Smart thermostats are the next step in household convenience. With the introduction of smart home voice technology and WiFi-enabled remote access into modern smart thermostats, maintaining your home’s heating, cooling, and humidity levels has never been easier, nor more efficient. Homeowners who replace their manual thermostats with smart thermostats report substantial household energy and cost savings due to their home’s newly automated climate control system.
After reviewing dozens of smart thermostats, we have identified the best available for the modern home. Considering factors such as functionality, ease of installation, and smart home integration we have picked our top choices and outlined the best of the rest to give you a detailed rundown of the most useful smart thermostats on the market today.
After extensively researching numerous smart thermostats we’ve chosen the ecobee SmartThermostat as our top pick. The device features everything we’d want in a smart thermostat including a stylish display, voice control, and universal smart home capability. It even comes packaged with an additional Smart Sensor for better climate control throughout your home. This smart thermostat has it all.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Smart Thermostats
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Top Pick | ecobee SmartThermostat | 4.5 |
| Runner Up | Mysa Smart Thermostat | 4.5 |
| Best for Budget | Emerson Sensi Smart Thermostat | 4.4 |
| Best Alexa-Compatible Smart Thermostat | Google Nest | 4.2 |
| Best Touchscreen Smart Thermostat | Emerson Sensi Touch Thermostat | 4.4 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Our Top Pick: ecobee SmartThermostat
A feature-laden smart thermostat that works with virtually any HVAC system and smart home setup, the ecobee SmartThermostat is a true master-of-all-trades. The sharp, minimalist display hides the veritable treasure trove of features that lay underneath its touchscreen surface. This thermostat can do it all, and then some.
Starting off with the basics, the ecobee Smart Thermostat can automatically learn your household temperature preferences and use them to control the climate control system, putting efficiency and economy at the forefront of its operation. Users can opt to program the system to act in accordance with a strict set of rules, or they can also choose to operate the system manually. The thermostat’s powerful quad-core processor responds in a flash, and the reliable dual-band WiFi allows you to control the system remotely via a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
The additional Smart Sensor helps the ecobee SmartThermostat better control your home’s temperature by adjusting to important rooms, such as those in which you spend most of your day or night. The thermostat itself also acts as an Amazon Alexa hub, and it can stream Spotify or connect to your phone via Bluetooth to play music whenever a tune catches your fancy.
ecobee SmartThermostat Key Features:
- Additional smart sensor included
- Alexa voice control built-in
- Universal smart home compatibility
- Can stream Spotify and play music via Bluetooth
Our Runner Up Pick: Mysa Smart Thermostat
Designed for high-voltage electric heaters, the Mysa Smart Thermostat can handle a maximum of 3,800 watts and is compatible with electric baseboard heaters, in-ceiling radiant heaters, electric fan-forced heaters, and self-contained hydronic baseboard heaters. This thermostat will not work with low-voltage systems like boilers, natural gas furnaces, or oil furnaces.
The elegant and easy-to-use digital interface is complemented by an equally functional and highly detailed smartphone app. The Mysa smartphone app is beautifully laid out and provides a great deal of information and customization for each type of compatible climate device in your home. Detailed usage reports provide insight into your energy usage and overall cost.
The Mysa Smart Thermostat has geofencing functionality, ensuring that you do not heat an empty home, and it integrates well into most smart home systems.
Mysa Smart Thermostat Key Features:
- Provides detailed energy usage reports
- Geofencing-ready
- Works with high voltage baseboard heaters
- Universal smart home compatibility
Best Budget Pick: Emerson Sensi Smart Thermostat
The Emerson Sensi Smart Thermostat is a budget-friendly option that is as capable and compatible as our other top picks. This seemingly simple thermostat packs quite a lot of value under its modest shell.
Though this model lacks a touchscreen, the crisp digital display is home to a wealth of functionality that can be controlled through the device’s physical buttons or through Sensi’s robust smartphone app. Control your home’s temperature, humidity, fan circulation, and more with the touch of a button, or your phone’s touchscreen.
Usage reports, smart alerts, and flexible scheduling functions help you make your climate system efficient, and the automated systems, such as the native geofencing, can take that efficiency to the next level. This product is Energy Star certified and Sensi claims that users can save up to 23% on their household energy usage.
