The 5 best smart thermostats for 2024
A smart thermostat allows you to control the temperature in your home remotely using your smartphone or voice. It does a lot more than that, however. The best smart thermostats of 2024 get to know your schedule and adjust temperatures when you're not at home, maximizing efficiency in a way that can lower your utility bill without compromising your comfort.
The best part? You utility company might even pay you to install one. Be sure to check with your utility company to determine if you're entitled to a rebate for replacing your existing thermostat with a "smart" model.
Our top picks for smart thermostats for 2024
Most of the smart thermostats currently available can be installed on your own. To ensure everything gets done correctly, we recommend hiring a professional electrician who can to do the installation in 30 minutes or less. Let's take a look at the five best smart thermostats you can get right now.
- Best smart thermostat overall: Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen), $179
- Best budget smart thermostat: Amazon Smart Thermostat, $80
- Best smart thermostat for larger homes: Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, $220
- Best 7-day programmable smart thermostat: Honeywell Home T9, $160
- Best value smart thermostat: Google Nest Thermostat, $90
Best smart thermostat overall: Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen)
C-Wire Required: Yes | Self-Installable: Yes | Multi-Zone Support: Yes | Smart Home Integrations: iOS, Android, Google Assistant, Nest | Mobile App: Nest app | Optional Accessories: Wall Plate Cover, Temperature Sensor | Size: Circular, 3.3 x 3.3 x 1.1 inches | Color/Finish Options: Stainless Steel, Brass, Copper, Mirror Black, Polished Steel, White, Black | Display: 2.08-inch diameter color display
The modern and minimalist Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd generation) is one of the most feature-packed smart thermostats you can get. It comes with everything you need to install it yourself, though again, we recommend professional installation.
As its name suggests, this smart thermostat learns your schedule and preferences, so there's no need to manually program it. It allows you to adjust your home's temperature by voice (when connected to a smart home hub) or via the Nest mobile app. Control it remotely, or by using the touch-sensitive controls on the thermostat itself.
One of the Nest's "smart" features is that it monitors the local weather and adjusts the temperature according, based on your personal preferences. It will also help to make your energy use more efficient. After it learns your schedule, Nest will automatically adjust the temperature when you're at home, when you're away for the day and at night, all with the goal of keeping you comfortable.
Why we chose it: Once installed and set up, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is easy to use and its display is easy to read and understand, even from across the room. We also like that Nest offers tips on lowering energy usage.
Best budget smart thermostat: Amazon Smart Thermostat
C-Wire Required: Yes | Self-Installable: Yes | Multi-Zone Support: No | Smart Home Integrations: Amazon Alexa, Ring, iOS, Android | Mobile App: Alexa app | Optional Accessories: None | Size: Square, 3.56 x 3.56 x 0.84 inches | Color/Finish Options: White | Display: LED shows temperature
If you're worried that adding a smart thermostat to your home is too expensive, consider this: You can get the 4.2-star-rated Amazon Smart Thermostat for under $100, and then advantage of rebates from your utility company (where available) to drop the cost down further. Then, you'll start saving, on average, $50 on your yearly energy bill. So this smart thermostat will more than pay for itself in 2024.
Once installed, the Amazon Smart Thermostat makes it easy to adjust the temperature in your home remotely using a mobile app and Alexa voice commands via any Alexa-compatible smart speaker or home hub.
If you have a Ring video doorbell or other Ring smart home devices, this smart thermostat from Amazon will work in conjunction with that equipment via the Ring app to learn when you're away from home. Once the thermostat learns your personal temperature preferences, it will automatically make adjustments when you're at home and away.
Note that this thermostat does not support 5GHz wireless networks.
Why we chose it: While not as advanced as other smart thermostats, this one from Amazon is affordable and easy to operate once installed. It's emphasis is on controlling it using Alexa voice commands. We also like that it uses Honeywell home thermostat technology.
Best smart thermostat for larger homes: Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
C-Wire Required: Yes | Self-Installable: Yes | Multi-Zone Support: Yes | Smart Home Integrations: Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTT, Android | Mobile App: Ecobee app | Optional Accessories: Additional temperature sensors | Size: 4.09 x 9.09 x 1.02 inches | Color/Finish Options: Black | Display: 540 x 540 pixel color touchscreen
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium offers an extra temperature sensor (and the ability to add more) to place in the most frequently used room in your home, such as your bedroom or living room. That way, the thermostat can maintain a comfortable temperature for you even if some rooms in your home tend to run hotter than others.
