A smart thermostat offers several benefits by enhancing convenience, comfort, and energy efficiency in your home. One of the primary advantages is the ability to control your home's heating and cooling remotely through a smartphone app, allowing you to adjust the temperature even when you're not at home. This feature ensures your home environment is comfortable when you arrive and helps save energy by reducing heating or cooling when it's not needed. Smart thermostats can learn your schedule and temperature preferences over time, optimizing the climate control for your lifestyle without constant manual adjustments. They provide detailed energy usage reports, helping you understand your consumption patterns and identify opportunities to save on utility bills. Many smart thermostats also integrate with other smart home devices and systems, offering enhanced control and automation. For instance, they can work in conjunction with weather forecasts, occupancy sensors, and voice assistants to make intuitive adjustments. Additionally, their energy-saving capabilities can contribute to a lower carbon footprint, benefiting the environment. Overall, smart thermostats offer an advanced, user-friendly, and efficient way to manage your home's energy usage while maintaining comfort and convenience.
Best Smart Thermostats for Houses of February 2025
1
Rating is 5 out of 5
ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced - Programmable Wifi Thermostat - Works with Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant - Energy Star Certified - Smart Home
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Save up to 26% per year on heating and cooling costs. ENERGY STAR certified. Automatically adjusts the temperature when you’re away to never heat or cool an empty home. Compared to a hold of 72°F.
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Enjoy comfort without compromise. Smart Thermostat Enhanced preheats or precools your home before you arrive, so it’s the perfect temperature the moment you walk in. Automatically adjusts to your desired temperature when you’re home or sleeping to keep you comfortable day and night. Adjusts the temperature to account for humidity so your home always feels like the temperature you’ve set.
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Easy to install and use every day, ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced comes with everything you need for installation. Most people install it themselves in about 45 minutes or less. Use your smart home platform and the ecobee app to control your thermostat from anywhere with your smartphone, tablet, or Apple Watch.
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ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced is made with quality materials and designed to last on your wall for over a decade. It’s hardwired so you never have to worry about losing control or replacing batteries. If you run into problems, our dedicated support team is available 7 days a week.
2
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium with Smart Sensor and Air Quality Monitor - Programmable Wifi Thermostat - Works with Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant
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Save up to 26% per year on heating and cooling costs. ENERGY STAR certified. Included SmartSensor (50 dollar value) adjusts the temperature in the rooms that matter most to reduce hot or cold spots to keep you comfortable. Compared to a hold of 72°F.
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Built-in air quality monitor alerts you to poor air quality, provides tips on how to improve it, and reminds you when it’s time to change your furnace’s air filter.
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Premium materials and advanced engineering mean a large, vibrant display with a cinematic interface, a timeless design, and next level occupancy sensing.
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ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is a complete home monitoring hub that includes built-in smoke alarm detection and alerts to possible break-ins when your system is armed. Get notifications during sudden temperature drops that could cause damage. ecobee Smart Security plan required
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Comes with a smart speaker and your choice of Siri or Alexa Built-in. Control your home using the power of your voice and listen to your favorite Spotify playlists and podcast through your thermostat’s speaker. Apple home hub required to enable Siri on Smart Thermostat Premium
3
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
Google Nest Thermostat - Smart Thermostat for Home - Programmable Wifi Thermostat - Snow
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ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page.Connectivity Protocol : Wi-Fi.Connectivity Protocol : Wi-Fi
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The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory. Lock feature: No
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Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home; easily program an energy efficient schedule in the Google home app on your Android or iPhone
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Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
4
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Amazon Smart Thermostat – Save money and energy - Works with Alexa and Ring - C-wire required
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Smart upgrade - Amazon Smart Thermostat is an easy way to switch from a traditional thermostat and help reduce energy usage.
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Supports temperature sensors - use compatible Echo devices (Echo Dot (4th and 5th gen), Echo Dot with clock (5th gen)), and the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor as temperature sensors to address hot or cold spots in your home.
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Save money - After purchase, Amazon will send you an email with details about rebates that may be available from energy providers in your area. Explore rebates above.
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Save energy - According to EPA estimates, ENERGY STAR certified thermostats save an average of $50 on yearly energy bills.
