Why You Can Trust CNET Best Smart Thermostats for January 2024
Take control of your home's heating and cooling costs with a smart thermostat. Here's how models from Amazon, Ecobee, Honeywell, Nest and more compare after testing.
In this article:
- What is the best smart thermostat?
- Best smart thermostats of 2024
- How we test smart thermostats
- Other smart thermostats we've tested
- Smart thermostat FAQ
What is the best smart thermostat?
Smart thermostats can help you take control of your heating and cooling costs and lower your monthly utility bills. Models vary widely, ranging from the sleek and pricey Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium to the budget-friendly Wyze Thermostat. Our pick for the overall best smart thermostat is the Amazon Smart Thermostat, which you can get for $80.
Smart thermostat models do a lot to cut heating and cooling costs, simplify life and provide a few extra creature comforts along the way with various smart features. Unlike traditional thermostats, these app-enabled devices let you control your home's temperature from anywhere.
Most smart thermostats are easy to set up and work with voice control when you're using a compatible smart display or speaker with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri. Some smart thermostats use occupancy sensors to determine if you're home or away and automatically change the temperature for you, while others switch between home and away modes based on your phone's location.
To accompany these modern features, many connected thermostats offer creative designs. From a rounded shape to a responsive touchscreen, smart thermostats look a lot different than traditional models. They can also send you smart alerts, sync with other connected devices in your home and provide details on your HVAC system's energy usage over time.
We've rounded up the best smart thermostat options on the market right now to help you find the best model for your home's heating and cooling needs, and your budget.
Best smart thermostats of 2024
As I mentioned above, the Amazon Smart Thermostat is my favorite overall smart thermostat. First, it's the least expensive model I've tested. It works via the Alexa app and with Alexa voice commands. You need a compatible Alexa-enabled smart speaker or display to use voice commands, but you don't have to enable an Alexa skill since this is an Amazon-branded product.
This thermostat is Energy Star-certified, saving an average of $50 on a yearly energy bill. It has a simple, modern design and an optional wall plate if you need to cover any old paint or holes. The touchscreen interface is minimal, but makes it easy to adjust the thermostat and switch between heat, air conditioning and other basic settings.
The Amazon Smart Thermostat isn't compatible with Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit and there's no remote temperature sensor accessory. You also either need a C-wire or you have to buy and install the C-wire adapter.
This is a solid product overall, but ultimately its amazing value is what sets it apart and makes it our current favorite.
With a list price of $250, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is expensive, arguably too expensive given the current trend of more affordable models out there. Still, this model has a lot to recommend it, especially if you want to talk to Alexa without having to buy an Alexa speaker or display. This model also works with Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit, as well as Spotify. If you want a connected thermostat, Ecobee's Smart Thermostat Premium is the smartest around.
The Honeywell Home T9 is a Wi-Fi thermostat with a touchscreen and one smart room sensor. The T9 works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit and offers reliable performance and a solid app. The device also comes with remote humidity, proximity and temperature sensors, making it the smartest sensor accessory around. Nest's sensor only provides ambient temperature readings, while Ecobee's sensor only has temperature and proximity detection capabilities.
I hold that the $250 Nest Learning Thermostat, which is currently on sale for around $225, is still the best-looking smart thermostat out there. Its rounded design harkens back to old-school thermostats, but the device has a modern look that fits in with nearly any home decor. The $169 Nest Thermostat E looks nice too, but it has more plastic components that aren't as appealing as the Learning Thermostat's stainless steel.
Like the Amazon Smart Thermostat, the Wyze Thermostat is another sub-$100 smart thermostat that we liked during testing. Available for just $80, this model is more affordable than the Amazon model above, and includes a C-wire adapter with your purchase. The Wyze Thermostat also has an easy set up via the Wyze app -- and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant (though there's no Apple HomeKit support).
Unfortunately, the hardware itself isn't as well-designed as Amazon's, and I found it difficult to adjust the temperature at the thermostat. If you already have a bunch of Wyze products and plan to mostly use the Wyze app to make adjustments, however, this shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Factors to consider
- Ease of installationCheck if youll be able to install the thermostat yourself, or if youll need to hire a professional to do it for you.
- Quality of the appResearch whether the apps abilities meet your needs and if its interface is intuitive enough for you.
- Smart home integrationConfirm that a smart thermostat is compatible with your current smart home ecosystem or one youre interested in building on.
- Voice assistant integrationIf you use a voice assistant, make sure the thermostat is compatible with it and consider whether its voice commands fit your needs.
- Data providedConsider whether seeing just the temperature meets your needs, or if you want other information like humidity.
