Motorized Shades vs Manual Shades: Which Is Worth the Extra Cost?
January 21, 2026
Indoor shades control light and privacy while complementing your home’s design. From roller and cellular to motorized options, each shade is selected based on room function, window size, and daily use.
A full lineup of shade options with both motorized and non-motorized options
Indoor shades help control light, glare, and privacy while supporting energy efficiency and room comfort. With manual and motorized options available, shades can be tailored to each room’s function, window size, and daily use without overwhelming the design.
Select traditional operation or motorization based on convenience and window access.
We bring over 1000 fabric options to your home and help you select specific product and fabrics to compliment your space
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If you don't love your product we will replace it with a product of equal value
Explore our shading systems, designed to bring comfort, protection and style to your windows, patios & outdoor living areas.
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We take precise measurements of all your windows and provide you a no pressure quote at the time of your consultation.
Installation completed by Zinga's employee who are experts in their craft. Free yourself of the stress of installing.
Hi Kiersten We are very happy with Zinga. Everything has gone well from the initial contact to the installation. Right now we are sitting out in our party area that we call the "Dip'n Deck" by the pool and it's pouring rain but we are very comfortable behind our Zinga roll down blinds. We love it.
Through ordering and installation, Zinga was professional, precise, efficient and thorough. I enjoyed their service & their product. We had outdoor motorized blinds put in by Gary & Zach. They did an excellent job!
I love my blinds but Kyle is taking care of the one measurement issue that presented itself at installation. So far Zinga’s in Carmel has been great to work with. Kyle did an absolutely amazing job installing the blinds. Will post pics after issue is corrected.
Kim at Zinga’s was super easy to work with. Although it is mostly texting instead of face-to-face it is very convenient. Gary and Zach who were our installers were super courteous and on did a great job. Love our new screen!!
What an amazing experience working with Zinga’s. Thomas was our consultant who helped with deciding the best options for us. Todd was the most amazing and professional installer. He installed 6 indoor motorized shades, explained the charging and operation of all of them, worked super clean and efficient. We could not be happier with the entire project.
I am so pleased with my new shutters. Fred and Kyle H did a wonderful job with installation. The work areas were spotless when they finished (possibly cleaner than before their arrival), and they showed great concern that I was pleased with the job. I was surprised when Kim called a few days later to make sure I was happy with the installation. I would highly recommend Zinga’s.
Misty was persistent, :) Louis did a great job! Matt?, the field rep was personable, knowledgeable and went out of his way to assist me. Lengthy wait time. Would order from them again.
Our experience with Zinga's was amazing. Kim communicated with me very step of the way, which was greatly appreciated. We are loving our motorized garage door screens. I will recommend Zinga's to family and friends.
Zinga’s is superb! My wife and I highly recommend you give them a try. It was easy for us to schedule a mutually convenient appointment with their sales rep at our house. Their sales rep, Alyssa S., showed up on the scheduled day and time. Alyssa was professional and personable; she helped us choose a product for our project, and Zinga’s pricing was good as well. Zinga’s also has great communication, keeping us informed on the status of our purchase. Kyle H., Zinga’s product installer, showed up on the scheduled day and time and was also professional and personable. He also promptly installed our 10 roller shades properly in 45 minutes. My wife and I are very pleased with Zinga’s!
I initially posted a different review regarding an issue with Zinga's. However, after Tammy reached out to me, I have changed my mind. Her customer service was great, and the resolution she provided was perfect. I also want to add that the technician who came out (Fred) was very patient, kind and friendly. He showed me how to take care of the problem in case it happened again without making me feel like an idiot. I really appreciate how Zinga's handled my situation.
It is our second time working with Zinga to decorate and dress our windows. We have had another great experience from the start to finish. Alyssa helped with choosing the most suitable shades for our needs; Misty kept us informed about each step of the process throughout; and Kyle installed the shades quickly and professionally without any issues. Great team and great product! Thank you!
Amazing hurricane shutters. So much better quality than competitors offer. No wrinkles when shutter is down. This is our second 22’ hurricane shutter purchased from Zinga’s at different properties and we are very pleased. Tracy and Garret were prompt, professional and pleasant to deal with.
Zinga’s was amazing to work with! Customer service was top notch from beginning to end. Tracy as well as Garrett were in constant communication. Thankful for the referral from a friend! We love our new outdoor shades!
