Are you looking for the best smart thermostat to control your home’s heating temperature? Then, this buying guide on “5 Best Smart Thermostats” is for you.
Many people have now adjusted to using a smart thermostat, as they look more experienced than regular thermostats. Furthermore, they are better in terms of efficiency, comfort, and characteristics. Also, they help minimize both your heating and cooling expenses.
This buying guide will start with an overview of the 5 best smart thermostats. Here, I will discuss everything you need to know about a smart thermostat.
The overview section will explain this device, what it does, and how it carries out its tasks.
Moving on will be the pros and cons section. This section will contain all the benefits and drawbacks of using a smart thermostat.
Also, this buying guide will contain features/factors to consider when buying a smart thermostat. This section will contain all the necessary things to look at before buying a smart thermostat.
I will also give you a table of recommendations and specifications for my 5 best smart thermostats. This will contain some highlighted features of each of the chosen thermostats.
Further, I will explain every thermostat that makes it onto this list. Here I will explain everything about every thermostat, even giving you the individual pros and cons of the thermostats.
Frequently asked questions will be in the next section. Here, I’ll answer the popular questions about this device.
Conclusively, this will be my final and personal thoughts about smart thermometers. This will be under the section “My Final Thought.”
Having explained what this buying guide will entail, let’s get started with an overview of the device.
5 Best Smart Thermostats: Overview
A smart thermometer is also known as a WiFi thermostat. This is a device that is in charge of controlling the heating, oxygenating, and AC systems in one’s home.
Furthermore, internet-connected devices can control this device, and people often use it for home automation.
How Does Smart Thermostat Work?
Smart thermostats function by detecting the ambient temperature in your house and then communicating with your heating and cooling systems to make the necessary adjustments following your preset schedule.
A smart thermometer can transmit a message to the receiver to reduce the temperature. However, this is only true if it detects temperatures exceeding the predetermined limit.
A primary smart thermostat operates over WiFi, just as most advanced devices are used to control a smart home. It enables you to quickly change the temperature in any home area.
A smart thermostat allows you to access and regulate the temperature of your whole house using your smart device from anywhere, unlike a traditional thermostat, in which you use a crank or remote to adjust the room’s temperature.
Depending on your preferences and lifestyle, this offers a more effective, accessible, and user-friendly option to maintain a pleasant temperature in your house even while you’re gone.
The heater in your heating system, the thermostat’s primary control, and an application installed on your smart device all work together to make the smart thermostat function. So even when you’re away, you can change the temperature with this app.
Smart thermostats can adapt to your routine and your activities if they are more advanced. For example, it can recognize when you’re going home and set your house to the temperature you want.
Smart thermostats automatically operate to provide comfort when you’re at home since they can adjust to your routine and lifestyle.
It can automatically switch off your heating or cooling system when you leave the house.
5 Best Smart Thermostats: Pros and Cons
Pros
Reducing Energy Expenses
The most obvious justification for purchasing a smart thermostat is certainly this. There is no denying the high cost of warming and cooling a building, particularly if you reside in an area with frequent temperature changes.
Even if you’re not at home, you can arrange when your AC goes on or off throughout the day with a smart thermostat.
Your house will never be the same if you can turn the AC off for the hours you’ll not be at home and then put it back on 60 minutes before you arrive home.
The Capability Of Remotely Adjusting The Thermostat
It’s not by accident that we call thermostats “smart.” Their WiFi connection makes them appear intelligent.
Your thermostat may include an application that allows you to establish a home or company profile and begin tracking energy use via your phone, depending on the model.
Furthermore, you can accomplish this even if you’re on a trip, at work a short distance away, or just feeling lazy and not feeling like getting out of bed.
Convenient Installation
Contrary to common opinion, installing a smart thermostat is rather straightforward.
All you need to do is disconnect the power to your thermostat, replace the old one, connect the wires, attach the new thermostat panel, turn the power back on, and then follow the programming steps as indicated and outlined in your manufacturer’s instructions.
After installation, all you need to do is check your WiFi connection and follow the directions for your particular thermostat to create an account on their app.
Ensures Maintenance Is In Order
It is common knowledge that HVAC systems can be quite expensive. Therefore, the best course of action for a house or business owner is to maintain their HVAC system.
However, while wrapped up in daily life, it’s also quite easy to overlook the condition of your HVAC system. Smart thermostats will alert you if there is a problem or when your system requires repair.
Additionally, it may determine whether your system is consuming more energy than usual, indicating a problem with your HVAC system.
Cons
The Cost Of Smart Thermostats Varies
A typical digital thermostat may be purchased for as little as $30. However, most smart thermostats can be slightly more costly. For example, the price of a smart thermostat might range from $100 to $250 or more.
For some users, this price is a major barrier to admission. Even though a smart thermostat can ultimately pay for itself through power savings, it can take longer than you’d want.
Security May Be A Concern
Security is a possible issue for certain customers, as it is with everything internet-connected. Smart home appliances might be a possible entry point for hackers or rogue actors to access your network.
Most manufacturers issue patches and software updates that fix security weaknesses when they are discovered. However, a fresh danger might always emerge.
