Disclosure: this site is run by a Kansas City homeowner who owns a Nex-Gen system and is a Nex-Gen referral partner. We may earn a fee if you book. Every fact below links to its source so you can check it. How we compare
The quick list
- Nex-Gen: best overall for Kansas City. Lifetime coverage on the lights, IP68 and tested from -40°F to 140°F, a mapped-roofline app with schedules that run without internet, published local pricing and a Blue Springs headquarters. See KC pricing
- Oelo: best published LED life. 36V, IP68, rated for 100,000 hours, with a 7-year warranty on dealer installs and Control4 support. Nex-Gen vs Oelo
- Gemstone: best-known national brand with a local dealer. RGB plus warm white, calendar Autopilot and Alexa and Google support. Warranty terms vary by dealer listing. Nex-Gen vs Gemstone
- Trimlight: longest track record. In LED lighting since 2010, with a lifetime parts warranty defined as 50,000 hours. Nex-Gen vs Trimlight
- JellyFish: best adjustable white. Warm white from 2700K to 5000K and 1 year of labor in the published warranty. Nex-Gen vs JellyFish
- Govee: best DIY budget pick. Kits from about $280 to $860 with a 3-year warranty, if you'll install it yourself. Nex-Gen vs Govee
Side by side
| Nex-Gen | Gemstone | Trimlight | JellyFish | Oelo | Govee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who installs it | Certified Nex-Gen dealers | Authorized Gemstone dealers | Authorized, factory-trained dealers | JellyFish installers | Authorized Oelo dealers | You install it |
| Lights and white | RGBW: true warm white plus 16 million colors | RGB plus warm white (RGB-WW), per a KC dealer | Not stated on the product page | 3-diode LED; warm white 2700K to 5000K | 16 million colors; white details not stated | RGBWIC or RGBWWIC, depending on model |
| System voltage | 24V residential (24V, 36V and 48V options) | Not stated | Not stated | 48V | 36V | Not stated |
| Weather rating | IP68, tested from -40°F to 140°F | IP67 or better, per dealers | Not stated | IP67 | IP68 | IP67 or IP68, depending on model |
| Rated life | 50,000 hours | 50,000 hours, per dealers | 50,000 hours (warranty term) | Not stated | 100,000 hours | Up to 50,000 hours |
| Warranty | Lifetime on the lights, 10 years on hardware; labor not included | Listed differently by different dealers; confirm in writing | Lifetime parts, defined as 50,000 hours; dealer labor at least 1 year; not transferable | 5 years parts, 1 year labor | 7 years on authorized-dealer installs (year 1 includes labor); 5 years otherwise; transferable once | 3 years |
| App | Lumina: mapped roofline, Game Day, Neighborhood Sync, Design Studio, Lumina AI | Gemstone app with zones, timers, music sync and calendar "Autopilot" | Trimlight Edge: scheduling, effects, music sync | Cloud-based app with calendar scheduling and zones | Oelo Evolution: 55+ patterns, scheduling, zones | Govee Home app |
| Voice and smart home | Siri Shortcuts on iPhone | Alexa and Google Assistant, per dealers | Alexa and Google Assistant | Not stated | Alexa, Google Home and Control4 | Alexa and Google Assistant; Matter on some models |
| Schedules without internet | Yes, schedules run on the controller | Not stated | Not stated | App is cloud-based; ask the installer | App is cloud-based; ask the dealer | Not stated |
| Kansas City installer | Yes. Nex-Gen is headquartered in Blue Springs | Yes, through a south Kansas City dealer | Check Trimlight's dealer finder | Check JellyFish's location finder | Check Oelo's dealer finder | No. DIY, with online support |
"Not stated" means we couldn't find it on the brand's public pages. Checked November 1, 2026. Swipe sideways on a phone to see every brand.
Why Nex-Gen is our pick
- The app knows your house. Your roofline is mapped at install, so you can light "just the peaks" by name. Game Day and Neighborhood Sync (both patent pending) are only in Lumina.
- It doesn't depend on Wi-Fi. Schedules are stored on the controller, so lights come on even if the internet is down.
- The warranty is long. Lifetime on the lights, 10 years on hardware. Transferable once to a new homeowner (contact Nex-Gen within 90 days of the sale).
- It's built for Kansas City weather. IP68, tested from -40°F to 140°F.
- The price is public. $24 to $35 per foot installed, before anyone comes to your house.
- It's local. Headquartered in Blue Springs, with certified installers across the metro.
How to choose
- Decide professional or DIY. Two-story homes, steep roofs and anyone who'd rather not be on a ladder should go professional.
- Compare warranties in writing. Ask what happens, and who pays for labor, if a light fails in year three.
- Ask about the app. Can you light part of the house? Do schedules work without internet?
- Get quotes for the same footage. Measure the roofline you want to light, then compare price per foot.
- Check HOA rules first. Our HOA guide includes a sample request.