The Best Smart Thermostats To Keep Your House at the Perfect Temperature
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WYZE Smart WiFi Home Thermostat -
ecobee Voice Control Smart Thermostat -
Google Nest Home - Programmable Wifi Smart Thermostat -
Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat -
Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Home Smart Thermostat -
Buyer's Guide
Keeping your house at just the right temperature back in the day was a chore. You had to turn a knob or slide a lever to adjust the thermostat, and it was difficult to get it just right for a comfortable temperature throughout day. And even if you knew what the right temperature was, the thermostat would sometimes not function properly, resulting in the wrong temperature.
These problems with old thermostats are practically non-existent now, however, thanks to the introduction of smart digital thermostats. The best smart thermostats come with WiFi compatibility, adaptive temperature adjustment, and more. These features and quality-of-life improvements will make sure you won’t have to relive those thermostat nightmares of the past.
You don’t need to be an expert to set up a smart thermostat, and it only takes a few minutes to get your entire home connected to your thermostat. We’ve prepared a list of the best smart thermostats in 2022 that you’ll definitely want to take a look at.
WYZE Smart WiFi Home Thermostat
- Powerful and highly customizable app
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Requires Internet connection
ecobee Voice Control Smart Thermostat
- Built-in Alexa
- Can be bought with SmartCamera
- No support for Google Assistant
Google Nest Home - Programmable Wifi Smart Thermostat
- Programmable thermostat
- HVAC monitoring
- Can be slightly confusing to set up
Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
- Comprehensive interface
- Touch screen
- Need to spend extra money for leak detection and other benefits
Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Home Smart Thermostat
- Unique interface design
- Alexa and WiFi support
- Analog button damage can be difficult to repair
Detailing the Best Smart Thermostats of 2022
WYZE Smart WiFi Home Thermostat - Best Overall
In this day and age, there’s an app for pretty much everything. From sending mail to calling loved ones, setting up appointments, and even watching your favorite shows, you can do it all with a few taps and swipes. The WYZE Smart Wifi Thermostat takes advantage of the convenience of modern apps and allows anyone with proper access to control and manage the temperature of your home through a smartphone application. The app isn’t as basic as you think, either. While you can set the temperature manually, you can also set up a schedule that changes the temperature of your home based on the time of day. It even has a chart that showcases usage and lets you know how to save money and energy in the process. It also supports Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-activated control. If you want absolute control over your home’s temperature, WYZE’s thermostat is the way to go.
- Powerful and highly customizable app
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Requires Internet connection
ecobee Voice Control Smart Thermostat - Runner Up
Voice-activated thermostats may sound gimmicky and unnecessary to a lot of people - after all, why bother saying what to do when you can just walk to the thermostat and activate it? Well, for starters, not everyone has the luxury to do that. If you’re bedridden or have some form of physical disability, it can be difficult or downright impossible to even go near the thermostat. Secondly, it allows you to change the temperature while you’re doing something that leaves you unable to move from your current spot, such as cooking. Ecobee’s SmartThermostat has support for Alexa, with the voice assistant actually built-in. You can play music, call, and control your temperature without having to press a button. You can also buy a SmartCamera package if you want security added to the mix as well. There is no Google Assistant support, though, which can be a problem if you have such devices and would like to hook it up.
- Built-in Alexa
- Can be bought with SmartCamera
- No support for Google Assistant
Google Nest Home - Programmable Wifi Smart Thermostat - Honorable Mention
Google’s a household name at this point, and while most of their products are found in the form of online software, they also have quite a few hardware products available for sale, such as their smartphone, the Google Pixel series. Aside from their smartphone line, they also have other products that make use of Internet technologies, such as their Nest Thermostat. The main feature of this thermostat is that it’s actually programmable, allowing you to make a schedule that suits your needs and budget. The thermostat can be accessed anywhere through any device, whether it be a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. It’s also got HVAC monitoring, which is great if you want to keep a close eye on both your heating and cooling system. It even sends warning notifications to all your devices in case of a problem. Google’s a pioneer in software-hardware integration, and their Nest Thermostat is a testament to their expertise.
- Programmable thermostat
- HVAC monitoring
- Can be slightly confusing to set up
Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat - Contender
Thermostats these days are often designed to be simple, but in some cases, they can actually end up being too simple. Without comprehensive controls visible and readily available, it can be difficult to get technical with your thermostat without having to pull up a guide online. Honeywell’s WiFi thermostat combines modern convenience with traditional interface design, resulting in a thermostat that has something for everyone. The device supports programming and WiFi support, but what really separates it from the competition is its thermostat interface. The interface has plenty of information to work with, and various buttons allow you to do plenty of things on the device itself. If you’d rather just use the thermostat like the old days, then you’ll find the interface of Honeywell’s device to be comfortingly familiar.
