hue bulbs will be found automatically.

The number of times you turn it on and off will vary by manufacturer, for example, IKEA requires 6 toggles on/off whereas Innr only requires 2. Some do not need this step.

List of Smart Bulbs That Work With Philips Hue [UK Guide]

Can Other Bulbs Work with Philips Hue?