A smart thermostat is the single highest-ROI smart home upgrade you can make. Energy.gov estimates $50–$200/year savings on heating and cooling, and the good ones pay for themselves in 1–2 years.
We tested the seven most popular smart thermostats in 2026 — installed in real homes, ran them through a winter and summer — and these are the ones worth your money. The cheap pick at the end is the surprise of the year.
Quick verdict
| Pick | Best for | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|
| Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) | Best overall | $280 |
| Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium | Best for Apple/Alexa users | $250 |
| Amazon Smart Thermostat | Best budget pick | $80 |
| Honeywell Home T9 | Best for big houses | $170 |
| Mysa Smart Thermostat | Best for electric baseboard | $140 |
| Sensi Smart Thermostat | Easiest DIY install | $90 |
| Wyze Thermostat | Cheapest reliable option | $70 |
Before you buy: Check your wiring
Most smart thermostats need a C-wire (common wire) for constant power. Older homes may not have one. Three options:
- Look at your existing thermostat. Pull it off the wall — if there’s a wire labeled “C” connected, you’re good.
- If no C-wire: many smart thermostats (Ecobee, Honeywell T9) include a Power Extender Kit that adapts your existing wires.
- If you have an electric baseboard or line-voltage system: most smart thermostats won’t work — buy Mysa instead.
The picks in detail
1. Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) — Best overall
Approx. price: $280
Works with: Google Home, Alexa, Matter (via update). Not HomeKit.
Nest’s flagship learns your schedule over the first week and stops asking for input. The 4th gen has a brighter display, better motion detection, and the most accurate scheduling algorithm we’ve used. The Nest app is the cleanest of any thermostat.
The good: Truly “set and forget,” gorgeous display, biggest user base means the most third-party integrations.
The not-so-good: Doesn’t work with HomeKit. Google has discontinued some older Nest products in the past, which makes long-term skeptics nervous.
Buy if: You want the most polished smart thermostat experience and don’t use HomeKit.
Check Nest Learning Thermostat on Amazon →
2. Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium — Best for Apple/Alexa users
Approx. price: $250
Works with: HomeKit, Alexa (built-in), Google Home, SmartThings, Matter.
The Ecobee Premium has Alexa built into the thermostat — it’s a smart speaker on your wall. Comes with a remote room sensor so it can balance temperature based on which room you’re actually in. Works with HomeKit out of the box, the only premium thermostat that does.
The good: HomeKit support, included room sensor, built-in Alexa, supports air-quality monitoring.
The not-so-good: The built-in speaker isn’t great. Pricier than the Nest by $30 typically.
Buy if: You’re in an Apple household, or you want one device that’s both a thermostat and a speaker.
Check Ecobee Premium on Amazon →
3. Amazon Smart Thermostat — Best budget pick
Approx. price: $80
Works with: Alexa only (no HomeKit, limited Google).
The surprise of our test. Made in partnership with Honeywell, costs a third of the Nest, and does the basics well: scheduling, remote control via Alexa, simple energy reports. No fancy learning algorithm, no room sensors — but for $80, it’s the easiest way to add a smart thermostat to a household that already uses Echo speakers.
The good: Cheap, reliable, made by Honeywell (good hardware lineage).
The not-so-good: Alexa-only ecosystem, basic features, plain plastic display.
Buy if: You use Alexa and want the cheapest legit smart thermostat.
Check Amazon Smart Thermostat on Amazon →
4. Honeywell Home T9 — Best for big houses
Approx. price: $170
Works with: Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT.
The T9 is built around multi-room sensors (one included, more sold separately). Place sensors in the rooms you actually use — bedroom, living room — and the T9 prioritizes those temperatures over wherever the thermostat happens to be.
Buy if: You have a 3+ bedroom house with uneven temperatures or a frustrating cold spot.
Check Honeywell T9 on Amazon →
5. Mysa Smart Thermostat — Best for electric baseboard
Approx. price: $140
Works with: Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings.
Most smart thermostats don’t work with high-voltage electric baseboard or in-floor heating. Mysa is built specifically for it. Sleek minimal design, supports HomeKit, easy install. If you have baseboard heat, this is your only good smart option.
6. Sensi Smart Thermostat — Easiest DIY install
Approx. price: $90
Works with: Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home.
Sensi works without a C-wire in most setups, install takes 15 minutes, app is simple. Doesn’t have learning or room sensors, but if you just want a reliable schedulable thermostat that supports all three voice ecosystems, it’s the safe pick.
7. Wyze Thermostat — Cheapest reliable option
Approx. price: $70
Works with: Alexa, Google Home.
Wyze’s thermostat is what the Amazon Smart Thermostat would be if it were sold under a different brand. Same approximate quality, slightly more setup work, costs a bit less. Good if you already use other Wyze products.
Check Wyze Thermostat on Amazon →
What to skip
- Old Nest Thermostat E. Discontinued; harder to support.
- Random Tuya-based thermostats from Amazon. Cheap but unreliable software, brands often disappear.
- “Smart” thermostats that only work via the brand’s own cloud. If it doesn’t integrate with at least Alexa or Google, skip it.
How much will you actually save?
Energy.gov says 8–15% on heating and cooling bills with a smart thermostat. In real numbers: a household paying $200/month on heating/cooling saves $200–$360/year. The Nest pays for itself in roughly 12–14 months; the Amazon Smart Thermostat in 4–5 months.
The biggest savings come from geofencing (turns off heat when nobody is home) and away schedules — both of which all the picks above support.
FAQ
Do I need a professional installer?
No. All seven thermostats are designed for DIY installation in under 30 minutes. Watch the video that comes with the box. The hardest part is figuring out your wiring; the actual install is just removing four wires and plugging them into a new mounting plate.
Will a smart thermostat work with my old furnace?
Yes, as long as it uses 24V control wiring (almost all gas, oil, and central A/C systems do). Electric baseboard and line-voltage systems require a Mysa or similar specialty thermostat.
Can I control multiple thermostats from one app?
Yes. All the brands above let you add multiple thermostats to one account and one app — useful for multi-zone homes or vacation properties.
Does my insurance know about smart thermostats?
Some home insurance providers offer 5–10% discounts for smart thermostats with leak/freeze protection (e.g., Ecobee Premium with leak detection sensor). Worth asking.
Bottom line
For most people: Nest 4th gen at $280 if you can splurge, or Amazon Smart Thermostat at $80 if you want the fastest payback. iPhone household? Ecobee Premium. Electric baseboard? Mysa. That covers 95% of buyers.
Pair any of these with our smart plug setup guide to round out your energy-saving setup.
— Written by The Grid editorial team. Prices verified at the time of writing and may change.
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