Best Smart Thermostats for Consistent Home Heating and Cooling
Consistent temperature control is key to saving on your home heating and cooling bills. Unfortunately many people struggle with keeping a temperature where they like it, and also waste energy at night or when away when they leave their furnace or AC at temperatures ideal to when they are home.
Luckily, there is a solution to this inconsistent use: Smart Thermostat products. The best smart thermostats connect directly into your home heating and cooling systems and can be preset to meet all your needs. Many also can tie into home security and other smart home systems so you have fullcontrol, even when you aren’t home.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control
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| #2 |  Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
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| #3 |  Google Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Gen Smart Thermostat
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| #4 |  Honeywell Home T9 WIFI Smart Thermostat
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| #5 |  GLAS Smart Thermostat by Johnson Controls
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Table Of Contents
- What is a Smart Thermostat?
- What Benefits Do They Have?
- Saving Money with a Smart Thermostat
- Best Smart Thermostat Systems to Consider
- ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control
- Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
- Google Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Gen Smart Thermostat
- Honeywell Home T9 WIFI Smart Thermostat
- GLAS Smart Thermostat by Johnson Controls
- Conclusion
What is a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat differs from a programmable thermostat in that it can take advantage of your WiFi and be controlled via just about any internet connected device. This includes cellphone (even when you are away), computers, and even home speaker systems, such as Amazon’s Alexa.
As a thermostat, they do work like a traditional model in that they measure the temperature of the air in the house to automatically shut off, or come on to reach a desired temperature during the time frame you have set.
They can be programmed to turn on and off, or change temperatures based on your own day to day needs, and also can be changed on a whim- such as during an exceptionally chilly evening. They also can be programmed into other smart home systems and security softwares you may have.
What Benefits Do They Have?
Various smart models have various features for you to take advantage of. When shopping for a smart thermostat, it’s best to start with the features you feel you need or want, and then look for products that fit that description. All models work in a similar manner, but look for extra cool features to help make your life even easier.
Some can learn your heating and cooling habits and automatically adjust to your preferences. Also very cool are those that have built in diagnostics, and can provide you reports of possible problems with duct work or the HVAC system itself. Simple, but handy, are those that remind you of maintenance, or when to change the filter.
Even more cool are those that allow you to place sensors in various rooms and heat or dool those areas separately from the rest of the house.
Saving Money with a Smart Thermostat
One of the biggest benefits of investing in a smart thermostat is the energy savings you will begin to notice within the first month. Of course, some of this is dependent on weather. Unusually cold or hot spells will change your usage, but many users report an average of $10 to $20 a month on their bills overall.
Best Smart Thermostat Systems to Consider
The following smart heating and cooling control options highlight some of the best brands in the industry. These are dependable, varied choices to provide you a selection from which to choose from, or even explore differing models from the same manufacturer.
ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control
Specs:
- Remote Sensors: yes
- Self-Insulation: yes
- Motion Activation: yes
- Works Offline: yes
- Top Features: Voice activation, music, smart home compatible
Most Versatile Smart Thermostat
The ecobee SmartThermostat is one of the most versatile you can find and for a price that will pay for itself within the first year. It works with a wide array of smart home systems, such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, Google, Logitech, and more. It has a strong speaker for voice activation (calls and messaging included) and Spotify support so you can play music as well.
The remote sensors allows you to check on rooms individually, and works on mobile apps, including smart watches. It is considered easy to set up and allows you to have whole home control. It also learns where you are through sensors to adjust rooms temperatures as well. Better yet, it works when offline, so no worries when the WiFi goes down.
Pros
- Great speaker
- Full Amazon Alexa Support + Other Smart Systems
- Sensitive and accurate remote sensors
Cons
- Bulky, large looking screen
Who Should By This
If you want a whole home system that can work with an existing smart home set-up, or simply to add voice activation controls for your day to day needs, this is a product to consider.
Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
Specs:
- Remote Sensors: no
- Self-Insulation: yes
- Motion Activation: no
- Works Offline: no
- Top Features: voice activation with existing or new home assists, smart alerts
Best Smart Thermostat with Humidity Reporting
The Emerson Sensi touch has a large,backlit touch screen that is compatible with most smart home assistants to make settings as easy as a push of a button, or speaking into the speaker of your existing system. It comes with a free smartphone app for remote controls as well. Easy to set up, it takes 30 minutes or less and all is required is a c-wire for all system types.