Emerson Sensi Smart Thermostat Key Features:
- Compatible with most HVAC systems
- Universal smart home compatibility
- Energy Star certified
Best Alexa-Compatible Smart Thermostat: Google Nest
Perhaps the most well-known smart thermostat, you may have first become aware of such devices when you spotted a Google Nest in a friend’s home. The Google Nest was a forerunner in the smart thermostat industry, and it is now on the third generation of its evolution.
Google Nest features a host of helpful features, but most helpful of all, at least to some, is the excellent Alexa compatibility. The Google Nest will easily integrate into any Amazon Alexa smart home and can be operated via voice control through Alexa devices.
Nest has built its reputation upon its auto-scheduling feature, an automated tool that learns your ideal household climate settings by analyzing user inputs over time. After a short period of data collection, the Google Nest will learn your home and adapt to it, making your climate control more efficient and more comfortable. This Nest also features the farsight ability that lights up the device when it sees you approaching it. This product comes with a one-year warranty that is extended to five years when installed by an approved professional.
Google Nest Key Features:
- Works with Amazon Alexa devices
- Install yourself or with the help of a professional technician
- Farsight lights up the device when it sees you nearby
Best Touchscreen Smart Thermostat: Emerson Sensi Touch Thermostat
You can’t go wrong with the Emerson Sensi Touch Thermostat. This device works with all major smart home systems and nearly every common HVAC system in modern homes. The touchscreen is responsive and modern looking, almost like a new smartphone that’s been mounted to your wall.
Full of intuitive menus and easy-to-read text, this smart thermostat’s touchscreen is a delight to use. The screen goes dim when not in use and lights up as soon as it is touched with a vivid backglow. A soft nightlight mode makes the smart thermostat easy to see at any time of the night without using unnecessary energy to power the full display.
Onboard features include scheduling functions, smart alerts, usage reports, and Alexa voice compatibility. Installation is a breeze, most taking under 30 minutes, and a universal c-wire is required for all system types.
Emerson Sensi Touch Thermostat Key Features:
- Energy Star certified
- Nightlight mode
- HD touchscreen with backglow
Who Should Buy A Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are the way of the future, and every home should upgrade to one eventually. The energy savings and convenience are hard to pass up. People may at first be intimidated by the thought of purchasing a smart thermostat, thinking that they are difficult to install and complicated to control, but those fears couldn’t be further from the truth.
When replacing an old thermostat or upgrading a home heating system, everyone should consider a new smart thermostat for their home. With a smart thermostat, a person can manually control their heating and cooling, program the system to consistently operate in a specific method, or set the system to automatically adjust the household climate according to the data it gathers about your home.
Important Features to Consider
There are a few important considerations to think through before purchasing a smart thermostat.
- Type of HVAC system. It is vitally important to know how your home heating and cooling system works before purchasing a smart thermostat. Some thermostats are compatible with only a limited number of home heating solutions, while others claim to be “universal” when they actually only work with the most common types of HVAC systems. Electric baseboard heaters function differently than oil radiators and forced air systems. Understand how your home climate system works before choosing a smart thermostat to control it.
- Your exisiting smarthome setup. While there are plenty of smart thermostats that will work with a variety of smart home setups, certain brands like to stick together and are not universally accepting of all smart devices. Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are the most popular smart home voices we’re all accustomed to hearing, and they don’t always work well with each other. There are smaller smart home companies with proprietary products as well. Make a plan about your complete smart home setup before deciding on your smart thermostat as you may be locking yourself into a specific brand’s products going forward.
- Voice control. This feature is common among smart thermostats, but it’s not a feature in every product across the board. Virtually every smart thermostat can be remotely controlled through a smartphone, but if you need that extra convenience of voice control, make sure you purchase a smart thermostat that has that feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a smart thermostat and how does it work?
Smart thermostats are thermostats that can integrate within a smart home system, connect to the Internet, and connect to other smart devices such as smartphones and tablets. They install and operate similarly to traditional and manually programmable thermostats, but have additional functionalities.
Most smart thermostats can be interacted with at the physical device itself or through a smart device via a downloadable app. Smart thermostats often include the use of sensors to monitor household temperatures in order to “learn” the home and adjust heating, cooling, and humidity levels as necessary.
What are the advantages of a smart thermostat?