5
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
Google Nest Thermostat E - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - 3rd Generation Nest Thermostat - Works with Alexa,White
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Programmable smart thermostat that learns the temperatures you like and programs itself to help you save energy and stay comfortable; start with a simple schedule and easily adjust it whenever you like in the Nest app
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Home/Away Assist automatically adjusts itself to an Eco Temperature after you leave, so you don’t heat or cool an empty home. Connectivity requirements-Wi-Fi internet connection, Phone or tablet running iOS or Android, Nest app
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Remote control lets family members change the temperature on this smart thermostat from anywhere using a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
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The Nest Thermostat E has HVAC monitoring, which looks out for your heating and cooling systems; sends an alert if something doesn’t seem right, along with helpful reminders to make maintenance easier[2]
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Works with the Nest Temperature Sensor (sold separately) to help make sure a certain room is the exact temperature you want it to be
6
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - 3rd Gen (2015) - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - Works with Alexa - White
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Programmable smart thermostat that learns your schedule and the temperatures you like and programs itself to help you save energy and stay comfortable
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Home/Away Assist automatically adjusts itself to an Eco Temperature after you leave, so you don’t heat or cool an empty home; remote control lets you change the temperature from anywhere on your phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
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With Energy History, just check your phone to see how much energy you used and why, or use Quick View on the display to reach Energy History, settings, or your schedule; the Nest Leaf appears when you choose a temperature that saves energy
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Smart thermostat with HVAC monitoring, which looks out for your heating and cooling systems; sends an alert if something doesn’t seem right, along with helpful reminders to make maintenance easier[2]
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The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the Nest Temperature Sensor (sold separately) to help make sure a certain room is the exact temperature you want it to be
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Beautifully designed, with polished metal finishes and bright, high resolution display; Farsight shows you the temperature, weather, or time on your thermostat when you walk in the room
7
Rating is 4.4 out of 5
Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat, 7 Day Programmable, Touch Screen, Energy Star, Alexa Ready, Gray
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Compatible with: Alexa, SmartThings, Google Home, IFTTT.Central Air Conditioning : Yes. Heat Pump with Auxiliary heat. Yes..WiFi Specifications : 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 2.4GHz range.
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Check to see If your new thermostat qualifies for a utility rebate; Auto-updates for daylight savings; adjusts for 12/24-hour and multi-language needs
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Customizable touchscreen in full Color with easy to read numbers and text, view your local weather including indoor and outdoor relative humidity levels
8
Rating is 4.3 out of 5
Honeywell Home RTH8800WF2022, T5 WiFi Smart Thermostat, 7 Day-Programmable Touchscreen, Alexa Ready, Geofencing Technology, Energy Star, C-Wire Required
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High use of the scheduling feature of the T5 thermostat saved customers between 8 and 16% on heating and cooling bills. Dollar savings range based on nationwide average annual single-family detached home's heat and cooling bills; actual savings varies based on consumption.
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Save Energy and Get Rewarded. Check with your energy provider about available energy savings rebates to save on your purchase. Plus, eligible customers can enroll in their local Utility's "DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM" which can reward you for allowing the utility to slightly adjust your AC or furnace temperature settings when there is high energy demand.
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7-Day Flexible Scheduling or Location Based Temperature Control. It’s your choice. 7-day scheduling programs your thermostat. Geofence technology helps make you comfortable by using your smartphone’s location to know when you’re away and when you return.
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Auto Home and Away Mode. Enjoy ideal temperatures at home, then save when away.
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ENERGY STAR certified. Help save energy, track your heating and cooling with monthly energy reports and get personalized tips on reducing energy use.
What is an energy report provided by smart thermostats?
An energy report provided by smart thermostats is a summary or analysis of energy usage data collected by the thermostat over a specified period. These reports are designed to help users understand their energy consumption patterns and provide insights into how they can optimize energy usage for better efficiency and cost savings. Here are some key components typically included in an energy report from smart thermostats:
- Energy Usage Summary: This section provides an overview of the total energy consumed during the reporting period. It may be presented in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or another unit relevant to the heating or cooling system.
- Usage Patterns: The report often breaks down energy usage by day, week, or month, allowing users to see when they consume the most energy. This can help identify peak usage times or unusual spikes in consumption.
- Comparison Metrics: Users may see comparisons to previous periods or similar households. Some reports compare current usage with past usage to show trends or with neighbors to provide context on relative efficiency.
- Cost Estimation: Based on energy usage and local utility rates, the report might estimate the cost of energy used, helping users understand financial implications.
