Motion Sensors · Head to head

Aeotec Motion Sensor vs Shelly Blu Motion

Full Smart Motion Sensors comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Shelly sites.
2026 verdict
Buy the Shelly Blu Motion if you want the cheaper motion sensor with the longer reach and the longer battery life.
Shelly Blu Motion
Winner
Shelly Blu Motion

Last recorded priceMay 1, 2026$25.99

Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
It detects out to 9 m against 4.5 m, is rated for five years on a CR2477 cell against one year on a CR2, adds a light sensor and adjustable sensitivity, weighs just 26 g and carries a two-year warranty. The Aeotec Motion Sensor is the better rated of the two and the favourite of SmartThings and Hubitat users: a Zigbee sensor that owners call essentially flawless and near instant, with a temperature sensor and a magnetic ball mount for easy aiming. The catch on each side is the bridge: the Aeotec needs a Zigbee hub, the Shelly another Shelly device or a BLU Gateway. Both cover 120 degrees and work with Alexa and Home Assistant. Pick the Aeotec for a SmartThings or Hubitat home, and the Shelly for a Shelly or Home Assistant setup.
vs
Winner
Shelly Blu Motion
Shelly

Shelly Blu Motion

Prime exclusive deal
13% above its lowest price of the last 6 months ($22.99)

Last recorded priceMay 1, 2026$25.99

Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
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FeatureAeotec Motion SensorShelly Blu MotionWinner
Rating4.64.0Aeotec Motion Sensor
Battery Life1 year5 yearsShelly Blu Motion
Range of Detection14.8 ft (4.5 m)29.5 ft (9 m)Shelly Blu Motion
Angle of Detection120º120°Different strengths
ConnectivityZigbeeBluetoothTie
IntegrationsAlexa, Samsung SmartThings, Home AssistantGoogle Home, Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Home AssistantTie
SensorsMotion, TemperatureMotion, LightTie
AlertsMotion AlertsMotion AlertsTie

What the differences mean

How it connects

The Aeotec Motion Sensor is Zigbee and needs a Zigbee hub such as SmartThings, Hubitat or Home Assistant with a dongle. The Shelly Blu Motion is Bluetooth and needs a Shelly Plus or Pro device or a BLU Gateway to reach Wi-Fi.

Battery

Five years rated on the Shelly's coin cell against one year on the Aeotec's CR2, although Aeotec owners report their batteries lasting well.

Range

The Shelly lists 9 m and the Aeotec 4.5 m, both over 120 degrees. The Aeotec suits a hallway or a small room; the Shelly reaches across a living room.

Extra sensors

The Aeotec adds a temperature sensor; the Shelly adds a light sensor for lights that only switch on after dark. Pick the one whose extra reading your automations use.

Size

At 26 g the Shelly is nearly invisible once mounted. The Aeotec is a larger 95 g sensor with a magnetic ball mount that makes aiming easy.

Which one to buy if

  • your hub is SmartThings or Hubitat
    Aeotec Motion Sensor

    The Aeotec Motion Sensor is the sensor those users call the most reliable they have tried, and it works on SmartThings without a gateway.

  • you already own Shelly relays or plugs
    Shelly Blu Motion

    They bridge the Shelly Blu Motion to Wi-Fi at no extra cost.

  • you want lights to come on only when it is dark
    Shelly Blu Motion

    The Shelly has a light sensor; the Aeotec does not.

  • you want to change batteries as rarely as possible
    Shelly Blu Motion

    The Shelly is rated for five years against one on the Aeotec.

Winner
Shelly

Shelly Blu Motion

Prime exclusive deal

Last recorded priceMay 1, 2026$25.99

Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
  • + Battery Life: 5 years
  • + Range of Detection: 29.5 ft (9 m)
  • - Rating: 4.0 vs 4.6

What owners say

Owners of both sensors praise fast response and easy pairing, and both groups use them to switch lights the moment someone walks in. Aeotec Motion Sensor owners, many of them long-time SmartThings and Hubitat users, call it the most reliable Zigbee motion sensor they have tried, like the temperature reading for automations such as bathroom lights during a hot shower, and report batteries holding up even in a hot attic. Their one real complaint is that it has no sensitivity setting and will not hold lights on for someone sitting still. Shelly Blu Motion owners single out its tiny size, the fact that it ships already powered on and Home Assistant discovering it by itself, while they complain about needing a Shelly bridge, sparse instructions and tape that fails on glossy trim.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Aeotec Motion Sensor
  • Shelly Blu Motion

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Aeotec Motion Sensor or Shelly Blu Motion?

The Shelly Blu Motion, for its lower price, longer rated battery life, longer range and light sensor. The Aeotec Motion Sensor is the better rated sensor and the stronger choice for SmartThings and Hubitat, with a temperature sensor and very fast, reliable triggering.

What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Motion Sensor and the Shelly Blu Motion?

The radio. The Aeotec Motion Sensor is a Zigbee sensor for a Zigbee hub, while the Shelly Blu Motion is a Bluetooth sensor that reaches Wi-Fi through another Shelly device or a Shelly BLU Gateway.

Do the Aeotec Motion Sensor and the Shelly Blu Motion work with Home Assistant?

Yes. The Aeotec Motion Sensor joins Home Assistant through a Zigbee dongle, and the Shelly Blu Motion is discovered through BTHome when a Shelly bridge is nearby.

Can either sensor keep lights on while someone sits still?

Not reliably. Aeotec Motion Sensor owners say it is a fast trigger that needs continuous movement, and many pair it with an mmWave sensor for presence. The Shelly Blu Motion is also a motion sensor rather than a presence sensor, so the same approach applies.

Who should buy the Aeotec Motion Sensor?

SmartThings, Hubitat and Zigbee Home Assistant users who want a proven, very fast motion trigger with a temperature reading.

Who should buy the Shelly Blu Motion?

Shelly and Home Assistant households that want a tiny, low-cost indoor sensor with a light sensor and years of battery life.

Full comparison table

Compare all 28 Motion Sensors side by side

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  • 28 Motion Sensors
  • 33 specs compared
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