- Comprehensive interface
- Touch screen
- Need to spend extra money for leak detection and other benefits
Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Home Smart Thermostat - Also Consider
Between the hyper-modern minimal designs of current thermostats and the old and analog designs of thermostats decades prior, there existed an in-between thermostat design that featured a digital interface and analog buttons. It marked the beginning of a digital transition, and many people actually liked this design, preferring it over the touch screen interfaces we’ve become familiar with today. If you’re still a fan of that unique interface, then you’ll enjoy Emerson's Sensi thermostat design. It’s got a digital interface with analog buttons for schedules, modes, and temperature change. And it isn’t behind the times, either - it supports Alexa and connects to your WiFi, so you’ll be able to use it anywhere in the house (as long as Alexa can hear you, of course).
- Unique interface design
- Alexa and WiFi support
- Analog button damage can be difficult to repair
Buyer's Guide
If you want to control the temperature of your home conveniently and efficiently, you’ll need a smart thermostat. This is a quick guide to teach you the basics regarding these nifty devices.
What Is a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat is a type of thermostat that makes use of “smart” technology. This usually refers to WiFi support, app integration, and voice command features, among others. Many smart thermostats have some combination of the aforementioned features.
Why Should You Use Smart Thermostats?
You have more ways to set the temperature
Back in the day you either had to turn a knob or press an analog button multiple times to reach your desired temperature. Today, however, you have many more options at your disposal. For one, you can use voice commands through Alexa, Google Assistant, or some other solution to let the thermostat know exactly what to do. This can be useful if you can’t get to the thermostat yourself, if you’re currently busy with something, or if you’re just lazy.
Alternatively, you can use an app if the thermostat has accompanying software. These apps will allow you to change the temperature even outside your home, so you can keep your pets and kids back home at the perfect temperature while you’re away.
You can set up a schedule
One of the most notable advancements in thermostat technology is the addition of schedules. Heating and cooling don’t come cheap, and in fact, it’s one of the most energy-consuming systems in many homes. If you want to save as much money as possible, you’ll want to limit your usage of heating and cooling by setting up a schedule beforehand. This is possible thanks to modern advancements in thermostat technology.
You can set up the thermostat in such a way that, for example, it’ll cool the room down during the middle of the afternoon and turn off once it gets cooler in the evening. And during winter, you can have the heating system run at night while you’re asleep and let it turn off an hour or two after bedtime. There are tons of possibilities, and you’ll be able to set a schedule for anything you’d like.
You can monitor your heating and cooling systems
One feature that comes in handy is HVAC monitoring. It’s a system that helps you keep track of your heating and cooling system performance at all times. With the help of modern thermostats, the devices can easily track for problems and notify you the moment they spot something worth taking a look at. When it comes to air conditioning, the best time to solve problems is the moment you notice them, and being informed as soon as something’s up will save you lots of money in repairs.
Things to Consider When Buying a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats use modern technology to run, so you’ll need to consider a few things before buying one.
Voice Command Support
Smart thermostats will generally have WiFi support (they’re called smart thermostats for a reason, after all). However, even if they can connect to your local WiFi network, this doesn’t mean it can work with Alexa or Google Assistant. And while many of these thermostats do offer support, others only work with certain assistants, while others offer no support whatsoever.
When picking a smart thermostat based on their voice command support, be sure to check if they explicitly mention assistant support, and if so, which assistants it can work with. Remember, not all thermostats offer universal support, so you’ll need to check before buying, or else you’ll end up with a device that won’t work no matter how many times you shout at Alexa.
App Interface
Some smart thermostats also come with a free app that lets you customize your settings from your smartphone. These apps give you access to direct temperature control, schedule setting, and more. If you want to be able to control your thermostat from a distance and you’re always on your phone, apps can be quite helpful.
Aside from this, there are other ways to connect remotely. Instead of apps, some thermostats can be accessed via a website. This is often easier for companies to set up, as websites can be accessed anywhere with a browser, as opposed to apps which only run on certain devices.
Tips When Using A Smart Thermostat
Remember these tips when setting up your thermostat.
Keep your WiFi network secure
Because your thermostat is connected directly to your WiFi network, anyone connected can use the thermostat remotely. This also means that neighbors who know your password or anyone with malicious intent can technically control your thermostat if they know how to do so. Ensure that you have a strong WiFi password and try limiting access to the network as much as possible.
Make use of schedules
Schedules are there to help you save power and money and make life easier for you. Use them so you don’t have to set the temperature all the time.
Smart Thermostat FAQ
Q: Are smart thermostats safe?
A: Smart thermostats are completely safe to use as long as your WiFi network is secure.
Q: How long does it take to set up a smart thermostat?
A: Technically, it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to have a smart thermostat up and running.
Q: Are smart thermostats worth it?
A: From providing information on your air conditioning systems to setting up schedules and remote access, smart thermostats give you access to plenty of useful features that make them worth the purchase.