Smart thermostats can be operated remotely through a smartphone, allowing users to adjust settings and inspect temperature data from wherever they may be. These apps often have usage reports that detail energy consumption and costs which allow homeowners to make more informed energy decisions.
The use of additional sensors gives a smart thermostat the information it needs to automatically control household temperatures without human input. Studies show that automated smart thermostats are much more energy-efficient than manual or programmable thermostats, which means homeowners who utilize smart thermostats save money and have a lower carbon footprint.
Do smart thermostats really save you money?
Absolutely! Studies have consistently shown that consumers can save big on their energy bills with smart thermostats. For example, in a study conducted by Nest it was concluded that homeowners could save 12% on heating costs and 15% on air conditioning costs by switching to a smart thermostat.
Are smart thermostats easy to install?
Installing a smart thermostat is no different than installing a traditional or programmable thermostat. Most smart thermostats are easy to install and claim that they can be fully installed in under 30 minutes. You will, however, want to make sure that the smart thermostat you purchase does work with your home’s specific type of climate control before attempting to install. In addition to the typical wiring and mounting, smart thermostats will also require a quick WiFi and/or Bluetooth connection to complete the installation process.
Other Smart Thermostats We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other smart thermostats. Even though they didn’t make our five best smart thermostat list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your home heating and cooling needs. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Alexa-Compatible Smart Thermostats
Much like our Budget Pick, the Emerson Sensi Smart Pro is a highly-rated smart thermostat that’s priced at a great value. This Pro model is more expensive than our Budget Pick variant, but it comes packed with additional features such as circulating fan support and an extended warranty.
Key Features:
- Connects to the Sensi mobile app
- Circulating fan functionality
- Five-year warranty
Cost: $130.96
The Google Nest Thermostat E is nearly identical to all other Nest thermostats, including our Alexa-Compatible Pick. The sleek design and energy-saving elements are what make this thermostat stand out. It’s Energy Star approved and can provide you with a history lesson about your energy efficiency.
Key Features:
- Frosted display
- Energy-saving mode and statistics
- Energy Star certified
Cost: $169.00
The Honeywell Smart Touchscreen features a customizable, locking touchscreen that provides a torrent of data to explore. Users can sync it to Honeywell’s Total Connect Comfort App to view the data from any device and control the thermostat from anywhere with a WiFi signal.
Key Features:
- Customized screen color
- Locking touchscreen
- Indoor humidity sensor
Cost: $229.00
Let the Honeywell T9 Smart Thermostat do all of your home temperature management for you. The remote room sensors detect which rooms are most used at different times to moderate the entire home’s temperature throughout the day and evening.
Key Features:
- Smart sensor detects which rooms people are using
- Monthly energy reports
- Multi-room focus
Cost: $199.99
The Lux Kono Pro smart thermostat works universally for air, gas, oil, and electric furnaces, as well as heat pump systems with or without emergency aux heat. The device can be powered by the traditional c-wire, but if it is not present the included Lux power bridge will keep it operational.
Key Features:
- Works with Apple home kit
- Powered by c-wire or included Lux power bridge
- Universal compatibility for air, gas, oil, and electric furnaces
Cost: $145.44
Schneider Electric Smart Thermostat
Sync up with the Schneider Electric weather service to sync up your automatic home climate settings with upcoming weather changes. This Schneider Electric Smart Thermostat comes with an array of sensors that can detect when you want to use the device and know when your household’s humidity is too high.
Key Features:
- Humidity balance settings
- Device lights up when approached
- Weather system forecast integrates with the thermostat
Cost: $239.00
The Simple Thermostat is just that, a straightforward smart thermostat that does its job well. Its minimalist design utilizes a monochrome display with a basic layout that is easy to read and control. Though uncomplicated in design, this thermostat is rich with features such as local weather readouts and an energy-saving artificial intelligence that learns your home.
Key Features:
- Customizable display
- Indoor and outdoor temperature display
- Included c-wire kit
Cost: $134.00
Touchscreen Smart Thermostats
The ecobee3 lite Smart Thermostat is in many ways identical to our Top Pick. This model comes in at a lower price point because it ditches the inherent voice control smart home compatibility, though it can still link into smart home setups through secondary devices such as the Amazon Alexa Echo Dot.
