Winner
Updated October 2026
Data from the official Airthings and Govee sites.
2026 verdict
Particles on a shelf display are not the same worry as radon, and the Airthings Wave Plus is the recommendation when radon, CO2 and VOCs should share one unit.
It measures those three plus temperature, humidity and pressure, carries a 5 year warranty, and works with Google Home, Alexa and Home Assistant. It has no screen and runs about 1.5 years on two AA batteries. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor is the better reviewed of the two and the one with PM2.5 on an LED, plus humidity alerts and USB-C power, on Alexa and Home Assistant only. Choose the Airthings Wave Plus for the wide gas log. Choose the GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor for dust and smoke you can read across the room.
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| Feature | Airthings Wave Plus | GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 | $45.99 | GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.3 | GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor |
| Warranty | 5 years | 1 year | Airthings Wave Plus |
| Screen | NO | YES | GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant | Alexa, Home Assistant | Airthings Wave Plus |
| Sensors | TVOC, CO2, Radon, Temperature, Humidity, Atmospheric Pressure | PM2.5, Temperature, Humidity | Airthings Wave Plus |
| Alerts | Temperature Alerts, Humidity Alerts, Air Quality Alerts, Low Battery Alerts | Temperature Alerts, Humidity Alerts, Air Quality Alerts | Airthings Wave Plus |
| Weather Resistance | NO | NO | Tie |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Other | 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | Tie |
What the differences mean
Six readings versus particles
The Airthings Wave Plus measures radon, CO2, TVOC, temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor measures PM2.5, temperature and humidity. Particles are only on the Govee. Radon, CO2, VOCs and pressure are only on the Wave. Temperature and humidity are the overlap, so a single winner still leaves one pollutant unmeasured.
Screen versus a wave light
The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor has an LED display for particles, temperature, humidity and a clock. The Airthings Wave Plus has no screen. A wave brings up a Good, Fair or Poor light, and the log is in the app. The Govee wins the glance test. The glance is a particle number, not radon or CO2.
Cord versus AA cells
The Airthings Wave Plus runs about 1.5 years on two AA batteries, over Bluetooth, with SmartLink if you add an Airthings hub. It has no Wi-Fi. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor is USB-C on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and has no battery. A room without a free outlet can take the Wave. A room where you want the figure on the device all day takes the Govee, plugged in.
Platforms and alerts
The Airthings Wave Plus works with Google Home, Alexa and Home Assistant, and it alerts on temperature, humidity, air quality and a low battery. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor works with Alexa and Home Assistant only, and it alerts on temperature, humidity and air quality. Google Home and the low-battery alert are the Wave's extras. The LED is the Govee's.
Which one to buy if
- radon, CO2 and VOCs should be logged together
The Airthings Wave Plus measures all three, plus humidity, temperature and pressure, on AA batteries. The Govee meter measures none of those gases.
- cooking particles should be visible without a phone
The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor shows PM2.5 on an LED and can speed up a Govee purifier. The Airthings Wave Plus has no particle sensor and no screen.
- the household assistant is Google Home
Google Home is on the Airthings Wave Plus, with Alexa and Home Assistant. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor lists Alexa and Home Assistant only.
- the spot you care about has no outlet
Two AA batteries rated for about 1.5 years power the Airthings Wave Plus. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor needs USB-C power the whole time.
Winner
$249.99
- + Warranty: 5 years
- + Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant
- + Sensors: TVOC, CO2, Radon, Temperature, Humidity, Atmospheric Pressure
- - Price: $249.99 vs $45.99
- - Rating: 4.2 vs 4.3
$45.99
- + Price: $45.99
- + Rating: 4.3
- + Screen: YES
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 5 years
- - Integrations: Alexa, Home Assistant vs Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant
What owners say
Owners are reacting to different air events. Airthings Wave Plus owners like radon, CO2 and VOCs in one battery unit, and they describe CO2 and VOC numbers moving when a window opens or stored boxes come inside. Several credit it with confirming a radon problem, while noting the figure can read low against a charcoal lab kit and that syncing over Bluetooth is often slow unless a hub is added. GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor owners like PM2.5 that jumps with cooking or smoke and a Govee purifier that speeds up on its own, plus an LED clock face. They complain that gases such as CO2 and radon are simply not on the device, and that it cannot leave the outlet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Airthings Wave Plus or GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor?
The Airthings Wave Plus wins the sheet on sensor coverage, integrations, alerts and a 5 year warranty. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor is the better reviewed of the two and the one with a screen, and its sensing stops at PM2.5, temperature and humidity.
What is the biggest difference between the Airthings Wave Plus and the GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor?
Coverage. The Airthings Wave Plus reads radon, CO2, VOCs, temperature, humidity and pressure, with no screen. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor reads PM2.5, temperature and humidity on an LED. Each misses the headline measurement of the other.
Does the GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor measure radon or CO2?
No. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor measures PM2.5, temperature and humidity. Radon, CO2 and TVOC are on the Airthings Wave Plus, which does not measure PM2.5. They are complements, not substitutes.
Does the Airthings Wave Plus have a display?
No. The Airthings Wave Plus uses a wave-to-check light and the app. The GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor has the LED display in this pair. What that display shows is particles, temperature and humidity, not the radon and CO2 on the Wave.
Who should buy the Airthings Wave Plus?
Someone who wants radon together with CO2, VOCs, temperature, humidity and pressure, on batteries, with Google Home, Alexa or Home Assistant. Plan on Bluetooth range, or an Airthings hub, and do not expect a particle number.
Who should buy the GoveeLife Smart Air Quality Monitor?
Someone who wants PM2.5 on an LED beside an outlet, with humidity alerts and a link to other Govee gear or Alexa. It will not replace the Airthings Wave Plus for radon or carbon dioxide.
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