11 Best Nanoleaf Alternatives [Mar 2025]

Nanoleaf has proven to be extremely popular with gamers over the years.

If you are not familiar with them, they are essentially triangular color-changing LED wall panels that work by sensing audio, and transforming it into color and light in real-time.

While most gamers dream of owning a new set of Nano leaf – the reality is they are way too expensive for the majority of people.

Here are eleven Nanoleaf alternatives, as well as all the gear needed to make your own.

Contents:

1. The 11 Best Nanoleaf Alternatives
2. How to 3D print your own Nanoleaf

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What is the best Nanoleaf Alternative?

1. Nanoleaf Canvas

Shape: Square
Dimensions: 5.9” x 5.9”
Segments: 9

Our first alternative to the Nanoleaf Aurora triangle is the square design called “Canvas”. By featuring the Rhythm Module and a 16.8m color range these work in a very similar way, however, they are also touch responsive. At a slightly cheaper price, they might just take your fancy.

Canvas uses the same Nanoleaf WIFI app that lets you program the panel colors individually, or create different lighting scenes for groups of connected panels. If you feel like waking up to an energizing light, you can even program the colors to change during various time zones of the day.

The square 5.9 in / 5.9 in / 0.4 inch size is extremely light and easy to assembly. It sticks to the walls using the mounting tape provided and connects via tiny removable clips that attach to the side of each panel. Power is drawn through via a cable, and the 25W supply supports up to 25 panels.

Experience your setup pop and vibe with a new set of Nanoleaf Canvas!

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2. LIFX Tile

Shape: Square
Dimensions: 7.9” x 7.9”
Segments: 5

LIFX are well-known for their smart lighting products and to have their very own tile. In terms of modular play and design, the Lifx tile is a similar alternative to Nanoleaf canvas. It fits together or apart wherever you like on the wall, and can illuminate up to 16 million colors

What’s special about this product is its ability to blend soft tones to gradient colors seamlessly across each tile. Inside is a grid of 8 x 8 grid of LED lights, which means there are 64 fully customizable zones working together to produce some amazing animations and effects.

With the LIFX app and built-in Wi-Fi, you can control all of the lighting from your handheld device. The app has different settings that allow you to adjust the solid color scheme and brightness, as well as a large amount of pre-set themes and effects. These include Morph, Flicker, and Random. 

When compared to Nanoleaf canvas, there are some downsides to the Lifx tile. Unfortunately connecting the panels via the cords at the back is not as easy to setup. Furthermore, voice activation is only limited to dimming and changing the colors, and for $250 they only come in a 5 set.

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3. Govee Glide Triangle Light Panels

Shape: Triangle
Dimensions: 7.8″ x 6.8″
Segments: 10

The Govee Glide Light Panels is a set of ten triangular panels that users can arrange into various shapes. To customize the effects, colors, and more, they are controllable using the Govee Home App as well as popular voice assistants Alexa and Google Assistant.

Constructed from hard plastic with a transparent outer shell, the overall build quality from Govee feels pleasantly high. Unfortunately, their size is approximately one-third thicker than the original Nanoleaf. This is due to the mounting system having a raised cover over the connection points.

Apart from this, the Triangle Light Panels has one other major design difference. After turning on the panels, you will notice a considerably larger border around the edge of the shapes. While this does result in them looking less sleek, it’s not too much of a deal-breaker.

On the plus side, the colors look stunning and the peak brightness is super intense. Using the app, you’ll be able to adjust the color/ brightness for each segment or select animated multicolor scene effects. For ultra-smooth effects during transitions, each panel can display up to six colors at once.

Finally, the ability to create your own patterns (via the app) or follow the manufacturer’s suggestion is another nice addition. By calibrating them this way, the app provides a clear explanation of which connection points go together. That helps to eliminate a lot of confusion during the setup itself.

Overall, if don’t mind the black border, there’s a lot to like about this Nanoleaf alternative.