We had an amazing experience with Zingas! Talk about underprivileged and overdeliver!! We met with Adrian 1 week after moving into our new-built home in Ocala. He was prompt and personable. We bonded over England/Brazil WC soccer while he made a thorough presentation and explained our options. We chose Plantation shutters for 2 rooms and a blind for the laundry room. Then he said, 8 to 10 weeks...🙄 We'll We just retires so flexibility is our new motto. He told us Mindy would be in touch throughout the rest of the process. A week later we got our first text, and then weekly contacts after that. Three days ago we received a morning text saying we were on track for 5 to 7 weeks, right in line with Adrian's comment. At 5 that afternoon, we got another text saying our materials had all arrived and could they come today for installation - 4 weeks earlier than predicted!!! Hallelujah!!! Todd arrived today and in less than 2 hours the shutters and blinds were installed-awesome!!!! Thank you Adrian, Misty and Todd for the excellent service and beautiful product. Although we were fine about 8 to 10 weeks which could have been the case, we are thrilled to have the treatments early.😁😁😁
I saw an advertisement in the local Naples paper while visiting during the Easter holiday. Not expecting a purchase just seeking options. The Zinga's reprep Adam was so helpful, the options so varied I suggested my friend consider this seriously. When she worried about slower business I decided it was a perfect gift for her birthday which would take place in 9 weeks. They promise 7-9 weeks on custom made shades! The result was my friend who was a part of my wedding 40 yrs ago loves them! Thank you Adam & Tracy! Her birthday is the same day as Taylor Swift. This was better than a trip to NYC!
Thanks Misty for sending us simple instructions to adjust one our screens. Now they're back to working perfectly. We LOVE our Zingas screened in porch and appreciate their prompt customer service and helpful staff like Misty. God Bless Y'all!
Zingas is and will be our go-to for any window treatments. Zingas installed our plantation shutters and French door shades. From customer service to install, it was a 10/10 experience. Tracy, Garett, and our 2 service men (sorry don’t have their names) were a top notch operation. Communication was amazing!!!
Pleasantly surprised by the friendly, professional, and responsive customer service at Zinga’s. Tracy was so wonderful. She helped me get my shades and blinds installed before the Fourth holiday and she was so supportive along the way to make sure all went smoothly. Five stars!!
I just received my fourth (or fifth?) Zinga's order, this one was a motorized porch screen. As each time before, Zinga's sends txts to keep me abreast of dates/times/personnel/changes - anything that is necessary and helpful to know. The screen installers, Terry Henten (and his son, Terry) were excellent, efficient, and a pleasure to have around. They installed the screen perfectly, helped me setup an app to control it when we're away, and were meticulous in leaving nothing behind or undone. But the MAIN reason I'm giving them five stars is because five is all I'm allotted. Highly recommend.
Great experience - Casey, Tracey and Corey were the main professionals we worked with, and they made the scheduling, ordering and installation process seamless. We're really happy with our motorized screens and will definitely recommend Zingas to friends and neighbors.
Shades FAQs
Cost is an important part of the decision, but so is how often you use your space. Motorized shades pay off in comfort and convenience when you adjust your shades multiple times a day or want automation tied to light, temperature, or occupancy. For example, motorized shades can close automatically at peak sun to protect furniture or open in the morning to welcome daylight without you having to do anything. Manual shades still provide excellent light control, but they require one more physical step each time you want to adjust them.
Yes — and that’s one of their biggest benefits for many homeowners. Motorized shades can integrate with smart home platforms and automation systems so they respond to conditions like sunrise, sunset, temperature, or activity. For example, shades can close automatically when the afternoon sun hits a living room or open in the morning with your lights and thermostat. Manual shades don’t have this capability, but many homeowners find the automation worth considering if they value comfort, energy efficiency, and hands-off operation.
Yes — many modern motorized shades, including ours, use rechargeable lithium-ion power sources instead of hard-wiring to your home’s electrical system. The big benefit of lithium power is long run time with low maintenance. When used daily under typical conditions, these lithium-powered motors can run for up to one year before needing a recharge.
That means you don’t have to think about charging them often or replacing batteries every few weeks like older systems. When recharging is needed, it’s usually simple and infrequent: most homeowners plug in the charger and top off the battery in minutes, often while doing other home tasks. Because the battery life is predictable and long, the biggest value you get is hands-off comfort most of the year. We also guide you on where to place the charging port and how to set reminders so maintenance doesn’t become a chore.
If you prefer not to deal with batteries at all, we can also discuss hard-wired motorized options that tie directly into your home’s electrical system. The choice depends on your priorities for convenience, aesthetics, and ease of installation.