Cielo Breez controllers are popular in North America for adding app control to mini-splits. Faikin does the same job for Daikin units specifically, with a different approach. Here is how they compare for an Australian Daikin owner.
Quick answer: Cielo Breez is an infrared blaster, like a Sensibo. It works with most AC brands, installs without tools, and runs through Cielo's cloud. It is priced in US dollars (Breez Plus around USD $119) and Australian availability is limited, so you are usually importing. Faikin wires into the Daikin's data port, costs AUD $97.90 shipped with GST included, reads the unit's real state, and runs locally with no cloud account. For a Daikin in Australia, Faikin is cheaper, better integrated and easier to buy. Cielo makes sense if you have a mixed-brand fleet or cannot open the unit.
How they connect
Cielo Breez (Lite, Plus, Max and the wired Eco) sits in the room and sends infrared remote codes to the unit. One-way communication: if someone uses the original remote, the app's state can drift from what the unit is doing. The built-in temperature and humidity sensors help the app stay useful. Control and automation run through the Cielo Home cloud.
Faikin plugs into the wired data port (S21 on most splits) inside the Daikin indoor unit and speaks the unit's own serial protocol. Two-way communication: real mode, set point, fan speed and coil temperatures, regardless of what the remote does. Everything runs on your local network.
Side by side
| Faikin (module + cable kit) | Cielo Breez Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | AUD $97.90 incl. GST, free shipping | USD $119 plus shipping/import to Australia |
| Connection | Wired, two way | Infrared, one way |
| Cloud required | No | Yes, Cielo Home cloud |
| Subscription | None | None for app features |
| Works if internet is down | Yes, local network | No remote control |
| Home Assistant | Yes, local via MQTT | No official integration; community workarounds only |
| Voice assistants | Via MQTT bridge or Home Assistant; P1P2 model (ducted/cassette/commercial) has native HomeKit and Matter | Native Alexa, Google, Siri Shortcuts, SmartThings |
| Other AC brands | Daikin only | Most brands with IR remotes |
| Australian availability | Local stock, AU support | Import, US-centric support |
Prices checked 10 June 2026.
Where Cielo Breez is the better buy
Mixed-brand households and rentals. One Cielo product line covers a Daikin split, a window rattler and a portable unit, with native Alexa, Google and SmartThings support and no subscription for app features. The Breez Plus has physical buttons and an on-device display, which family members who hate apps tend to appreciate. Installation is just USB power and a wall mount.
The trade-offs for Australians: USD pricing plus freight, US-centric support hours, a cloud dependency for all control, and no official Home Assistant integration.
Where Faikin is the better buy
A Daikin-only home, especially one running Home Assistant. It is cheaper landed in Australia, ships locally with local support, and the wired two-way connection means automations act on the unit's true state rather than the last command the blaster happened to send. No cloud account, no server dependency, open source firmware. Home Assistant is the common pairing but not a requirement: anything that speaks MQTT works, including openHAB, Node-RED, Domoticz, ioBroker, Homey and Hubitat, and an MQTT bridge adds HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home. The new Faikin P1P2 model has native HomeKit and Matter support, no bridge needed, though it is for ducted, cassette and commercial systems rather than wall-mounted splits.
The trade-offs: you open the indoor unit to plug in the cable, you need the correct cable for your model (check the compatibility database first, full refund if the kit does not fit), and it does nothing for your non-Daikin units.
FAQ
Does Cielo Breez work with Home Assistant?
There is no official integration. Community workarounds exist but they are unsupported and can break. If Home Assistant matters to you, this is a significant gap.
Does Cielo charge a subscription?
Cielo advertises full app functionality without subscription fees on current Breez models.
Can I buy Cielo Breez in Australia?
Not readily from local retailers. Most buyers order from the US, so allow for shipping, exchange rates and possible import handling. Check the plug pack: it is USB powered, so an Australian USB adapter solves it.
Which is better for a ducted Daikin?
Neither IR blaster suits ducted systems well, since there is often no IR receiver in a useful spot. Faikin supports many Daikin ducted units with the appropriate cable; search your model in the compatibility database.
Faikin is an independent product and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Daikin Industries Ltd or Cielo WiGle Inc. Daikin, Cielo Breez and related marks are trademarks of their respective owners. Competitor pricing and features were checked on 10 June 2026 and may change.
