Thermostats make some of the best “smart” devices to have in your home. Imagine having total control over the temperature of your house, all without having to fiddle with the controls personally. A smart thermostat could be just what you’re looking for.
Naturally, you’ll also want to make sure your smart thermostat works with most smart home devices. Double-check what voice controls you can use with your thermostat – some only work with certain smart speakers, for example, or only integrate with certain smart home ecosystems, like Google Home.
Furthermore, double-check to see what exactly a smart thermostat controls with your air-conditioning system. Doesn’t monitor the air quality, or does it just control the cooling system? The smart features integrated into a thermostat will help you choose between them beyond what you’ll save in terms of energy costs.
Today, let’s explore some of the best smart thermostats.
Best for Google Fans: Google Nest Learning Thermostat
Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat is easily one of the best thermostats, bar none. While it’s a little pricey, it’s also a highly effective option for Google Nest fans since it’s intuitive, adaptable, and very easy to use.
This smart thermostat has HVAC monitoring plus a remote control that allows any family member to change the temperature from a phone, laptop, or tablet. Meanwhile, this programmable thermostat learns your schedule over time – you don’t always have to set the thermostat as you continue to feed it reliable data. It will adjust itself to an “Eco-Temperature” when you leave, as well – that way, you don’t heat up or cool down an empty house.
The big benefit, of course, is its integration with Google Assistant (though it can also work with other voice assistants depending on your preferences). Regardless, you’ll appreciate the high-resolution display and beautiful aesthetic design, as well.
Best for Multi-Function Control: ecobee4 Smart Thermostat With Built-in Alexa
The ecobee Smart Thermostat is another of the best smart thermostats thanks in large part to its built-in Alexa functionality and multiple control setups. It takes about 30 minutes to set up from start to finish, and the purchase gives you everything you need to get it up and running.
Once you do that, this smart thermostat doesn’t just measure the temperature and balance it throughout your home. You can also install optional sensors, which will detect occupancy in different rooms. Therefore, this might be the best smart thermostat for larger homes when you may wish to tweak the HVAC settings for individual sections of your house. One room sensor is included by default.
In any case, you can control this smart thermostat from anywhere and on any device, including Android devices and iOS devices. It also works with every smart home setup, plus smart home kits like Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and so on.
Best for Easy Installation: Amazon Smart Thermostat
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is cost-effective and extremely easy to install. In fact, you can DIY it totally yourself with or without a C-wire adapter. With this smart thermostat, you could say $50 or more on energy bills each year.
The smart thermostat comes with programming right out of the box, allowing your integrated Amazon Alexa voice assistant to take over from the get-go. Alexa can also set the temperature, or you can set it yourself using the Amazon Alexa app. The smart thermostat is made with Honeywell Home Thermostat Technology, so you know it will get the job done.
In total, expect to spend 15 minutes or less setting up this smart thermostat. The mobile app you can use to control the thermostat is also highly easy to navigate through and use, even if it’s your first time using a smart device like this.
Best for Customization: Honeywell Home T9 WiFi Smart Thermostat
Honeywell’s Home T9 WiFi Smart Thermostat is a stellar smart thermostat, and it comes with many different purchase options. For example, you can purchase just the thermostat, or you can purchase the thermostat with a wall plate, one or more sensors, air filters, and even a leak detector.
In this way, this smart thermostat lets you spend money on what matters the most to you and your family, enabling you to protect your home against the most likely energy reductions. You can adjust the thermostat from anywhere using a mobile device or allow your home to automatically learn your schedule using geo-fencing technology.
This smart thermostat is compatible with any forced air HVAC systems, as well as hot water and steam HVAC systems. It even works with heat pumps with electric backups. No matter what you choose to use, you’ll save energy and get rewarded, and you can install the smart thermostat very quickly out of the box since it comes with a versatile T9 adapter.
Best for Long-Term Usage Reports: Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
Emerson Sensi’s Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat is a popular choice among homeowners who want to monitor their HVAC systems and know exactly how the whole system does over time. This highly compatible smart thermostat works with every type of voice assistant and, most importantly, lets you monitor current-day or historical heating, cooling, and fan data from the smart thermostat app.
These usage reports can be highly valuable when you are trying to determine the best way to save energy throughout your property. They’ll also be usable if you want to track your HVAC system to determine when you need to send in a request for maintenance.
