Here’s a quick look at what to consider when you’re buying a smart thermostat, followed by a review of our favorite smart thermostats. You want to look for a thermostat that’s smart enough to meet your needs but is also easy to install. Thermostats don’t usually come with professional installation, but if you get the setup wrong, your thermostat won’t work. All of the smart thermostats on this list are designed for easy self-installation. That’s awesome because you get to save money and feel like a home-improvement boss! In most cases, it should only take you 30 to 60 minutes to get the job done. Some devices require a C-wire (an extra electricity supply wire) to install. But none of the thermostats reviewed here do. If you’d prefer not to deal with the wiring yourself, you can hire a professional (which will put you out anywhere from about $100 to 300). Sure, your current thermostat might keep your living room or hallway climate controlled, but can it have multiple sensors to ensure that the kids’ bedroom isn’t freezing? Can it track your energy usage? Can it play Spotify? We didn’t think so. Let us introduce you to the Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control. This thermostat sets a new bar for automated temperature control devices. It’s not just a step above the Ecobee4, but it even outshines its main competitor, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, by including remote sensors and being more compatible with third-party devices. Here’s a breakdown of the Ecobee’s impressive features. Despite its small size, the device packs 12 terminals into its back plate that can connect to heating, air conditioning, humidifiers, HVAC accessories, and more. On the inside, the Ecobee contains dual-band Wi-Fi technology so it can connect to 2.4GHz or 5GHz networks. You can also check your Home IQ, which shows you efficiency reports, historical data, and how outside weather changes your energy use. Paying attention to this data can help you be more green (and save green on your utility bills). If for some reason the regular Ecobee isn’t cutting it for you, there’s always the Ecobee3 Lite smart thermostat. There are plenty of smart thermostats on the market these days. But there’s “pre-program temperature for seven days” smart and then there’s “learn your daily habits and anticipate your temperature needs” smart. The Nest Learning Thermostat is in the latter category. This device can track your thermostat use to give you a personalized schedule, so you don’t even have to worry about programming. It’s perfect for those who want the convenience of a Wi-Fi thermostat without the chore of learning a whole new control system. Under the hood are ten temperature sensors and other sensors for humidity, ambient light, and motion. It’s also equipped with Bluetooth radio, 512 MB of memory, and wiring that will hook it up to most HVAC systems. You can make adjustments to this auto-schedule as time goes on—or ditch it altogether—but it saves you the time and hassle of making a schedule from scratch. You can control the Nest thermostat using Alexa, but it doesn’t have built-in voice controls so you’ll you need to use it in combination with another Alexa device, like a Google Home. On the app you can activate features like Furnace Heads-Up, which tells you how well your heat system is functioning. You can also check the weather, see your energy usage history, set carbon monoxide (CO) thresholds, and set air filter replacement reminders. You can also try the Google Nest Thermostat E for a little less money. We all deserve to come home at the end of the day to a cozy climate-controlled space. But not all of us can (or want to) throw down the price of our car payment (or a new Xbox Project Scarlett) to get a smart thermostat device. Thankfully, there’s the Honeywell T5+. This is the only halfway-decent smart thermostat that is regularly priced under $200. It may not have all of the features and smart home integration as our front-runners, but it will work well with your other budget automated home devices. This device has an internal temperature sensor and will hook up to most HVAC systems. It doesn’t have motion or humidity sensors, so you’ll have to rely on other devices (like the Canary All-In-One Security Device) for that. This Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat can also alert you to irregular temperatures in your home and let you know when it’s time to change your filters. But, unfortunately, the T5+ is not compatible with IFTTT devices, which could be a deal-breaker for some. On the app, you can set up geofencing, check the weather forecast, change the temperature of your home, and even control other Honeywell smart home products that you have hooked up. For many years, those with baseboard heating systems were being left out of the smart thermostat revolution. But now, thanks to the Mysa Smart Thermostat, you no longer need to fiddle around with a clunky, inaccurate, and decidedly not-smart interface. This Wi-Fi thermostat is not just an afterthought for those with high-voltage systems. It’s an impressive smart thermostat in its own right, with cutting-edge temperature and humidity control and great smart home integration. But this elegance does come with a drawback: most of the thermostat’s functions must be controlled through the mobile app. The bad news is that the Mysa Smart Thermostat is not able to control a conventional HVAC system. So, if you happen to have baseboard and forced air heating systems in your house, then you’ll need to get another smart thermostat to control the forced air system. The good news is, the Mysa Smart Thermostat has the best smart home integration out of all the devices reviewed here, which means it should integrate well with just about any other thermostat, whether it’s the Ecobee, Nest, or something else. With the app, you can set a custom schedule, track humidity, or turn on the “eco mode” or vacation mode. You can also set up geofencing, which will allow the thermostat to track your comings and goings to offer more efficient climate control. (Kind of creepy, but very useful.) Here’s a quick review of our picks for the best smart thermostats.
The Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control is basically a thermostat, digital assistant, and smart speaker all rolled into one. It’ll integrate with most HVAC and home automation systems so the only downside is that big price tag. The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation) is the smartest device on this list. It’ll learn your habits and create an ideal schedule for comfort and energy efficiency. But it doesn’t score quite as high as the Ecobee on compatibility and features. The Honeywell T5+ Smart Thermostat is a perfectly decent smart thermostat that will cost you less than $100. That’s a screamin’ deal for a device with auto-scheduling and a wide compatibility with automated home systems. The Mysa Smart Thermostat is the only device on this list that can handle baseboard heating and other high-voltage systems. Its elegant display, great compatibility, and cheap price tag make it a steal of a deal.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these smart home devices, but everyone’s needs are different, so we’d love to know what you think. What’s the best smart thermostat on the market? Shout it out in the comments section below.
