The 5 best smart Christmas lights of 2025: from Twinkly to Govee
Compare our favorite smart Christmas lights
Honorable mentions
Here are some other smart bulbs we tested for this story that are still available this year.
Image: Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf Essentials Smart Holiday String Lights for $150: These lights work with Google Assistant, Alexa, and HomeKit, and are similar in look, feel, and price to our top pick. The only major difference is that the rope is divided into two parts – the idea is to start from the middle of the tree, not from the bottom, and wrap one cord to the top and the other to the bottom. It’s a little confusing, and the ropes can be an eyesore depending on the placement of your tree.
Ollny Christmas Collection Lights for $50: If you want something a little simpler, Ollny’s warm and welcoming Christmas lights are available at affordable prices. We tested this 49-foot string light, which has 1,000 LEDs in a beautiful warm white color. It is IP44 rated and comes with an easy to use remote control making it ideal for use outside your home. You can choose from eight effects and four brightness levels and set timers to turn it on or off automatically after several hours.
How to use a smart plug with regular lights
If you don’t want a whole new set of Christmas lights but still want to add some smarts to your holiday decor, a smart plug might be the perfect solution. It plugs into your outlet and is a smart outlet switch, giving you control over Wi-Fi.
With smart plugs, you get a simple level of control: on or off. It’s great for lights in particular, because you can technically leave the light on and the smart plug will remember what time you want it to turn on or off. You can sync it with a smart speaker, too, to voice commands for controls. You won’t get custom colors like you do with the real smart Christmas lights we recommend above, but if you basically want a remote to turn the lights on and off, these smart plugs will do the trick.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Christmas lights “smart”?
Smart devices, whether smart Christmas lights, smart bulbs, or smart speakers, have the ability to connect to a Wi-Fi network and can be controlled using an app. For smart Christmas lights, this means you can use the app to create light designs, set timers for when the lights will turn on and off, and take advantage of other features like scenes or presets, depending on the app’s features. This opens up many more lighting options with your own individual string of lights rather than a “dumb” light string that is only color adjustable and offers no custom controls.
Are smart Christmas lights worth it?
It’s worth it for anyone who has time to take advantage of the features, or anyone who gets frustrated trying to remember to turn holiday lights on and off every morning and evening. They’ll take a little longer to set up than a regular set of lights, but smart Christmas lights are a great tool to make your holiday decor exactly how you want it. Plus, you can easily control the lights while lying on the sofa.
Are permanent outdoor lights smart too?
All of the outdoor permanent lights we’ve tested have smart capabilities so far. Features can vary based on the brand you choose, but the concept is that you can install it once and customize your colors for year-round use from there. They are more complicated to install due to their permanent nature, and are not suitable for every type of home. You can also have it professionally installed for you.
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