5 Best Smart Thermostats: Features and Factors To Consider
Features To Consider
Pros vs. DIY
Will you be doing the smart thermostat installation yourself? Unfortunately, not all smart thermostat models are available at your neighborhood home improvement store.
More importantly, be sure you have the necessary tools and skills before drilling a huge hole (or several) in the wall.
Categories of Technology
Some smart thermostats can effortlessly connect to the wireless network that already exists in your house. However, not all models support WiFi.
Make sure the right tools and technologies support your smart thermostat.
For example, Z-Wave-compatible thermostats will need some sort of smart home hub to connect to other electrical devices.
Mobile Access
One of the biggest features to consider is mobile access. All the smart thermometers have it. However, not every smart thermostat works with any type of mobile device.
Furthermore, some thermostats only have an application that works for iOS users, while others are only for Android users. Hence, it is best to ensure your new thermostat can work with the operating system of your smartphone or tablet.
Design
No one wants an appliance to stand out in a bad way. For example, some thermostats come in different designs. Hence, choosing which will suit your home better is your choice.
This is another thing you should consider before buying a smart thermometer.
Monthly Expenses
Most people just look at the initial and actual cost of the smart thermostat without knowing or paying attention to the fact that some manufacturers charge some expenses occasionally at intervals for remote access.
Hence, you should know all the thermostat costs together and decide if it is best for you.
Features To Consider
Compatibility With Your Heater Or Cooling System
This is one of the most important factors when purchasing a smart thermostat. You should consider whether or not the smart thermometer you want to purchase is compatible with your HVAC system.
Furthermore, many smart thermostats can only work with a few heating and cooling systems; hence, checking this before purchasing is key.
In addition, you can check if the thermostat you want to buy is compatible with your cooling and testing systems by checking the manufacturer’s website for the models that the smart thermostat is compatible with.
Additionally, you can also confirm your research with a professional to be fully sure before buying.
Common Wire Requirement
A lot of the smart thermometers that are on the market today need a common wire to work. However, if you do not have a common wire, opting for a smart thermostat with other power sources is best.
Furthermore, some smart thermostats have an adaptor that enables you to use a common wire on your unit. Also, you can call a professional to install the wire separately.
Smart Home Merging Options
Most smart thermostat types can be connected with smart home systems and other smart appliances.
This entails connecting your thermostats with other devices, such as smart lighting or smart fans, and enabling voice control over your thermostat settings via Amazon Alexa.
For instance, if your smart thermostat and windows are interconnected, the thermostat may decide to shut off the air conditioning when it detects that the window is open.
Further, you can search for other connectivity possibilities like Google Home, SmartThings, IFTTT, or Siri.
Choose a model compatible with your favorite smart home system and its voice assistant if you desire hands-off control for convenience.
5 Best Smart Thermostats: Comparison And Specifications
Products | Weight | Product’s Dimension | Manufacturer | Control Type | Power Source |
Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat | 0.85 Pounds | 3.75 x 5.88 x 1 inches | Emerson Thermostats | Vera, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, Homekit | Corded Electric |
Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat | 1 Pound | 3.5 x 4.5 x 0.88 inches | Honeywell Home | IFTTT, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, IOS, Android | AC Power Supply |
Amazon Smart Thermostat | 0.24 Pounds | 3.56 x 3.56 x 0.84 inches | Amazon | N/A | Hard-wired power adapter |
Google Nest Thermostat – Smart Thermostat | 0.55 Pounds | 3.31 x 3.31 x 1.07 inches | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, IOS, Nest, Android | Battery Powered | |
Google Nest Learning Thermostat – Programmable Smart Thermostat | 1 Pound | 3.3 x 3.3 x 1.21 inches | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Nest | Battery Powered |
5. Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat

Making it to this list as the 5th best smart thermometer is the Emerson Sensi WiFi Smart Thermostat.
This smart thermometer is secure and will not reveal your information to third parties. Also, you can now save up to 23% of your energy from your HVAC.
Furthermore, this Sensi smart thermostat helps save energy with features like flexible hours, remote access, and usage reports.
Even more, this smart thermometer comes with a step-by-step installation guide to make the installation much easier. Also, this device works with HVAC equipment that is in most homes.
Additionally, common wire (c-wire) is not needed in most applications. Further, this device can monitor how your HVAC performs and how efficient it is. It does this by delivering usage reports to you.
Moreover, this smart thermometer can also tell you if there is anything wrong with your equipment and provide reminders to maintain it.
Uniquely, this device is very simple to use, as it looks and feels like a traditional thermostat. It has buttons and is about the same size as a traditional thermostat. Hence, there is no need to patch and paint your walls.
Pros
- It is very easy to understand and use.
- Furthermore, it comes with system alerts, a control for humidity, fan control, and so on.
- Also, it doesn’t require a common wire for many systems.
- This smart thermostat is very cheap and affordable despite its amazing features.
- Uniquely, you can control this smart thermostat from anywhere using the app.
- Additionally, it has the same dimensions as a “traditional” thermostat.
- Even more, this smart thermostat works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and Vera.
- Lastly, this device comes with a warranty of 3 years.
Cons
- Unfortunately, this device does not have automatic scheduling as one of its features.
- Further, its features don’t include many energy management modes.
- Lastly, it requires cloud access for control through the application, with no internet control.