Permanent Holiday Lights
Jellyfish vs Everlights vs Trimlight vs Gemstone. An installer's honest take.
Permanent holiday lighting went from 'gimmick' to a $5K–$15K category in five years. Most homeowners we talk to have heard of one brand because of a neighbor and assume the others are the same. They're not. Here's what actually separates them — and which one we install on AE crew members' own houses.
Jellyfish Lighting
We install- Best at
- Premium track aesthetics (the recessed track virtually disappears on the fascia). Best app experience and effect library of the four. Strongest dealer-training program — installers who hold the cert are noticeably better.
- Weak at
- Highest price of the four (typically 15–25% more than Trimlight on equivalent linear footage). Lead times can stretch in Q4.
- Warranty
- Lifetime warranty on the LED bulbs and track; 5-year warranty on the controller. Transferable with the home.
- AE notes
- Default premium recommendation. We install Jellyfish on our own AE-team homes when budget isn't the constraint.
Trimlight
We install- Best at
- Strong middle of the market. Edge series has a track profile close to Jellyfish at meaningfully lower cost. Solid app, generous diode counts, broad dealer network.
- Weak at
- Track fascia profile sits a touch more proud than Jellyfish — visible from the right angle on a one-story. App effect library is smaller than Jellyfish.
- Warranty
- Lifetime warranty on the LED chips; 3-year on the controller and components.
- AE notes
- Our default value-tier permanent light. The price-to-performance ratio is the best in the category right now.
Everlights
Case-by-case- Best at
- Bulb-style aesthetic some homeowners prefer (looks more like traditional C9 strings year-round). Strong color reproduction. Reasonable price tier.
- Weak at
- Bulb form factor is more visible year-round than recessed track — which is a feature for some homeowners and a dealbreaker for others. Smaller AZ installer network.
- Warranty
- Lifetime limited on the LED bulbs; warranty terms vary by dealer.
- AE notes
- We install Everlights when a homeowner specifically prefers the bulb look or already has it on the home. Solid brand — but track-style systems have largely won the segment.
Gemstone Lights
Case-by-case- Best at
- Track system competitive with Jellyfish on aesthetics. Strong app. Active dealer network in the Southwest.
- Weak at
- Pricing typically lands between Trimlight and Jellyfish without a clear advantage over either. Effect library is solid but not differentiated.
- Warranty
- Lifetime limited on the LED chips; warranty terms vary by dealer.
- AE notes
- Good brand. We install it when a homeowner has done their research and picked it specifically. We don't actively steer there because Trimlight or Jellyfish usually wins the comparison on price-or-finish.
Generic 'permanent string light' offers
We don't install- Best at
- Lowest install price.
- Weak at
- Unbranded or white-label LED strings stapled to fascia. Diode density is half a real system. Controllers fail in 18–36 months. No real warranty path.
- Warranty
- Usually 1 year on parts only, with labor excluded.
- AE notes
- If a bid comes in at 40%+ below Trimlight pricing, it's almost always this. We tear these off every season — usually right before installing one of the four above.
Spec Compare
Head-to-head, by the numbers.
| Capability | Jellyfish | Trimlight | Everlights | Gemstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recessed track aesthetic (less visible year-round) | ||||
| Lifetime LED warranty | ||||
| Controller warranty (years) | 5 | 3 | varies | varies |
| App effect library breadth | ||||
| AZ dealer network depth | ||||
| Premium price tier | ||||
| Transferable warranty on home sale |
The Honest Pros & Cons
Jellyfish
Pros
- Cleanest fascia aesthetic in the segment
- Best app and effect library
- 5-year controller warranty
- Strongest installer training program
Cons
- 15–25% price premium over Trimlight
- Q4 lead times can be tight
Trimlight
Pros
- Best price-to-performance in the category right now
- Edge series track profile is close to Jellyfish
- Wide installer network
Cons
- Track sits a touch more proud than Jellyfish on close inspection
- Smaller effect library than Jellyfish
Everlights
Pros
- Bulb form factor some homeowners prefer
- Strong color reproduction
- Reasonable middle-tier price
Cons
- Bulb look is more visible year-round (subjective)
- Smaller AZ installer network than the track brands
Gemstone
Pros
- Track aesthetics competitive with Jellyfish
- Solid app
- Active Southwest dealers
Cons
- Pricing lands in the middle without a clear edge
- Effect library is solid but not differentiated
The Bottom Line
For a premium home or a clean modern fascia we install Jellyfish. For best price-to-performance we install Trimlight. For bulb-style aesthetics we install Everlights. We install Gemstone when a homeowner has done the homework and chosen it. We don't install generic unbranded strings — they're the single most common tear-off we do at the start of holiday season.
Brand is only half the equation
The best brand spec installed by an unlicensed crew is still a bad job.
In Arizona, any work over $1,000 in combined labor + materials requires a licensed contractor — that's lifetime per residence, not per visit. If a worker is hurt on your property and isn't covered by workers' comp, you can be personally responsible for the medical bills. Verify any contractor — including ours — before you sign.
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