Click here for the Govee Hexa Light Panels!

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4. HEYWASAI Triangle Light Panels

Shape: Triangle
Dimensions: 9” x 7.6”
Segments: 9

HEYWASAI perform much like Nanoleaf, however, differ by being a slightly cheaper alternative. Appearing much like a piece from a jigsaw puzzle, they are a fun and entertaining way to light up your gaming room walls with endless DIY layouts.

The vivid color schemes are easy to control with the app, and they can also respond to music. At just the press of a button, you can choose from an assortment of color modes to suit your moods, and then when in music mode – the dancing lights can respond to the frequency of your chosen sounds.

Although the software might not be quite as advanced as Nanoleaf, you can still choose from up to 180 auto changing color modes as well as numerous solid colors. One caveat though is that you can’t pick the color of the individual titles, as you can with the former. 

Still, if you’re looking to save some money, then these are a great option.

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5. Helios Touch

Shape: Hexagon
Dimensions: 7.9” x 7.9”
Segments: 12

Helios Touch are set of a trendy hexagonal tiles that can provide a 3500k (warm white) light source to your wall. Just like Nanoleaf Canvas these too are touch-sensitive. However, they are missing out on some of the other popular features such as RGB, Music Sync, and the controllable app.

The product itself is fairly simple to assemble. Simply insert the power adapter into the back of the first tile and then screw it to the wall. For extra strength, the first tile is the only one that you will need to screw, the rest can join with the interlocking magnets and adhesive tape.

Tap the individual tiles to turn them on or off, or adjust their brightness by holding your hand to them. Each power adapter allows for up to 24 pieces so you can just go ahead and use your imagination to find your desired shape.

If you’re searching for an eco-friendly way of adding ambiance to your room, then Helios Touch is a brilliant space-saving option.

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6. Govee Glide RGBIC Wall Light

Shape: Rectangle
Dimensions: 11.8” x 1.32”
Segments: 8+4

The Govee Glide is a modular wall light system that consists of eight acrylic-like, cylindrical segments (and four corner pieces). When connected (in either the shape of an “L” or “I”), they produce a breathtaking array of lighting of effects to highlight/ complement any gaming room.

In comparison to more expensive options (such as the Lifx Beam), there’s a lot to like about this light bar kit. For starters, the plug-and-play setup is a piece of cake. On one end is a power block that goes into the wall. Next, the segments simply dovetail together before registering with a flash of light.

The Govee Home app gives you full control over the system. This connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and is compatible with voice activation, via Alexa or other voice assistants. Unlike many other inferior RGB apps we’ve tried, we found it to be intuitive and work extremely well most of the time.

The Home app’s functionality is especially impressive. It lets you control the individual segments or multiple segments three LEDs at a time – with an optional fading gradient that can toggle on. Besides changing the Hue of each segment or LED group, customizing the brightness is also possible.

Finally, the colors are powerful and vibrant, and the effects are very fun. Impressively, the patented RGBIC tech displays up to 57 colors at one time, and 16 million colors total. As a result, it’s capable of some beautiful color combinations with more than 40+ dynamic multi-color effects.

All in all, while the Govee Glide is not a direct competitor to Nanoleaf, it sure is a fantastic alternative. 

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7. Yescom WiFi Smart LED

Shape: Hexagon
Dimensions: 3 3/8″ x 3″
Segments: 11

Yescom is a smaller “table-lamp” Nanoleaf alternative that you can suspend freely in mid-air. Similarly, these little hexagons use an intelligent linking system to synchronize the lighting and can display an impressive 16 million colors!

You also have the option to splice them together on the walls if you wish, or any flat surface using the mounting tape provided. The command strips are easy to install and remove, making them effortless to expand upon. In total, up to 11 blocks can be spliced together.