Sensi’s thermostat also comes with smart alerts that can help you detect humidity or temperature variations in your home. It’s easy to install and use, taking 30 minutes to set up or less, and also includes additional control options like seven-day flexible scheduling and more.
Best for Minimalist Smart Control: Wyze Programmable Smart WiFi Thermostat
The Wyze Programmable Smart WiFi Thermostat is a stellar choice for more reasons than one. However, its standout feature is its minimalist design, which can be set up practically anywhere in the home without affecting your overall decor options and theme. It’s a very small thermostat that integrates easily into most walls.
Once it’s set up, it works with Alexa or Google Assistant, and it allows you to create flexible seven-day schedules. It even comes with built-in schedules, like home, sleep, and away. Usage tracking insights are available via the proprietary Wyze app, which you get access to when you purchase this smart thermostat.
Even better, it automatically turns on and off using the built-in motion sensor and your phone location. Therefore, once the smart thermostat knows you are away from home, it will turn off your HVAC system to save energy. You’ll save money and do your part for the planet at the same time.
Best for Works with Most HVAC Systems: Degrii Smart Thermostat for Home
Degrii’s Smart Thermostat for Home is one of the best smart thermostats because of how well it works with most HVAC systems. In fact, you can rest assured that this smart thermostat will work with 95% of popular HVAC systems, including radiant boilers, heat pumps, conventional forced air systems, and much more.
Aside from this, it’s a great device thanks to the proprietary Smart Fencing technology. In a nutshell, the thermostat uses your phone’s GPS or device location app to figure out whether you are at home or away. That will automatically adjust the temperature of your property to ensure energy efficiency and comfort in equal measure.
It’s easy to install in about 15 minutes, and you can use voice commands through Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Keep in mind that it also works with various remote thermostats, so you can set up a personalized and responsive comfort system throughout your property with a little extra effort.
Best for Maintenance Reminders: Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat by Emerson
The Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat with Emerson is potentially the best smart thermostat for you if you want to always know when you need to call maintenance for your HVAC system. That’s because it monitors the performance and efficiency of your HVAC system overall. You can expect alerts about equipment, maintenance reminders, and even usage reports so you can see how much energy you use each season.
Of course, you can also use this smart thermostat to save approximately 23% on your HVAC energy, and the smart thermostat is Energy Star-certified. The modern, sleek design of the display is easy to read and highly intuitive, and it’s perfect for those with weaker eyes.
You can control the smart thermostat using a phone or tablet with the proprietary app on iOS and Android devices. You’ll also appreciate the common wire or C-wire that’s included with your purchase right in the box.
Best for Easy Integration: ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat
Ecobee3’s Lite Smart Thermostat is a good choice if you are primarily concerned about your new smart thermostat working well with your existing smart home systems. This smart thermostat can be controlled anywhere from an Android or iOS device, but it also lets you save about 23% each year on cooling and heating costs.
This thermostat works quickly and easily with any existing smartphone system thanks to its Wi-Fi connectivity and fast transmission speeds. If you purchase the optional SmartSensor, you’ll also note that it automatically pauses cooling or heating when a window or door is accidentally left open.
The smart thermostat is responsive, easy to control, and blends well with the decor of your home. The touchscreen doesn’t look like a traditional touchscreen at all, and it may improve the overall aesthetic of the room you choose to mount it in.
Best for Adaptive Brightness Design: Mysa Smart Thermostat for Electric Baseboard and in-Wall Heaters
Mysa’s Smart Thermostat is a perfect pick if you’re after a smart home thermostat that doesn’t shine brightly in the middle of the night. It uses adaptive brightness technology to change the display on the surface depending on the time of day it is and whether someone is approaching it.
Indeed, this very clever smart home thermostat works with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Alexa. You can use the app to schedule your thermostat’s performance, and it installs quite easily in about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, note that this smart thermostat also works with 120 V to 240 V electric baseboards and electric fan-forced heaters. It’s fairly small compared to many other smart thermostats, and it should suit your home well if you’re looking for something versatile, compact, and sleek.
The Bottom Line
There are many great smart thermostats to pick from, so consider your budget and your preferences before buying. The Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat is perfect for involved homeowners who want to know everything about their energy usage, while the Amazon Smart Thermostat is a top choice for those who want to “set and forget” their smart thermostats quickly and easily.
Be sure to check for these top smart thermostats on Amazon and on other retail websites!
Sources:
