Best Permanent Outdoor Lighting Brands Ranked (2026)
The top permanent outdoor lighting brands in 2026 are Gemstone Lights, Jellyfish Lighting, and Trimlight for professionally installed systems, with Enbrighten leading the DIY category. We have installed, serviced, and compared these systems firsthand. This guide gives you the honest pros and cons of each brand from an installer's perspective — not marketing fluff.
How We Evaluate Brands
We judge every permanent lighting brand on five criteria that matter most to homeowners:
Light Quality
How do the LEDs actually look? Especially white light — is it warm and natural or blue and cheap-looking?
App Experience
Is the app reliable, intuitive, and feature-rich? Can you easily create custom scenes and schedules?
Build Quality
How well-made are the channels, connectors, and housings? Will they hold up to years of weather exposure?
Installer Support
How well does the manufacturer support its dealers with training, parts availability, and warranty claims?
Value for Money
Is the price justified by the quality? Some expensive brands are worth it; some are not.
Quick Comparison Table
| Brand | Price Range | Light Quality | App | Install | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemstone | $$$–$$$$ | Excellent | Excellent | Pro only | Premium quality seekers |
| Jellyfish | $$$$ | Excellent | Excellent | Pro only | Best app + ecosystem |
| Trimlight | $$–$$$ | Good | Good | Pro only | Value with pro install |
| Oelo | $$–$$$ | Good | Fair | Pro only | Commercial applications |
| EverLights | $$ | Fair | Fair | Pro or DIY | Budget-conscious buyers |
| Enbrighten | $–$$ | Fair | Basic | DIY | DIY enthusiasts |
Gemstone Lights
Gemstone Lights is one of the top premium permanent lighting brands on the market. Based in Canada and expanding rapidly across North America, Gemstone has built a strong reputation for high-quality hardware and a polished app experience.
Pros
- Excellent RGBWW light quality with natural whites
- Well-designed, reliable app with extensive scene library
- High-quality aluminum channel construction
- Strong dealer network with good training programs
- Lifetime warranty on LED modules
Cons
- Premium pricing — typically $30–$38/ft installed
- Professional installation only (no DIY option)
- Dealer availability varies by region
- Proprietary ecosystem — locked into their products
Our take: Gemstone is a top-tier choice. The light quality is genuinely excellent, the app is well-built, and the hardware feels premium. If you are in a market with a good Gemstone dealer and your budget allows it, this is an excellent option.
Jellyfish Lighting
Jellyfish Lighting is arguably the most recognizable name in permanent outdoor lighting. Based in Idaho, Jellyfish pioneered many of the features that are now standard in the industry and has one of the largest dealer networks in the US.
Pros
- Industry-leading app with the largest scene library
- Excellent RGBWW light quality
- Strong brand recognition and community
- Largest dealer network — available in most US markets
- Lifetime warranty on lighting modules
- Regular app updates with new features and scenes
Cons
- Most expensive option — typically $35–$42/ft installed
- Professional installation only
- Dealer quality can vary (large network means less consistency)
- Some homeowners find the channel slightly more visible than competitors
Our take: Jellyfish has earned its reputation. The app experience is genuinely the best in the industry, and the community of users sharing scenes is a real advantage. The premium price is justified if you want the most feature-rich ecosystem. Just make sure you vet your local dealer — a great product with a mediocre installer is a bad combination.
Trimlight
Trimlight is the value leader in professional permanent lighting. Based in Texas, Trimlight has grown quickly by offering a solid product at a more accessible price point than Gemstone or Jellyfish.
Pros
- Lower price point — typically $22–$32/ft installed
- Good color range and solid white light (newer models)
- Growing dealer network with good US coverage
- Channel design is low-profile and clean-looking
- Reliable hardware with good track record
Cons
- App is functional but less polished than Jellyfish/Gemstone
- White light quality is good but not quite as natural as top-tier options
- Warranty terms vary significantly by dealer
- Fewer preset scenes compared to Jellyfish
Our take: Trimlight is an excellent choice for homeowners who want professional installation without paying top-tier pricing. The product is genuinely good — especially their newer RGBWW models. The app gap is real but narrowing. If your primary use is holiday colors with some everyday white light, Trimlight delivers outstanding value.
Oelo
Oelo is a solid mid-range option that is particularly strong in commercial applications. They offer both residential and commercial permanent lighting systems with good build quality.
Pros
- Durable commercial-grade construction
- Good option for larger homes and commercial buildings
- Competitive pricing for mid-range quality
- Strong weatherproofing (IP67+ rated)
Cons
- App experience lags behind Jellyfish and Gemstone
- Smaller dealer network — harder to find local installers
- Fewer residential-focused features and scenes
- Less community and online resources compared to bigger brands
Our take: Oelo is built like a tank and works well for commercial properties and large homes where durability is the priority. For typical residential use, the app experience gap makes it harder to recommend over Trimlight or Gemstone at similar or lower price points.
EverLights
EverLights is the budget-friendly entry point into permanent lighting. They offer both professional installation and DIY kits, making permanent lighting accessible to a wider audience.
Pros
- Most affordable professional option — typically $16–$24/ft
- DIY kits available for handy homeowners
- Decent color range for the price
- Simple, straightforward system
Cons
- White light quality is noticeably weaker (RGB-mixed, no dedicated white)
- App is basic with limited features
- Build quality feels less premium than competitors
- Shorter warranty periods on some components
- DIY installation quality varies significantly
Our take: EverLights fills an important niche for budget-conscious homeowners who want permanent color-changing lights. The product works and the price is right. Just know that you are getting RGB without dedicated white channels, so the everyday white light will have that blue tint that cheaper systems are known for.
Enbrighten (Jasco)
Enbrighten by Jasco is the most popular DIY permanent lighting option, available at major retailers like Costco, Home Depot, and Amazon. They have made permanent-style lighting accessible to anyone willing to install it themselves.
Pros
- Most affordable option — as low as $8–$15/ft (product only)
- Available at major retailers (easy to buy, easy to return)
- Simple DIY installation for basic setups
- Good brand backing (Jasco/GE partnership)
- No ongoing subscription or dealer dependency
Cons
- Basic app with limited scenes and customization
- DIY installation often looks less clean than professional
- Channel/track is less refined than professional brands
- Limited color mixing capabilities
- Connectors and joins can be visible
- Not designed for complex rooflines
Our take: Enbrighten is a great entry point for people who want to try permanent lighting without a big commitment. It works well on simple, straight rooflines. Where it struggles is complex rooflines (lots of corners, gables, dormers) — that is where professional systems and installers really shine. If you try Enbrighten and love the concept but want a more polished result, upgrading to a pro-installed system later is always an option.
What We Install and Why
At Brightly, we install premium 48V RGBWW systems. We chose our system based on extensive testing and real-world experience because it delivers the best combination of:
- Light quality: True RGBWW with dedicated warm and cool white channels. The white light is genuinely beautiful — warm, natural, and consistent across the entire run.
- 48V architecture: No brightness dropoff on long runs. Every foot of your roofline matches perfectly.
- Build quality: Premium aluminum channels that blend seamlessly with your roofline, weatherproof connectors, and components rated for Utah conditions.
- App experience: An intuitive app with extensive preset scenes, custom scene creation, scheduling, and reliable connectivity.
- Lifetime warranty: We stand behind our product because we trust it. The lights are warranted for life.
We also offer more budget-friendly options for homeowners who want permanent lighting at a lower price point. We will always be transparent about what you are getting at each tier and help you choose the right option for your needs and budget.