WLED
WLED — The #1 Open-Source LED Firmware
WLED is the most popular open-source firmware for controlling addressable LEDs (WS2812B, SK6812, WS2815, APA102, and many more) via WiFi from a web browser, mobile app, or API.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform | ESP32, ESP8266, ESP32-S2/S3/C3 |
| License | MIT |
| Developer | Aircoookie (active community) |
| Website | kno.wled.ge |
| GitHub | Aircoookie/WLED |
| Latest version | 0.15+ |
Key Features
- 200+ effects — Color twinkle, fire, ripple, plasma, matrix, and more
- Segments — Divide one strip into independently controlled zones
- Presets — Save and recall effect configurations
- Timers — Schedule lights on/off with preset activation
- APIs — HTTP, JSON, UDP, MQTT, DDP, E1.31 (sACN), Art-Net
- 2D matrix support — Map LEDs in a grid for image/text effects
- Audio reactivity — Via I2S microphone (sound-reactive fork)
- Multi-strip — Control multiple strips from one ESP32
- OTA updates — Update firmware wirelessly
Why WLED Wins
- Active community — Thousands of users, constant development
- No coding required — Fully configurable from web UI
- Protocol support — Works with almost every control protocol
- Hardware agnostic — Runs on $3 ESP32 boards
- Professional features — Segments, presets, sync
Limitations
- ESP8266 limited to ~800 LEDs at 40fps
- No native audio input on standard version
- Requires network (WiFi) for full features