Savings average 23%, and the many features makes it amongst the most popular with homeowners across the US and Canada. It also has smart alerts, precision temperature control, and intuitive menus.
Pros
- Dependable product for a great price
- Simple design is easy to install and use
- Great remote control
Cons
- Screen doesn’t stay on and sleeps
- No offline control
Who Should By This
If you need a dependable, easy to instal smart thermostat system that is compatible with a majority of home assist connections, this is an affordable choice that doesn’t lack on features.
Google Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Gen Smart Thermostat
Specs:
- Remote Sensors: no
- Self-Insulation: yes
- Motion Activation: yes
- Works Offline: yes
- Top Features: Self-learning, auto-scheduling, weather adjusting
Best Behavior Learning Smart Thermostat
This is the original Smart Thermostat from which all others have been modeled. It is currently on it’s 3rd version as Google continues to learn and grow with their customers and offers more advanced features with each new release. It also keeps an eye on the weather to adjust your auto-schedule.
It is designed to learn your behaviors to turn on and recognize your habits to provide cooling and heating to your home. With multiple finishes to choose from, the rounded, art deco display works well in any interior. It works ff any tablet, computer, or smartphone. It is also compatible with most smart home systems.
Pros
- Works with most smart home systems
- Very easy to set up
- Great looking and can match to any decor
Cons
- Claims you don’t need a c-wire, but it may be needed
- No remote sensors
Who Should By This
If you love the idea of a thermostat being able to learn from your own habits, this is an incredibly dependable unit.
Honeywell Home T9 WIFI Smart Thermostat
Specs:
- Remote Sensors: yes
- Self-Insulation: yes
- Motion Activation: no
- Works Offline: yes
- Top Features: smart room sensors and geofencing
Best Smart Room Sensor and Thermostat Combinations
Honeywell is a dependable name that has been a heating and cooling industry leader for decades. With many models to choose from to meet your budget and smart thermostat needs, the T9 is the most advanced model. You can add remote sensors for room to room heating and cooling that works with the smart learning system.
It works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as a few other smart home systems, but do check for compatibility prior to purchase. You can set up heating and cooling schedules, or remotely control your thermostat as well via an app.
Pros
- Highly responsive sensors and can add multiples rooms
- Learns heating and cooling patterns
- Works well with Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Limited with smart home system compatibility
Who Should By This
Honeywell brand thermostats are a great choice for anyone overwhelmed by the many choices. The brand is dependable and affordable. Also, it is a great choice for Amazon and Google smart home assistants.
GLAS Smart Thermostat by Johnson Controls
Specs:
- Remote Sensors: built-in
- Self-Insulation: yes
- Motion Activation: no
- Works Offline: yes
- Top Features: Environment data gathering, active savings tracking
Best Environmental Data Gathering Smart Thermostat
If you want a smart thermostat that can take into account humidity, total VOCS, CO2, Air quality and weather- this is the model for you. This state of the art system works with an app, has a sleek touch screen panel, and can be voice activated with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
The remote built in sensor knows when you are home and away, and adjust accordingly to help save on energy costs. You can also control it remotely from an app. It works with the following HVAC configurations: gas, oil, and electric heat; ground, air, and water source heat pumps; and dual-fuel support for heat pumps.
Pros
- Very responsive
- Temperature sensor is easy to calibrate
- Air quality sensor is an awesome touch
Cons
- No multi-day weather forecast
- No remote sensors
Who Should By This
If you like data and knowing how your heating and cooling is affected by the surrounding environment, this is a great option to consider.
Conclusion
The above choices are all popular with consumers for various reasons. Everything from smart home assistant capabilities to weather forecasting and geocaching features make these optimal options to consider. Most brands also offer various models to help fit any budget concerns you may have.
Before choosing, think about what features are important to you, and how to plan to utilize it in the home size you have. All help create energy savings, however, and are designed to cut back on heating and cooling waste.