- Energy Saving Tips: Many reports include personalized recommendations or tips on how to reduce energy consumption. This might involve changes to thermostat settings, improving insulation, or scheduling maintenance for HVAC systems.
- HVAC Performance Insights: Some reports might include data on how efficiently the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is functioning, possibly flagging inefficiencies or alerting users to maintenance needs.
- Progress Tracking: For users who have set energy-saving goals, the report often provides updates on progress towards those goals, encouraging continued improvements.
Energy reports from smart thermostats are a valuable tool for homeowners looking to better manage their energy consumption, reduce utility bills, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
How to deal with connectivity issues on smart thermostats?
Dealing with connectivity issues on smart thermostats can be frustrating, but there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve these problems:
- Check Wi-Fi Connection:
Verify that your Wi-Fi network is up and running. Check other devices connected to the same network to ensure they are working fine.
Ensure the thermostat is within range of the Wi-Fi router. Thick walls and electronic interference can reduce signal strength.
- Restart Your Thermostat:
Reboot the thermostat by turning it off and then on again. This can often resolve temporary glitches.
- Restart Your Router:
Power cycle your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. Wait for it to fully restart and reconnect.
- Check Network Settings:
Ensure that the correct network name (SSID) and password are used on the thermostat.
If your network has changed (e.g., new router or changed SSID), update the settings on the thermostat.
- Firmware Updates:
Check if there are any firmware updates for your thermostat, as manufacturers often release updates to fix connectivity issues.
- Interference Issues:
Minimize potential interference by keeping the thermostat and router away from devices like microwaves or cordless phones.
- Router Settings:
Ensure your router's firmware is up-to-date.
Check that the router's settings (like MAC filtering or firewall) aren't blocking the thermostat.
- Test Internet Connection:
Check the speed and reliability of your internet connection as slow speeds may affect connectivity.
- Factory Reset (if necessary):
As a last resort, consider performing a factory reset on the thermostat, keeping in mind that this will erase all settings and configurations.
- Consult Manufacturer Support:
If issues persist, consult the thermostat’s user manual or contact the manufacturer’s customer support for assistance.
Remember, before making any changes, it can be helpful to document current settings to ensure you can revert back if needed.
How to optimize a smart thermostat for energy savings?
Optimizing a smart thermostat for energy savings involves several strategies and steps to ensure that the heating and cooling systems in your home are used efficiently. Here's a guide to help you maximize energy savings:
- Understand Your Schedule:
Program your thermostat based on your daily and weekly routine. Use the scheduling features to set lower temperatures when you're asleep or away from home and higher when you’re active at home.
- Utilize Geofencing:
If your thermostat supports geofencing, enable it to automatically adjust settings based on your smartphone's location, ensuring the HVAC system is not running unnecessarily when you're not home.
- Leverage Smart Features:
Take advantage of features such as learning algorithms, remote control via mobile apps, and integration with other smart home devices. Let the thermostat learn your patterns to optimize temperature settings over time.
- Set Optimal Temperatures:
Follow general energy-saving guidelines such as setting your thermostat to around 68°F (20°C) in the winter when you’re home and lowering it a few degrees when you’re asleep or away. In the summer, set it to around 78°F (26°C) when you're home and increase it when you’re away.
- Utilize Away Modes:
Most smart thermostats offer “away” or "eco" modes that automatically adjust to save energy when you’re not at home.
- Regularly Update and Maintain:
Ensure your thermostat firmware is up-to-date for optimal performance and energy efficiency.
Replace HVAC filters regularly to maintain system efficiency.
- Analyze Energy Reports:
Many smart thermostats provide energy usage reports. Analyze these reports to understand patterns and identify opportunities for further savings.
- Optimize Usage Based on Weather:
Use weather-responsive features if available, which allow the thermostat to adjust settings based on the current weather forecast.
- Integrate with Other Smart Devices:
Combine your thermostat with smart blinds or smart ceiling fans to contribute to maintaining a stable home temperature without excessive use of HVAC systems.
- Take Advantage of Incentives:
Check for rebates or energy-saving programs from local utility companies that incentivize smart thermostat usage and can provide additional cost savings.
By carefully setting and adjusting your smart thermostat according to these strategies, you can significantly reduce energy consumption and save on utility bills while maintaining a comfortable home environment.
