The Best Smart Thermostats of 2024

Google's Nest Learning Thermostat is one of the biggest names in the home heating space, partially because it was one of the first well-designed connected thermostats on the market. But now, a decade after its introduction, it's still the best smart thermostat for most people, thanks to its sleek, intuitive design and robust set of smart features.

If you've ever used an iPod, the Nest Thermostat will be familiar to you—in fact, it was designed by Tony Fadell, the designer of the original iPod hardware.

Once it’s hooked up to your Wi-Fi network, changing the temperature is as simple as rotating the thermostat's dial. You can use the app to set a traditional time-of-day schedule—far simpler than most non-smart thermostats—or let the Nest learn your daily habits and adjust to a comfortable temperature automatically.

This feature is great for those who don't want to put in any effort, but might be a bit too confusing for people who like to fine-tune their schedules, so you can turn it off if you wish.

Like many other smart thermostats, the Nest can save you money and energy by adjusting the temperature when you aren't home, as determined by your phone's location and the Nest's built-in motion sensors, and it's also compatible with the energy-saving plans and rebates offered by many utility companies. You can adjust it with your voice using Alexa or Google Assistant and even get reminders when it's time to change your HVAC filter.

Nest offers sensors you can put in different rooms to adjust the temperature based on where you are at any given time. Sensor functionality is limited compared to competitors like Ecobee and Honeywell. Still, overall the Nest is so easy to use that we think it's the best overall.

Our only other gripe with the Nest—besides its heftier price tag (which, again, rebates can help with)—is its setup. The actual process is quite easy, and the Nest app will walk you through it step-by-step if you've never installed a thermostat before. But in an effort to stay simple and compatible with a wide variety of heating and cool systems, the Nest uses a workaround to draw power in homes without a common wire (or C-wire).

The thermostat will function normally in most cases, but can cause problems with certain HVAC systems. If your home doesn't have a C-wire, we recommend having an HVAC professional install one, or using a thermostat like the Ecobee Smart Thermostat, which uses a slightly more complex (but reliable) conversion kit to power itself.

Sensi isn't a household name in the smart thermostat space (even among tech nerds like us), but it occupies a good niche: The Sensi Touch 2 Smart Thermostat is similar to a traditional thermostat in terms of ease of use.

Within the Sensi thermostat range, the Sensi Touch 2 is the most high-end, and it is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings.

For installation, it requires a C-wire, and the app walks users through a simple set-up. The terminal blocks have push connectors, similar to those used by Nest and Ecobee, making connecting wires faster and easier.

When it comes to operation, the unit has intuitive touchscreen control. The styling isn’t as sleek and compact as some other smart thermostat options, but the larger screen may make the controls more accessible for some users. The menu system is easy to navigate when adjusting temperature settings.

On average, the unit sensor was a little over a degree off compared to our NIST-calibrated thermometer. This isn’t a big deal. Not many users would notice that level of discrepancy. The Sensi Touch 2 can be integrated with extra room sensors, available for purchase separately, which monitors temperature and humidity at an independent location away from the base unit and can be wall mounted by hanging on the screw with drywall plug provided, or freestanding on the plastic stand.

Remote sensing has advantages in a larger home as it gives a better sense of average conditions. You can connect up to 15 extra sensors to the base unit. With temperature averaging across the sensors, the system accuracy improved to within 1 degree of the measured temperature.

The thermostat also has a dehumidification mode. It doesn’t do this via a dehumidifier (unless there’s one integrated into your HVAC system), it uses an approach called overcooling. If you activate this mode via the app, the thermostat will run up to 3 degrees cooler than the set point. Cooler air holds less moisture, so cooling will make space feel less humid as the absolute humidity will drop slightly.

The Sensi Touch 2 Smart Thermostat is a replacement for the Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Thermostat, which we previously tested back in 2017. This older version is still available for purchase (for now). But, thanks to its better touchscreen interface and extra room sensor pairing (not an option for the older Touch) we think this is the one worth buying.

The Nest Thermostat is a more basic version of our top pick, the Nest Learning Thermostat, scoring only slightly lower. It’s compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and it can be controlled remotely via the Google Home app. Unlike the Nest Learning Thermostat, it does not work with the Nest app and cannot learn your temperature preferences over time.

However, the new Nest Thermostat includes comparable features to the Nest Learning Thermostat like Eco Mode, Home/Away Assist, and scheduling features to help you save on energy costs, offering good value for the money. We found these settings easy to adjust within the Google Home app and enjoyed reviewing the energy reports, which offer helpful insights into when your unit is running and for how long.