How we test smart thermostats
Let's talk about testing. Smart thermostats start with the installation. Installations can vary widely from thermostat to thermostat and between HVAC systems, but there are some basic steps required for installing these devices. As always, consult a professional installer if you have any questions about the setup process. Here are the general steps:
- Turn off power to your thermostat at the circuit breaker.
- Remove the old thermostat.
- Install the thermostat's base plate with the included screws.
- Attach the wires to the wire terminals.
- Snap on the faceplate.
- Turn on power at the circuit breaker.
Was the thermostat setup especially difficult to install? If so, why? Certain models require a C-wire, for example, which can complicate the installation if you don't have one. Not sure what a C-wire is? Start here.
From there, we move on to the app. Every smart thermostat has one. We download the app and create an account if we don't already have one. Then we configure the thermostat following the steps in the app. This usually means connecting to the local Wi-Fi network, giving your thermostat a name like "Hallway" or "Bedroom" and then you can start using your thermostat.
How well does the app work? Is it easy to navigate to the thermostat settings you need? Is it simple to create a schedule or enable geofencing? This factors into the thermostat's usability score, along with how simple the thermostat hardware itself is to control manually.
We also test smart home integration, especially voice-enabled systems you can access through voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri. Most connected thermostats have compatibility with at least one voice assistant and some work with all three. Do the voice commands flow naturally, like they would in an actual conversation? Did the thermostat actually adjust the temperature -- heating and cooling -- according to your commands?
All of these things determine a smart thermostat's overall score and how likely we are to recommend it.
Other smart thermostats we've tested
Here's a running list of the models we've tested lately:
- Amazon Smart Thermostat
- Ecobee3 Lite
- Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
- Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced
- Emerson Sensi
- Emerson Sensi Touch
- Honeywell Lyric
- Honeywell Lyric T5
- Johnson Controls GLAS
- Lux Geo
- Lux Kono
- Nest Learning Thermostat
- Nest Thermostat
- Nest Thermostat E
- Resideo Honeywell Home T9
- Wyze Thermostat
Smart thermostat FAQ
How do I install a smart thermostat?
How to install a smart thermostat can vary widely depending on your HVAC system. You can hire a professional electrician to handle the installation or to answer any questions before you attempt the installation yourself.
That said, all of the smart thermostats I've tested follow a pretty consistent step-by-step process. If you're comfortable with basic electrical work and know whether your system is compatible with the specific model you want to buy, it's a simple DIY process.
Check out my article about how to install the Nest Thermostat for a basic overview of the steps, but remember it could vary based on the system you have at home.
Are smart thermostats really worth it?
Whether a smart thermostat is worth it or not depends on how you use it -- and what exactly you mean by "worth it."
Smart thermostats make it easier to use less energy and save money because of their advanced features, but you have to take advantage of those features in order to see a benefit.
Options like automatic home/away modes based on your phone's location -- or sensors in the thermostat and in remote accessories that detect proximity -- can go a long way toward reducing your monthly bill. In addition, if you take the time to review the energy usage reports smart thermostat companies provide, you'll be able to identify patterns and potentially save even more money.
But smart thermostats are also more expensive than standard non-smart models. So, you have to think long-term when it comes to savings. It could take a year or more to start saving more than you spent on a smart thermostat, especially a $250 model like the Nest Learning Thermostat or the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium.
What is the most reliable smart thermostat?
Since thermostat performance can vary based on different HVAC systems, electrical wiring and other factors, I can't definitively say one particular model is more reliable than any other.
I can say that the four smart thermostats I recommend above -- the Amazon Smart Thermostat, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, the Resideo Honeywell Home T9 and the Nest Learning Thermostat -- all performed reliably during my testing.
By that I mean, each of those smart thermostats consistently adjusted the temperature, setting and mode as expected over the days I tested them. Always check with a professional electrician if you have any questions about your HVAC system's compatibility with a particular thermostat before you install it.
What do you need to know before you buy a smart thermostat?
Smart thermostats can handle a lot of the heavy lifting for you, but you also have to put in some effort. Make sure to answer all of the questions when you configure your thermostat. Most likely you'll be asked to set minimum and maximum temperatures, comfortable temperature ranges when you're home and away and more.
The more details you can provide, the better chance you have of actually saving money with a smart thermostat.
Who should purchase a smart thermostat?
Smart thermostats are great if you're trying to take more control over your energy costs. Heating is the single biggest use of energy for American homes, according to the US Energy Information Administration, and smart thermostats can ensure you're using that energy when you need to and not using it when you don't.
What about privacy and security?
Any time you buy a "smart" device, you want to be aware of what kind of data it's generating and how it's being used. Some companies will collect data on your energy use and sell it to third parties, while others have policies that declare they won't sell information to other companies, and others limit what they collect. As you think about your data and privacy concerns, research how your data is used by the company operating your smart devices.
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