When you purchase the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, you can select a bundle that includes one or two separate room temperature sensors. You can also bundle this thermostat with an Ecobee video doorbell and/or indoor Wi-Fi security camera, and then control all of these devices from a single app. Using the thermostat with its temperature sensors, Ecobee promotes users can save up to 26% per year on their heating and cooling costs.
The thermostat will also monitor the air quality in your home and will remind you to change the air filter in your furnace when it's needed. It can also adjust the temperature based on humidity. With an optional paid subscription, this thermostat can be programmed to automatically shut off anytime a window or door is left open (with use of add-on sensors).
Why we chose it: The thermostat is designed to integrate with other Ecobee smart home products, including a video doorbell, indoor cameras, smart smoke detectors and complete Ecobee smart home security systems. This thermostat is ideal for larger homes, because it will work with multiple room temperature sensors.
Best 7-day programmable smart thermostat: Honeywell Home T9
C-Wire Required: Yes | Self-Installable: Yes | Multi-Zone Support: Yes | Smart Home Integrations: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant | Mobile App: Resideo app | Optional Accessories: Additional room temp. sensors, cover plate | Size: 3.7 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches | Color/Finish Options: White | Display: Graphical color touchscreen
The Honeywell Home T9 makes it easy to efficiently manage the temperature in your home. The thermostat incorporates a graphical touchscreen display with a built in backlight. It also comes with one smart room sensor, but more can be purchased separately.
While you can manually create a seven-day program, you can just as easily allow the thermostat and in-room sensor(s) to automatically manage your home's temperature based on your lifestyle, schedule and preferences. Going with this option allows the thermostat to make decisions that will keep you comfortable and help you save money on your utility bill.
Each room temperature sensor has a 200 foot reach and is designed to continuously send temperature data to the thermostat so it can keep the rooms you frequently occupy at the ideal temperature. It's also able to adjust temperature based on humidity levels.
Instead of being hardwired to your home's electricity, this thermostat uses two "AAA" batteries. The thermostat supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi.
Why we chose it: You can program the thermostat yourself, use voice commands to make temperature adjustments, or rely on the device's "smart" capabilities to maintain a comfortable temperature while helping to reduce energy costs.
Best value smart thermostat: Google Nest Thermostat
C-Wire Required: No | Self-Installable: Yes | Multi-Zone Support: Yes | Smart Home Integrations: Google Assistant, Alexa, Nest, iOS, Android | Mobile App: Nest app | Optional Accessories: Trim kit | Size: 4.8 x 4.8 x 1.9 inches | Color/Finish Options: Snow, Charcoal, Fog, Sand | Display: 2.4-inch QVGA IPS LCD (240 x 320 pixels)
The Google Nest Thermostat is a scaled-down and less expensive version of the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, our top pick. Like most thermostats in this roundup, this one is Energy Star Certified.
While you can remotely control this thermostat using a mobile app or voice commands, it keeps track of when you come and go from your home and can turn itself down when you leave. Using the app, it's easy to design an energy efficient schedule that will keep you comfortable.
Google reports that this thermostat is compatible with 85% of all home HVAC systems and it works without a C wire in most homes. Instead of offering a touch screen display, the Nest has a touch sensitive bar around its edge. It runs using two "AAA" batteries.
Why we chose it: This model of the Nest thermostat is not as advanced as the Nest Learning Thermostat and will not do as good of a job helping you to save money on your monthly utility bill. It is, however, more affordable and very easy to operate.
Will a smart thermostats lower my utility bill?
While it's not guaranteed, if you install and use a smart thermostat correctly, you'll likely see a drop in your monthly utility bill. The impact a smart thermostat can have on how much you pay for your home's heating and cooling will be impacted by the size of your home, your usage habits, outside temperature fluctuations throughout the seasons, the efficiency of your HVAC system and a variety of other factors.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat's website indicates that independent studies recently showed its product saved people an average of 10% to 12% on their heating bill and 15% on cooling, while research done by Ecobee revealed you could see your home utility bill drop as much as 26% if your home is always set at 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Will a smart thermostat continue to function if the Wi-Fi goes down?
This will depend on the make and model of your smart thermostat and your home's HVAC system. Many smart thermostats will continue working if your home Wi-Fi is down, but you will no longer be able to control them remotely or by voice.
Is there a monthly fee associated with using a smart thermostat?
Typically, there is no monthly fee to use a smart thermostat. But there are exceptions. A few smart thermostat manufacturers offer additional services or unlock additional functions if you pay a subscription fee.
