JellyFish vs. Shine vs. Watts: Which Permanent Lighting System Is Right for Your Home?

If you've started looking into permanent lighting, you've probably already run into all three of these names. They all do the same basic thing — permanent LED lights along your roofline, app-controlled, no more climbing a ladder every December — but they're not identical. Here's an honest breakdown of how they compare, straight from a dealer who installs all three.

JellyFish Lighting

JellyFish is the most recognized name in permanent lighting, and for good reason. They manufacture their own hardware and wrote their own app, which means the two actually work together seamlessly instead of feeling like a workaround. The color options are massive — over 16 million — and every LED node is individually addressable, so you can get really detailed with patterns and animations.

Where JellyFish really pulls ahead is the ecosystem. It integrates with Alexa, Google Home, and Control4, so if you're already living in a smart home setup, JellyFish drops right in. They also have a landscape lighting series available right now if you want to extend the system to your yard, trees, and pathways — and it all runs from the same app.

The warranty is five years on parts and one year on labor, which is solid. If you want the most full-featured, deeply integrated permanent lighting system available, JellyFish is the one.

Watts Lighting

Watts is the one that surprises people when they look at the specs. The Watts 2.0 platform offers 1.6 million colors, individually programmable LEDs, and a genuinely clean app experience. Each bulb draws just 0.72 watts at full brightness — one of the lowest energy draws in the category — and the LEDs are rated for 50,000 hours.

The standout spec for Colorado homeowners is the IP65 weatherproof rating, which is fully documented and published. That means it's sealed against dust and water jets from any direction — tough enough to handle hail season and pressure washing without a second thought.

Watts doesn't have the smart home integrations JellyFish does, and their landscape system is still in development. But if you want a proven eave system with excellent weatherproofing, great energy efficiency, and a competitive price point, Watts holds its own against anyone in this space.

Shine Lighting

Shine is a newer name but it's generating real buzz in Colorado — and specifically in the Denver and Front Range market. Shine's low-profile aluminum track is custom color-matched to your home's trim, making it nearly invisible during the day, and comes alive with vibrant lighting at night. The app is straightforward, the patterns are solid, and customers here in Colorado have had great things to say about the install quality and pricing.

One thing worth knowing: when you choose Shine for your permanent lighting, maintenance is included in the package — which is a differentiator most people don't expect. If something needs attention after install, they're coming back out. For homeowners who want that kind of ongoing relationship with their lighting provider, it matters.

Shine doesn't have the brand recognition of JellyFish yet, but the product is legit and the value proposition — especially on price — is genuinely competitive.

So Which One Should You Get?

Honestly, it depends on what matters most to you. Here's the quick version:

Go with JellyFish if you want the most feature-rich system, already use Alexa or Google Home, or want landscape lighting included in your setup now.

Go with Watts if you want documented weatherproofing specs, excellent energy efficiency, and a solid eave system at a competitive price.

Go with Shine if you're budget-conscious, want maintenance included, and love the idea of supporting a company with a strong local Colorado presence and reputation.

There's no bad choice here — all three are a massive upgrade over climbing a ladder every November. The best system is the one that fits your home, your priorities, and your budget. That's exactly why we carry all three.

Come talk to us and we'll help you figure out which one makes sense for your specific house.

Call 970-659-1127 or email jj@averraexteriors.com to schedule your free consultation.

Averra Exterior Groups | Aurora, Colorado | Serving the Front RangeJellyFish Lighting | Watts Lighting | Shine Lighting | Permanent Exterior Lighting | Roofing | Exteriors