Is it time for a new thermostat? Well, there are plenty of options out there. Thankfully most of the new models are smart. This means that they are designed to save your money. Remember the days when you left the house, only to realize that you left the air conditioning on? After a few days of that, you get the bill, and you think to yourself, “Man, I need to pay more attention to that!”
In this post, we will offer a smart thermostat comparison, and break down five of the most popular options.
We will show one thermostat from five different brands:
- Nest
- Honeywell
- Sensi
- Ecobee
- Lux
After reading the programmable thermostat reviews, you should be able to choose one that is perfect for your home. Just click the brand name link in the heading to go to the product page on Amazon.com
Smart Thermostat Comparison
Nest Thermostat
According to their website, your thermostat controls half of your energy bill. If that is true, we really need to keep tabs on that! The Nest thermostat will help keep that wasted energy to a minimum, and in turn, keep those energy bills in check.
So why is the Nest gaining in popularity? Well, first of all, it is super easy to install. Just pop off your old thermostat, and install the Nest. There is a short instructional video and it only takes about 30 minutes. It also has a minimalist design. What do I mean by this? There are no buttons. Just a round screen and a dial around the edge. Quite frankly, that is all you need. You durn the dial to the desired temperature, and the large display screen shows you all of the information, such as temperature, weather, and current time. As a matter of fact, the Nest has a built in sensor, so when it notices you nearby, it automatically lights up to show you that information.
The Nest has ten temperature sensors, and they learn your home and how long it takes to heat or cool the house. Once you have used the device for about a week, it will work efficiently for you. More about the sensors that I mentioned earlier. The Nest has a 150 degree wide angle view. When you walk by, you won’t have to touch anything as the device will light up for you.
Of course there is an app for that! Just download it for iOS or Android….and you are ready to control your new device. The app is able to control up to 20 Nest devices in one home, so if you are ballin’ like that, you can control everything at once. I personally only need one thermostat, but hey – I am just the common man.
You do not need to program the Nest because it learns your temperature preferences and adjusts accordingly. You can always adjust it if you want.
When it senses that no one is home, it will go into EcoTemp mode to save money. The app will even alert you if something goes wrong, such as the air conditioner is not working. It will also remind you to change your air filters. That is worth the price alone, right?
The circumference is 3.3 inches, and the depth is 1.2 inches.
The Nest also works with Amazon Alexa, so you can use voice control to adjust the thermostat.
Honeywell Smart Thermostat
Honeywell is probably the most well-known brand when it comes to thermostats. They have several options, but we will focus on the Wi-Fi Smart model. This is a touchscreen device, and it has that familiar, large square screen that we know and love. The home screen will display the time/date, outdoor temperature, the status – heat or cool mode, and large buttons so you can easily adjust the temperature. Also, it is the Honeywell brand, so this is something most people trust.
It is easy to setup, and it has 7-day programming. It also has an indoor humidity sensor and an advanced fan/comfort control. It is a Wi-Fi device, so you can control it from anywhere. Just download the Total Control Comfort app for iOS or Android, and you are good to go.
The app will also alert you to any issues, and also remind you to change your filters.
By the way, you can also change the screen background color. The thermostat can have its own personality. Nice! The touchscreen also has a locking function, so you can password protect it to restrict access to the device. The device is silver, and it is 8.06 sq. inches.
This device has voice command, so it will work with Amazon Alexa.
Sensi Smart Thermostat
Did you know that Sensei has been around for 75 years? I sure did not. This automatically makes them an authority as far as I’m concerned. One reason why this is a good fit is because the device does not require a C-wire, like many thermostats do. This makes it compatible with most of the HVAC systems out there. Here are some of the features of this smart thermostat:
- 7 day scheduling
- WiFi enabled
- Sensi mobile app available
- Precision temperature control of +/- 1°F
- Indoor humidity sensor
- Low profile
Like the other WiFi thermostats, the Sensi will also give you equipment alerts and local weather information. The mobile iOS and Android app has an easy to understand interface, so you can control the temperature from anywhere.
This is not a touchscreen device, so for those of you that want the feel of buttons, this is a great option for your home.
This device has voice command, so it will work with Amazon Alexa.
ecobee 3 Thermostat with Sensor
All of the thermostats we mentioned are of the “smart” variety, but the ecobee 3 may be smarter than most. The ecobee uses sensors that tell the thermostat to deliver heating/cooling to the rooms that need it the most.
- Touchscreen device
- Motion sensor
- Easy slider to adjust temperature
- Live weather and forecast option
- Controls your humidifier, dehumidifier, and ventilator
It is a smaller great looking device, like the Nest. The height and width are 3.93 in. As with the other options, there is an easy to use iOS and Android app. You can create monthly reports to see how much energy you are saving. Their website claims that you can save 23% on your heating and cooling every year.
Back to the sensors…It comes with one in the box, but you can purchase more sensors to have complete control of the climate in your home.
This device has voice command, so it will work with Apple HomeKit Amazon Alexa.
Lux Products TX9600TS
Well, if you really do not need a WiFi thermostat, then the Lux programmable thermostat may be the one you want. It has a large backlit screen, with an easy to read display. Width is 5.375″ and height is 3.375″. It is a touchscreen, but the fan and heat/cool settings are controlled by a switch. It is kind of like a hybrid of old and new school interface. It has lockout screen protection, so you can control who can adjust the temperature. This is your standard thermostat without all of the bells and whistles. It is also listed at a reasonable price.
If you are looking for a simple no-nonsense type of thermostat, this is the highest recommended option.
Based on the programmable thermostat reviews, these are all at the top of the list. We were looking at ease of use, installation, and features.
Hopefully this post of the smart thermostat comparison has helped you choose the perfect thermostat for your home. Believe it or not, the thermostat is one of the most important devices, as it will determine how much you spend on your energy bill.