The downloadable app works as a controller on your phone and comes with lots of great features. This includes being able to alter the temperature and brightness, set memory functions, as well as an auto on/ off timer. For convenience, the 2-way wireless app can connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

As a result, you are going to love a set of these smart lights on your gaming wall.

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8. SELFILA Hexagon RGB Lights

Shape: Hexagon
Dimensions: 3.6” x 3.2”
Segments: 6

Selfila Hexagons are a set of honeycomb modular wall lights that closely resemble the Yescom LifeSmart. Inspired by building block bricks and jigsaw puzzles, these fun and playful lights allow you to enjoy a series of stunning lighting effects for that extra wow-factor in your room.

The LEDs with this product are noticeably bright and can reach a color temperature of 6500K+RGB. There are many vivid colors, hue schemes, and different modes to choose from. To change any of the lighting effects, you just have to manually tap the surface. Unfortunately, there is no controller.

This Nanoleaf alternative does not only have to fix on the wall but can also fix together to form a solid structure. The magnetic edges make it easy to connect the lights and form any unique design.

If you love your RGB lighting but can’t afford the real thing, then this is one of the best options in terms of value.

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9. Govee Smart LED Light Bars

Shape: Rectangle
Dimensions: 12.5” x 7.2”
Segments: 2

The Govee Smart LED Light Bars are a pair of standalone backlights that closely resemble the (more expensive) Philips Hue Play kit. Thanks to the included camera, built-in mic, and Home app, they can intelligently synchronize colors in three similar ways for an immersive viewing experience.

When compared to the Philips, the Govee Smart Bars produce a peak output of 400 lumens, which is a little bit less than the 530 lm of the Phillips Hue Play Kit. However, they do make up for this by offering far more advanced color customizability…

Unlike the Philips Hue Play Bars (which can only light up one color at a time), the Govee Smart Light Bars can illuminate multiple colors in different parts of the bar. As a result, you can expect a more exciting ambiance, as a wider color range projects out of the backlights.

For installation, the Govee Smart Bars have a two-way mounting system that allows you to enjoy them on a flat on the desk or fixed to the back of a TV. What’s great is that no screws are necessary. Instead, they simply clip in/ out of their feet, which can also mount on the TV using 3M tape.

Overall, the Govee Smart LED light bars are a great budget alternative to both the Philips Hue Play Kit and Nanoleaf.

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10. TP-Link Kasa Smart LED Strip

Shape: Rectangle
Dimensions: 78.8” x 0.47”
Segments: 1

LED Strips are another cost-effective way to light up your gaming room.

When it comes to LED strips, there are many different brands to choose from, however, some of the best we have found are by TP-Link.

What sets these apart from others in the market is the sheer amount of control at your fingertips. Using the WIFI app, It’s possible to turn on/off the lights, dim the scene, or set schedules to match your preference. If that’s too much trouble, you can even ask your virtual assistant to do it for you.

In the same hands-free way, there are plenty of advanced lighting effects to choose from. These range from a soothing “Raindrop” effect to a dazzling “Rainbow” effect. Furthermore, the individual strips can be divided up into 16 different color zones and can connect with other strips thanks to the intelligent 4 pin linking system.

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11. Monster DIGIT

Shape: Prism
Dimensions: –
Segments: 3

Monster Digit Art Panels are a colorful way to boost the décor of any room. As you can see, these 3D lights have a unique prism shape that best resembles a typical 7-segment LED display component. This makes them great for creating patterns or writing numerical digits or characters on the wall.

Although the price is considerably less, this alternative mimics many similar features to the original Nanoleaf panels. It connects directly to your Wi-Fi network and is possible to control via the Monster Smart app or with your voice assistant device. Furthermore, it also has a music-reactive mic can react to sounds.

Another way to set the color-changing modes is with the external power hub that connects to the first prism light. Using both the hub and the Monster Smart App, it’s effortless to adjust the brightness, speed, patterns, and color-changing modes of the Prisms.