The first HVAC system we tried didn’t have a C-wire, and we experienced unpredictable behavior that Nest attributed to the lack of a C-wire.

With the second system, we had a few hiccups during the setup process, but Nest customer service sent us a new thermostat right away, and once connected, the thermostat performed well at heating and cooling. Everything you need to get started is in the box, except the trim kit, which can be purchased separately.

While the Nest aims to be easy and hassle-free, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is more about creating an incredibly feature-rich system. This is a smart thermostat that can do far more than just turn on the heating. It can even provide air quality monitors and use motion detectors to double as a home security system.

It uses a highly responsive touchscreen that gives you control of a plethora of settings. We found the new Ecobee’s touch to be just right. With a C-wire connection built in, this thermostat is designed for modern homes that have AC, heating, and a fan system wired in. It can even control other devices like a humidifier.

Ecobee's scheduling may seem confusing at first blush, but it's nice once you get the hang of it. Instead of merely setting temperatures based on time of day, you set your desired "comfort zones" for different instances: Like setting the AC to 76 when you're at home, 80 when away, 74 when sleeping, and so on. Then you schedule those comfort settings for certain times of day, or assign them to Ecobee's external room sensors, one of which comes with the Premium model.

For example: You could set the Ecobee to switch to "sleep" temperature when your toddler is napping in the afternoon, and it will use the sensor in the toddler’s room to determine the temperature, rather than the thermostat's sensor in the living room.

Options like this make the Ecobee extremely powerful, alongside its geofencing features and other eco-monitoring options. Beyond its internal features, it’s also highly compatible with smart home ecosystems.

It includes Alexa and Siri voice controls built right in, and provides additional compatibility with Apple Home Kit, Samsung SmartThings, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. If you’re looking for a smart thermostat that can act as a hub for your whole home’s smart ecosystem, then this is the one.

The Ecobee Enhanced is a new mid-level thermostat from Ecobee, a slight step below the Ecobee Premium, although the Enhanced has most of the same features minus air quality sensing and built-in Alexa/Siri. It also does not come with an external room sensor that the Premium includes.

At installation, if you own an older home and just have a basic, heat-only, 2-wire system, you will not be able to install the Ecobee. Otherwise, the Ecobee Enhanced smart thermostat is a dual Wi-Fi device and will work on both 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. This means that you shouldn't have to worry about your type of home Wi-Fi when setting it up.

The touch interface on the thermostat is simple and intuitive. We used a thermometer with an NIST certificate of calibration to double-check the accuracy of the thermostat temperature setting and found that it was highly accurate. Switching between heating and cooling modes or adjusting preferred temperatures is easy.

The basic thermostat has a temperature sensor, plus humidity and motion sensors. It is a remote, wireless temperature and motion sensor to give the thermostat extra information on conditions at extra locations in your home. If you don't have added sensors, the thermostat is only monitoring conditions at the hard installation point. Extra sensing is potentially important in a larger home, but it’s not a big deal if you're in a smaller, open-plan space.

Sensi's standard Wi-Fi thermostat looks like a traditional thermostat (which may be a pro or a con depending on your preferences), but its wiring is more old-school as well, requiring a screwdriver for each contact.

It also allows for batteries to power the thermostat interface, and with some HVAC configurations, you might be able to use this in place of a C-wire, but we'd recommend contacting a professional before doing so.

Despite the interface having actual buttons rather than a touchscreen, the usability is nearly identical to that of the Sensi Touch thermostat, though it does not have the ability to set up temperature and humidity notifications. In the Sensi Wi-Fi thermostat, the only HVAC settings are heat, cool, and off—which may be enough to dissuade some users from buying it, given that auto is such a useful feature in those in-between seasons like spring and fall.

The flexible scheduling and geofencing found in the Sensi Touch thermostat are also present in the Sensi Wi-Fi thermostat, and we were able to successfully change the temperature with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. Remote access with mobile data worked beautifully as well, though we did experience connection issues when we tested this thermostat last year, where the device showed as unavailable from the smartphone app despite the internet working.

The Sensi Lite thermostat is the Sensi range’s entry level model, and has real retro charm. As far as set-up goes, veteran homeowners will feel comfortable. The baseplate is exactly like an old-school thermostat as the wiring blocks have screw connectors. This is pretty standard for electrical connections, but some smart thermostats (e.g., Nest, Ecobee, Sensi Touch 2) have push-in connectors that require fewer tools for installation.

