Tired of waking up in the cold morning during winter or arriving home in the middle of an extremely hot day in summer and manually adjusting the temperature? The smart thermostat will do the thinking for you, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer, as well as saving you money.
It can adapt to your schedule, shut itself down automatically when nobody is at home, and balance your home temperature. Smart thermostats can help you control the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), more precisely. Besides this, these thermostats are equipped with multiple features like Wi-Fi connectivity, touch screen, and multiple room controls.
Whether you are shopping, on a couch, or on vacation, you just have to connect your Smartphone app to the thermostat through Wi-Fi and can adjust the thermostat according to your preferences.
A variety of smart thermostats can now work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, yet another way to remotely access your thermostats. Some smart thermostats contain motion sensors to determine whether you are at home or away and change the temperature (heating and cooling) for you, automatically.
While others use a geofencing radius system: when you get away at a certain distance from your home, a smart thermostat will shift to away mode similarly, when you return, it will turn back to home mode. Another important benefit of setting up the smart thermostat at home is energy saving.
By learning your pattern, and behaviors, and adjusting the temperature accordingly, these thermostats can conserve more energy. This energy reduction will help in reducing utility bills and save money.
What To Consider Before Choosing a Smart Thermostat?
Buying the best smart thermostat is the first step towards money saving on heating and cooling. But before choosing the thermostat you should consider the following factors:
Compatibility With HVAC:
The first thing to check before buying a smart thermostat is its compatibility with your HVAC system. The reason is that not all smart thermostats are capable of controlling the whole system so it’s best to note your HVAC system and then cross-check with a smart thermostat.
Power Requirements:
The next factor to check is the power need of the thermostat; some thermostats require 24V while others need 110V or 240V. High-voltage thermostats work well with electric baseboard systems. Low-voltage smart thermostats are excellent for boilers, heat pumps, and air conditioners.
Wi-Fi Capability:
You should also consider the Wi-Fi capability of the thermostats because it will help you control the thermostat from your Smartphone. But it may be a little bit expensive and if there is a problem with your internet then you will not be able to use it. If you don’t want to monitor through your mobile device then go for a smart thermostat without Wi-Fi.
Geo-Fencing Abilities:
Before buying the smart thermostats you should also check their geofencing abilities and motion sensors because it will save you money by learning your behaviors, making the schedule, and adjusting the temperature automatically.
Designs:
The smart thermostat comes in various designs such as with large LED displays which will make it easier to read the display anytime (day or night). Some other thermostats have built-in voice control functions, therefore, allowing you to control the device easily without the need to get up and feed it with what you require.
Alert System:
If the AC filter needs to change then some smart thermostats will send you an alert so that you can change the filter on time.
Best Smart Thermostats For 2024:
The list of the Best Smart Thermostats for 2024 is as follows:
- The Best Overall: Ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control.
- The Best Rated: Google Nest Learning (3rd Generation).
- The Best Quality: Google Nest Thermostat E.
- Best for Geo-Fencing: Honeywell Home T5+ Smart Thermostat.
- Best for Electric Baseboards: Mysa Smart Thermostat.
- Best for Ease of Use: Honeywell Home T9 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat.
- Best for Remote Sensors: Ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat.
- Best Affordable: Honeywell Home Wi-Fi Thermostat.
- Best Touch Screen: Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat.
- Best Durable: Ecobee4.
Now that you are ready to install a new smart thermostat at your home, we will make it easy to select the best smart thermostat. After continuously evaluating and testing various smart thermostats we made a list of the best smart thermostats. By reading this article you might be able to save some money before installing your new device.
1- Ecobee Smart Thermostat With Voice Control – The Best Smart Thermostat Overall:
There are many reasons to love Ecobee Smart Thermostat which is the best thermostat on the market. With an easy-to-read touch display, a glass finish, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a powerful quad-core processor, it’s a smart thermostat with all the features. The installation process takes almost 45 minutes and is very easy. It comes with an extender power kit so, you don’t need to worry about C-wire.