Monster Digit only comes in packs of three. If you were to buy three packs then you could save around $50 on the same number of Nanoleaf.

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How to 3D print your own Nanoleaf Alternative

If you plan on covering your walls with smart light panels, but don’t want to pay through the roof, then it might just be easier to make your own Nanoleaf alternative.

Of course, this project will require some spare time, however, due to the simplistic construction of the design – it shouldn’t be too challenging for most people.

You can use this tool list to manufacture as many as you like!

We have also included a video at the bottom of the post that has step by step instructions on how to make them.

What you will need:

1. A 3D Printer
2. White PLA Filament
3. Addressable LED Strips
4. Music Bluetooth Controller
5. Power Supply Adapter – AC to DC 5V

1. 3D Printer

A 3D printer is the largest tool for this project. Once you’ve downloaded the CAD model from here, it is necessary to print the face shell of the three-dimensional light panel.

3D printers generally range around $200 – $300 depending on the size of their hotbed. The original triangular Nanoleaf panels have a height of 9.5 in (24 cm), and a width of 8.25 in (21 cm) so if you do wish to make a set of panels that have the same dimensions, this is something to look out for.  

If you don’t want to scale down your panels, we suggest going for the LONGER LK1 that has an upgraded hotbed, and a larger printing size of 300*300*400mm.

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2. White PLA Filament

PLA filament is the plastic material that the 3D printer prints with. It comes in different purities, colors, and diameters to meet your demands for printing projects.

You will want to check the reviews to find out more information about the purity of the filament. A bad spool will cause banding throughout the print and poor layer adhesion, which may compromise the project. A pure white filament color is also more desirable.

The diameter of the filament will depend upon the specifications of your printer. Listed in the product parameters, you can see that the Anet A8 has a filament diameter of 1.75mm, which is why we have gone for the filament below.

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3. Addressable LED Strips

Once you have printed the shell of the panel, the next step is to line the sides with an addressable LED strip. Addressable strips contain hundreds of individual LED’S and are the core component for all of your lighting effects. You will find them in all types of smart lights, including the 8 listed above.

Addressable strips may differ slightly depending on the frequency of the LED’S and the actual color of the strip. For this project, we recommend going for 60 LED’s a meter so that the LED’s are packed closer together to create a more fluid light. Having a white strip will also better match the color of the plastic.

In terms of the length, a 5m strip should be plenty for your first set of panels. This strip by BTF-LIGHTING can be cut to the length you need. It also has a tiny microcontroller on each of the LEDs to allow it to illuminate with a unique color and brightness.

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4. Music Bluetooth Controller

The next thing on the list is a music Bluetooth controller. This model by BTF LIGHTING is compatible with the WS2812B LED strips listed above, and simply joins to one end of the addressable LED strips via a 3/4 pin connector.

There are a few different controllers by BTF LIGHTING to choose from, but the SP107E is the one to go for. It has IOS and Android smartphone app control (via a Bluetooth connection), as well as a built-in mic that allows it to react to your music.

The user-friendly design makes it easy to control the settings. It boasts multiple sliders to fine-tune the speed, brightness, or hue of the solid static color. Additionally, there are 180 kinds of patterns and 8 color adjustable patterns for you to flick through.

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5. Power Supply Adapter – AC to DC 5V

Lastly, to power your LED strips, you will also need an AC to DC power supply unit. For this project, a 5 volt 5 amps plug will provide plenty of power for your first 10 plus panels. If it struggles to push more than 15 panels you will either have to replace it with a higher ampage or begin to divide up the adapters.

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Now that you have the parts, you can watch this video for an in-depth assembly tutorial!

3D Printed DIY Nanoleaf - Hexoleaf!

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We hope you found this post useful on the best Nanoleaf alternative!

Click here for a list of Streaming Essentials for Twitch!

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Image sources:

Flickr by Aaron Yoo at https://www.flickr.com/photos/thebetterday4u/26124902957/in/album-72157694107566134