If you’re looking at Jellyfish Lighting, you’re probably also looking at what else is available. The main alternatives include Gemstone Lights, Trimlight, and independent installers with their own systems, such as Astoria Lighting Co.
Some background on where we stand: we installed Gemstone Lights for years, and in September 2025 we moved to our own system, built to our specification. We’ve never installed Jellyfish, so we won’t make claims about its current specifications. What we can give you is the checklist we’d use on any system, Jellyfish and ours included, and how our own permanent lighting answers it. For a head-to-head on the two brands, see Gemstone Lights vs Jellyfish Lights.
Here’s what to compare:
1. True Warm White LED
Look for a dedicated true warm white LED. This means that the quality of light emitted is both warm and inviting. It’s not just about lighting up; it’s about creating the perfect ambiance. You can see whether an LED offers true warm white if the lamp has a yellow bit on the LED. Ours use a dedicated 2800K warm white chip.
2. Custom Patterns with Individually Addressable Bulbs
Look for the ability to address each light individually in the app. This function allows for true custom patterns, allowing for unparalleled flexibility and creativity in lighting designs. Check the app–can you identify each individual light? Or do you have to build complicated patterns to try and get the custom accents you want? Every light in our system is individually addressable, with schedules, zones, preset patterns and custom scenes in the app.
3. Easy Replacement
Ask whether each light is an individual unit. Should one malfunction or simply wear out, it should be easy to unscrew and replace without disturbing the other bulbs. If the warranty has expired and you have to change a light, you don’t want to be messing around with cutting and splicing wires. Each of our lights has a threaded, weatherproof cap, so a swap takes minutes and doesn’t affect the rest of the run.
4. Rated Life and a Warranty in Writing
Ask for the LEDs’ rated life in hours, and get the warranty as separate lines for bulbs, parts and labor. Ours: 50,000-hour LEDs, which is 20 years or more at typical use, with a lifetime warranty on bulbs, 10 years bumper-to-bumper on installed parts and 3 years on labor. Permanent Holiday Lights are supposed to be permanent–not something you have to replace after a few years. They’re too expensive for that.
5. Enclosed or Open Track
Ask whether the track is fully enclosed or open, and which one your roofline needs. A fully enclosed track protects the wiring from sun, water and pests. An open track costs less and suits some rooflines. We offer both, color matched to your trim.
6. Who Installs and Services It
Installation quality matters as much as the product. Ask who installs the system, whether the same company services it, and whether the team is local. Every installer we send is fully vetted and trained in Astoria’s proven installation methods, and we serve Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and Utah.
7. Price, and What It Includes
Ask for the price per linear foot, what the controller and power supply cost, and whether taxes and fees are included. We publish ours: $18 to $24 per linear foot, plus $250 to $450 for the controller and power supply, with most homes between $2,000 and $5,000 all-in.
Beyond the Roofline
If you may want landscape lighting, accent lighting or patio string lights later, ask whether the same company can design them alongside your roofline lights. We design and install all three: landscape lighting, outdoor accent lighting and outdoor string lights.
Whichever system you choose, get each of these answers in writing before you sign. If you’d like to see how ours answers them on your home, book a free design consultation.
If we installed a Gemstone system on your home, we still service it, including warranty claims. Our support page has help for the Gemstone apps, or you can call your local team.