The most important feature is that the Ecobee thermostat has built-in Alexa which means you don’t need to purchase the device for Alexa. With the aid of the Alexa voice command you can use your voice to adjust the room temperature- along with this you can play background music, get weather updates, and even use it for messaging, calling, and Drop-In. One customer says “Alexa works flawlessly on the Ecobee thermostat and believe it or not, even better than other expensive devices that offer Alexa”.
However, if you are not fond of Alexa, the Ecobee thermostat is also compatible with other AI platforms like Apple HomeKit, Siri, and Google Home. Moreover, this model has smart sensors that will make the important rooms comfy for you by adjusting the thermostat based on temperature and occupancy.
With the help of motion sensors, Ecobee can modify its settings to make every spot of your home comfortable rather than just the area where the Ecobee thermostat is installed.
2- Google Nest Learning (3rd Generation) – Best Rated Programmable Smart Thermostat:
Google Nest Learning is the newly launched Google model, famous for its learning ability. It is the most-rated smart thermostat on Amazon by consumers for a variety of reasons. Made of stainless steel and easy to use, Google Nest Learning is the perfect addition to your house.
The third-generation Nest thermostat, with time, learns your behavior and changes the temperature according to your preferences. So, for example, if you go to bed at 10 pm regularly, the system will learn from it and automatically turn the system at that time. In this way, you can conserve energy and save money without even touching the Nest thermostat.
One reviewer says “I am more than satisfied after purchasing a Google Nest Learning thermostat for my new home. Installing it is very easy and the new Far-Sight feature is superb and can detect me even in the dark”.
It has a beautiful and bright display that shows the time, weather, and room temperature. Another feature that makes this thermostat smarter is the activity sensor which can guess whether anyone is at home or not, and then adjust the temperature schedule accordingly.
Moreover, family members can change the temperature from anywhere with the help of a Smartphone app. In addition, it is available in various finishes such as Brass, Copper, Polished steel, and White.
Furthermore, it has a monitoring system to look out for HVAC and if anything is wrong then it will send you an alert thus making the maintenance process easy. The temperature sensor which is sold separately can provide the exact temperature in a certain room.
3. Google Nest Thermostat E – The Best Quality:
Google Nest Thermostat E is the ideal thermostat for small homes because it is very budget-friendly. Despite being the lighter version of the Google Nest Learning thermostat, there are few differences between these two models except for price and physical appearance. It is equipped with a voice control feature and can be connected with Alexa and Google Home, thus, giving you the advantage of voice control. However, it is not compatible with some other platforms like Apple HomeKit and SmartThing.
Moreover, Nest E can be controlled from anywhere with the aid of the Nest app, plus, when not in use it powers off automatically, saving energy and money. Its learning abilities match with its bigger cousin (Nest Learning Thermostat).
In case of humidity inside the home, Nest E deals with it by activating the air-conditioner for cooler and drier air. Furthermore, it sends alerts on smartphones for temperature changes and monthly reports for energy usage.
Unlike Nest Learning Thermostat, Its body is made of plastic and comes only in white. The white color body makes it hard to read the display from a distance. Additionally, the temperature sensors will make sure that you are getting the right temperature you want in certain rooms and spots.
Finally, Nest Thermostat E is not compatible with all HVAC systems so, before ordering double-check its compatibility with your systems.
4. Honeywell Home T5+ Smart Thermostat – Best For Sensing Through Geo-fencing:
The Honeywell Home T5+ Smart Thermostat is the best budget-friendly thermostat we recommend. Although this model can’t detect your presence at home and doesn’t create a schedule automatically, it might provide many other best features you are looking for in a smart thermostat. Some of the major features include seven-day smart scheduling, geo-fencing, compatibility with major smart home platforms, and rating of Energy Star.
If you are looking for a smart thermostat that works well with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant and don’t want other advanced features, then Honeywell T5+ is the best option.