Key Features:
- Pairs with individual room sensors
- Universal heat system compatibility
- Links to most smart home systems
Cost: $168.88
Featuring a fully functional photo gallery, the First Alert Onelink is ideal for those who love to display their collection of photos. The touchscreen display can be set to showcase a collection of your favorite photographs and will switch to the interactive thermostat display when needed.
Key Features:
- Full-color touchscreen
- Photo display mode
- Amazon Alexa compatible
Cost: $170.00
A wallet-friendly option with extensive capabilities and a full-color, customizable touchscreen, the Honeywell Home Thermostat is a great buy for those who need a touchscreen thermostat that can sync up to virtually any smart home device.
Key Features:
- Customizable full-color touchscreen
- Energy Star Certified
- Programmable smartphone alerts
Cost: $119.00
The Honeywell Lyric provides a minimalist display that masks the multitude of features within its programming. Users can set a temperature control range of plus or minus to limit cycling, and the custom fan settings allow control over household air circulation.
Key Features:
- Custom fan settings
- Customizable metric units
- Temperature control range
Cost: $449.00
Designed with radiant floor heaters in mind, the Nuheat SIGNATURE works with an external floor sensor to adjust floor heaters to the programmed temperature. This device can also be used for other ambient heat, such as baseboard heaters, and will link with Nest devices for a complete home temperature control system.
Key Features:
- Can connect to radiant floor heaters
- Three-year warranty
- Integrates with Nest thermostats
Cost: $215.00
The sleek 4.3″ LCD touchscreen of the Rheem EcoNet has an internal motion detector that turns on the display when it is approached. With a display that will show a 6-day weather forecast and Alexa compatibility, this smart device will take care of all of your climate control needs.
Key Features:
- Integrated water heater management
- Quick one-touch “away” setting
- Voice command ready
Cost: $299.21
Focused on floor heating, the WarmlyYours nSpire smart thermostat features a touchscreen, WiFi connectivity, and a 3.5″ touchscreen. The included 10k ohm floor sensor monitors your floor temperature, and the device can also monitor ambient temperature.
Key Features:
- Floor heating compatible
- Floor sensor included
- Three-year warranty
Cost: $181.69
Budget Smart Thermostats
As capable as many of the premium smart thermostats on our list, the Bosch Thermotechnology is an incredible bargain. With such a low price point you may expect this device to lack common features, but it is a robust device that is ready and willing to sync with your smart devices and control your home climate.
Key Features:
- Compatible with a majority of HVAC systems
- Color touchscreen with illuminated buttons
- Smart home ready
Cost: $89.00
The GoControl Z-Wave is a no-fuss HVAC smart thermostat that can sync with Amazon Alexa devices and can be controlled remotely via Z-wave hubs such as the 2GIG GoControl security panel. This device also works with Uplink, Telegaurd, and Alarm.com.
Key Features:
- House or battery power options
- Z-wave compatible
- Works with Alexa voice control
Cost: $78.25
Built around the Hive Hub smart home system, the Hive Heating and Cooling smart thermostat comes with a Hive Hub and can be linked to other proprietary Hive products such as window and door sensors for added functionality.
Key Features:
- Includes smart thermostat and Hive Hub
- Pairs with Hive window and door sensors
- Remote control via the Hive app
Cost: $108.81
Quality climate control at a bargain price, the iDevices Thermostat has a smaller screen than most smart thermostats, but its functionality is on par with some of our top picks. This device responds to Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant voice commands.
Key Features:
- Control remotely via iDevices app
- Voice control with most smart devices
- Two-year warranty
Cost: $65.44
Simple but solid, the Stelpro Smart Home Thermostat integrates with existing lien voltage heaters and adds Maestro Connectivity for smart home functionality. Those with Maestro Controllers or Zigbee Hubs will find that this seamlessly integrates into their smart home setup.
Key Features:
- Energy-efficient display
- Pairs with line voltage heaters
- Compatible with Maestro Controller and Zigbee Hub
Cost: $113.30
The programmable, customizable Vine Smart Thermostat allows for a wide temperature swing setting adjustment and can sync to your Google and Alexa devices. Language settings can be changed between English, Spanish, and French.
Key Features:
- Customizable, detailed display
- One-year warranty
- Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatible
Cost: $89.95
