Heating and cooling account for roughly half of the average home's utility bills. A smart thermostat is one of the very few smart home devices that actually pays for itself. By learning your schedule, detecting when you leave the house, and utilizing remote room sensors, these devices quietly shave 10-15% off your HVAC costs. We spent the brutal winter and blazing summer months testing the latest models from Ecobee, Google Nest, and Honeywell to find the best smart thermostats for every ecosystem.
The Short Answer: Which Should You Buy?
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Flawless HomeKit/Alexa integration, a brilliant built-in indoor air quality monitor, and best-in-class remote sensors.
🛒 Check Price on AmazonGoogle Nest Learning Thermostat
The iconic stainless steel dial remains unmatched in physical design. It truly learns your habits within a week.
🛒 Check Price on AmazonHow the Top Models Compare
| Thermostat | Best Feature | C-Wire Required? | Remote Sensors? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecobee Premium | Air Quality Monitor | Included Adapter | Yes (1 Included) |
| Nest Learning (3rd Gen) | Adaptive Learning | Usually Not | Yes (Sold Separately) |
| Amazon Smart Thermostat | Extreme Value | Yes | No |
| Honeywell T9 | Long Range Sensors | Included Adapter | Yes (Included) |
1. Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
The Ecobee Premium solves the biggest problem with traditional heating: hot and cold spots. By placing the included SmartSensor in your bedroom, the Ecobee averages the temperature across the house rather than just measuring the hallway where the thermostat is mounted. The new zinc body looks fantastic, but the real star is the built-in air quality monitor that alerts you when VOCs or CO2 levels run high inside your home.
Pros
- Built-in air quality monitor
- Functions as an Alexa/Siri smart speaker
- Remote sensor included in the box
Cons
- Interface isn't as elegant as Nest
- Expensive
2. Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen)
Very few gadgets can be labeled "iconic," but the Nest Learning Thermostat earns the title. The satisfying physical rotation of the stainless steel dial is still unmatched. While Ecobee relies on schedules and sensors, Nest relies on machine learning. You simply turn it up when you're cold and down when you leave. Within a week, it builds a hyper-efficient schedule tailored exactly to your habits.
Pros
- Gorgeous hardware and screen
- Rarely requires a C-wire
- Automatic scheduling is effortless
Cons
- Remote sensors cost extra
- No native Apple HomeKit support
3. Amazon Smart Thermostat
If you don't care about metal dials or remote sensors and just want to control your AC from your phone, the Amazon Smart Thermostat is an absolute steal. Built in partnership with Resideo (the makers of Honeywell), it features rock-solid internal tech for under $80. It utilizes Alexa's "Hunches" to automatically adjust the temperature when it thinks you are asleep or away.
🛒 View on Amazon4. Honeywell Home T9
While Ecobee's sensors are great, the Honeywell T9's sensors are better for sprawling houses. They have an incredible 200-foot range and monitor both temperature and humidity. The T9 allows you to prioritize specific rooms at specific times—for example, telling the HVAC system to base its cooling entirely on the master bedroom's temperature at 11:00 PM, ignoring the rest of the house.
🛒 View on AmazonRelated: Pair your new thermostat with our Best Smart Speakers for total voice control.