The T5+ edged out other expensive thermostats with the same features because it’s less expensive. The Home T5+ is good-looking, consisting of a black screen with white fonts, making it easy to read the display. It’s compatible with most 24-volt conventional heat pumps, steam heating, and hot water systems.
Moreover, it supports two-stage heating and cooling, needs a C-wire, and comes with a power extender kit. One Amazon user says “I purchased a Honeywell T5+ thermostat for me, it was very easy to install and control”, he said “Because of the ease of use I purchased another one and gave it to my parents.
Installing a T5+ thermostat is straightforward, and the geofencing will detect you if you are near, and then adjust the temperature. Furthermore, it enables you to set the temperature you want for Wake, Sleep, Home, and Away Modes.
You can set up Schedules or enable geofencing with the help of the Honeywell Home app to pair the thermostat with the HomeKit. For those who don’t have specific heating and cooling requirements, T5+ is the best budget-friendly smart thermostat.
5. Mysa Smart Thermostat – Best For Electric Baseboards:
If you live in a cold place, rely on electric baseboard heaters, and don’t have a central HVAC system then Mysa is an excellent smart thermostat to choose from. It is compatible with any of your preferred smart home platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. It can use scheduling in combo with geo-fencing to determine whether you’re at home or away, and multiple users can operate it through the Smartphone app.
Moreover, the design of the Mysa Smart thermostat is minimal and modern. Because of its subtle appearance, it can easily blend into the walls of your home. It is one of the few thermostats specifically designed for high-voltage systems.
You can also apply multiple units into zones like bedrooms, upstairs, and downstairs— simultaneously adjust these units in the app as one unit. Additionally, the Mysa thermostat provides energy usage reports and also includes an energy monitoring feature.
“The touch screen is very responsive and smooth. The app provides great features— humidity monitoring, energy monitoring, and heating zones, etc.”, says one customer. While installing this thermostat is generally easy and quick keep in mind before you purchase that installing the Mysa thermostat requires 4 or more wires and it’s only compatible with electric heating systems up to 3,800 watts.
6. Honeywell Home T9 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat – The Best Easy-To-Use Smart Thermostat:
If you live in a home without a C-wire, that’s not a problem for the T9 as it comes with a C-wire power adapter so that you can install it with the thermostat.
One of the important features is that it uses humidity, occupancy, and temperature to adjust the indoor environment, while another great feature is auto changeover mode that switches between heating and cooling systems, automatically. The T9 thermostat also comes with remote sensors to detect your presence if you are within the range of 200 feet.
Moreover, it also has features like detecting temperature, humidity, and occupancy so that controlling the climate is based on the actual need for heat in different spaces of the house. You can manually program a seven-day heating schedule to turn them on and off the system, or you can allow the thermostat to automatically start adjusting the temperature when it detects your mobile device approach.
The Honeywell T9 thermostat comes rectangular, which gives it a more modern look, with a bright, large display that shows the current temperature boldly. It is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant but doesn’t support Apple HomeKit.
With the multiple room focus system, this thermostat ensures that every room has the perfect temperature and every part of the house is comfy. It can intelligently learn your heating and cooling patterns and send you alters in case of any temperature changes.
7. Ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat – The Best Affordable With Remote Sensors:
If you want a thermostat for a smaller home as a standalone unit and are looking for something less expensive, the ecobee3 lite is best for you. It has very few differences from top-end Ecobee models. It can detect occupancy and temperature with the help of remote sensors (you have to purchase sensors), allowing it to turn off heating or cooling in empty rooms automatically, which helps in energy reduction and money-saving.
Like the Google Nest E, it can also work with air conditioning to lower the humidity inside the house in the absence of a dehumidifier. The Ecobee 3 Lite is compatible with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and Wink; however, this thermostat doesn’t have a built-in Alexa speaker.
Unlike most advanced Google Learning and Ecobee thermostats, this model doesn’t have any smart technology that can learn your heating, and cooling patterns, and schedule so it functions as a standard 7-day programmable thermostat. But you can control it remotely because it provides connectivity options with various smart home platforms.