The brand makes a bold claim right off the bat: That no C-wire is required; for context a C-wire supplies a constant voltage to the thermostat and typically powers the systems that support smart connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth). Our scientist finds this to be a striking claim, as although other smart thermostats can run without a C-wire, they lose some functionality. Other brands don’t make this claim so central to their product description.

Of course, we tested the no C-wire claim, and it’s true, but only as far as it’s true for other smart thermostats. And there are indeed some limits placed on your level of control. There are scenarios where you don’t need the C-wire, but that’s true of most other smart thermostats. If you want to unlock the full range of smart functions for any smart thermostat, the Sensi Lite included, a built-in C-wire or a system that adds a C-wire function is essential.

Accessing the basic thermostat settings is intuitive. There’s a familiar cogwheel icon in the top corner of the app display that lets you choose temperature units, and set upper and lower temperature limits. The Sensi Lite has touch controls, but not a true touchscreen like the Sensi Touch 2.

Our test board showed that the thermostat responded quickly and accurately to changes in the settings, switching to heating, cooling, or fan circulation as required. Like its big brother, the Sensi Touch 2, the Sensi Lite’s temperature sensing is a little over one degree off compared to our NIST-calibrated thermometer. Home owners will not notice this discrepancy.

The control interface seems pretty straightforward. The main control button lets you cycle through settings (heat, cool, off) and adjust the temperature set point via the arrows. However, we found the app interface much easier to use than the controls on the unit. You don’t have to cycle through modes as the mode selections are shown permanently on the interface. The app also allows you to set a schedule, although this doesn’t seem to be possible on the unit itself.

Sensi is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings.

The Amazon Smart Thermostat is a simple, smart, and stylish smart thermostat that fits in flawlessly with the Amazon Echo ecosystem, earning a top spot as our choice for the best smart thermostat for Alexa. The device offers location-based learning features (Alexa Hunches) that can help you save on your monthly energy bill—a feature you'll usually find on more expensive smart thermostats.

The thermostat works well with Alexa voice control, as you might imagine, and is easy to manage in the Alexa app, where you can also view detailed insights about the device’s energy usage. With Hunches, Alexa can learn your habits and temperature preferences, automatically making adjustments to your HVAC system when you're at home and away. You can automate your thermostat by scheduling temperature changes up to four times a day, seven days a week in the app.

The thermostat looks more expensive than it is. We like the minimalist design with rounded edges that lends itself to any style of home. When it comes to usability, we found the thermostat straightforward to navigate and use. We especially like the large digital numbers that make it easy to see the temperature from across the room or in the dark.

As for downsides, it doesn't work with Google Home or Apple HomeKit smart home systems, and there are no remote temperature sensors, which can be helpful for regulating the climate for larger houses. You'll also need a C-wire in order to use the thermostat. If you don't have one, Amazon sells a version of the thermostat with a C-wire adapter that's still a bargain.

Bottom line: If you need a value-packed smart thermostat that works beautifully with Alexa and the Amazon Echo ecosystem, you’ve got to go with the Amazon Smart Thermostat.

Ecobee's lower-cost "Lite" thermostat is very similar to its more expensive sibling: It has the same touchscreen and app, and most of the same features. It's a bit slimmer, so it looks better against your wall, but doesn't come with the built-in Amazon Alexa microphones, nor does it come bundled with a room sensor. It does still come with the power extender to accommodate those without a C-wire.

Whether it's worth the discount depends on your usage. Since it doesn't come with a room sensor—which is part of what makes Ecobee's thermostats great—you'll probably have to buy a 2-pack separately, which will bring you up to the same cost as the Ecobee SmartThermostat (though you'll have two sensors instead of one). If you don't plan on using the Amazon Alexa mics and prefer the slimmer profile, the Ecobee3 Lite is a great alternative.

Honeywell has been in the heating and cooling system business for over 100 years, but their smart thermostats haven't quite gained the recognition that other companies have.

The Honeywell Lyric T5 thermostat is the more basic cousin of the Honeywell Lyric Round thermostat. The full touchscreen on the T5 makes it easy to change the temperature and check the settings. The Lyric T5 lacks the motion sensor of the Lyric Round thermostat, but other than that, the experience with changing the temperature, geofencing, scheduling, and vocal assistant integration is identical.

The Lyric T5 looks a bit more industrial than the Lyric Round, with a square black profile with a slightly smaller footprint than those of standard thermostats. A new version of this thermostat is now available, but we haven't tested it. The new model, the Honeywell Home T5+, is available on Amazon.