This basic version is easy to install and contains the same Eco+ software as in high-priced Ecobee thermostats. The Ecobee3 comes with smart sensors to detect occupancy and maintain the exact temperature in the rooms that matter most. You can also turn the vacation mode on from anywhere with the help of your Android or iOS device.
8. Honeywell Home Wi-Fi Thermostat – The Best Affordable:
If you don’t have the money to buy expensive smart thermostats then the Honeywell thermostat is best for you because it offers almost all the basic features as in other expensive models but its cost is less than $100. Just like Ecobee and Nest, you can control this thermostat from your mobile device and also connect with voice assistant devices such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana which enables you to adjust the temperature with your voice.
You can control the temperature with the help of the Honeywell home app connected to the device through Wi-Fi. It allows you to program 7 7-day schedules with 4 different programs per day, which enables you to create an optimal environment at a certain time of the day.
Furthermore, the Honeywell thermostat is partnered with other systems like Apple HomeKit, Arlo, Lutron, SmartThings, and more. It comes with an easy-to-read big display and a backlit touch screen, making it the best choice for your home.
Unlike Nest and Ecobee, the Wi-Fi thermostat lacks a beautiful physical appearance and also some other features like remote sensing abilities. But if you only want a smart thermostat that delivers basic features at a low price then the Honeywell Home Wi-Fi thermostat is the best option.
9. Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat – The Best Touch Screen Thermostat:
If you’re looking for a stylish and easy-to-read smart thermostat, Senesi Touch by Emerson should be considered. The bright color touch screen is easy to use and displays large, bold numbers that can be seen from a distance. An energy-saving feature of this device is that when the touch screen is not in use it becomes dim.
A reviewer said, “I can easily adjust the heat and cold settings on the touch screen and there is no need to change the programmed schedule”. The best feature is the ability to set both cold and heat settings right on the touch-screen without having to change the programmed schedule”.
The reviewer also liked it when it turned blue in cool mode and when it was in heat mode it turned red. Sensi smart thermostat includes other features like 7-day scheduling and geofencing to adjust the temperature of the house, automatically.
Moreover, with the help of these features, you can save up to 23% of energy usage and money. It can also be connected to the most common smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, and Apple HomeKit.
Furthermore, step-by-step instructions make the installation process very easy. You can also monitor energy usage and temperature changes through the app. So, if you are not looking for anything flashy and want a decent thermostat with the lowest possible price, the Sensi smart thermostat is your best bet.
10. Ecobee4 – The Best Durable:
The Ecobee4 is the same in functionality as the Ecobee3 Lite but with a more improved feature of Amazon’s Alexa voice control. It works well with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and a bunch of other platforms. The Ecobee4 comes with only one sensor but you can add up to 32 sensors according to your needs. These sensors can measure the temperature at multiple points around your home.
Unlike Nest, It doesn’t have intelligent learning capability, so you have to manually control your thermostat. If you are away from home or on holiday you can sort out your heating with the help of apps on your Android or iOS device.
With the aid of the built-in Alexa feature you can have access to a variety of skills in addition to heating – you can check the weather update, hear the news, play music, order a taxi, and so on.
It also works with other smart home systems including Samsung SmartThings, It’s very easy to install and operate, and it can keep an eye on every part of your house with the help of sensors. So, Ecobee4 will make a perfect addition to your home.
Final Words:
All the smart thermostats we mentioned above are of high quality and are best-selling thermostats. Ecobee Smart Thermostat is our pick-up because it has all the qualities of a smart thermostat and is also durable.
But if you don’t have enough money and want to buy a smart thermostat then go for Honeywell Home Wi-Fi smart thermostat and if you want a perfect, intelligent learning machine then you should consider Google Nest Learning.
In case you have electric baseboards then Mysa smart thermostat is best for you. If you are looking for an easy-to-use smart thermostat then go for Honeywell Home T9, while for efficient geofencing abilities, choose Honeywell T5+.
