“The most basic thing you should be looking for is a programmable thermostat, which means it has an energy-efficient setting,” says Shilpa Anand, a senior product manager for smart thermostats at Resideo. “You can look for thermostats that are Energy Star rated as well.” We researched dozens of thermostats, weighing their design, controls, ease of use and installation, and programmable and smart features. Our best overall pick is the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, a feature-packed, energy-saving option that’s also sleek and compatible with voice assistants. Here are the best thermostats. Like most Google Nest products, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat packs intuitive and easy-to-use features into a minimalist yet innovative design. We love its futuristic look, HVAC monitoring, and ability to learn your day-to-day habits and sense when you’re away from home. You can control this Energy-Star certified thermostat via the Google Nest app, which is straightforward and user-friendly. This thermostat is both Google Assistant and Alexa-compatible, a convenient feature for smart-speaker users who prefer to rely on voice commands. This thermostat will maintain the perfect temperature for you while you’re home but will stop heating and cooling when you’re away to save energy. A leaf icon will even appear on the display when your thermostat is at an energy-saving temperature. But while this thermostat may save you money in the long run, its initial purchase price will cost you more than the average thermostat. This thermostat also monitors your home’s heating and cooling systems and notifies you if anything isn’t working correctly, and it tracks and creates reports of your energy usage. Like most thermostats, this model will read and react to the temperature in the area of your home where you place it. However, you can also pair this model with a Nest Temperature Sensor, which is great if you have a room in your home that runs cooler or hotter than the rest. You can place the paired sensor in the area with the temperature anomaly, and the thermostat will change the temperature according to that space’s needs. Price at time of publish: $249 Dimensions: 3.3 x 1.2 inches | Control Type: Dial or app | Power Source: Battery or hardwired | Program Mode: 24-hour This model lacks a backlit display, so it can be more difficult to read in darker settings compared to other models. However, this thermostat allows you to schedule one program for the whole week, and it delivers precise temperature control of plus or minus 1 degree. It runs on batteries for DIY installation, and overall, it’s a simple, no-frills option that costs less than other models. Price at time of publish: $27 Dimensions: 4.75 x 3.5 x 1 inches | Control Type: Push button | Power Source: Battery | Program Mode: 1-week While it lacks Wi-Fi and app connectivity, this model offers plenty of smarts with the brand’s Smart Response Technology. This feature learns when you want to heat and cool your home to meet your temperature needs according to your programming. This savvy programmable thermostat also has broad HVAC compatibility, including single- and multi-stage systems, and requires no C-wire to install. Price at time of publish: $91 Dimensions: 4.09 x 4.09 x 1.06 inches | Control Type: Touchscreen | Power Source: Batteries or C-wire | Program Mode: 7-day, 5-2, 5-1-1 This thermostat offers flexible 7-day programming, and it has a bright touchscreen for simple adjustments. It displays the daily weather forecast right on the screen, and you can even use it to check outdoor and indoor humidity. However, the weather readings aren’t always accurate. The Smart Color Thermostat is compatible with most popular voice assistants, such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana, and you can even change the color of its screen to match your decor. Price at time of publish: $169 Dimensions: 3.5 x 4.5 x 0.88 inches | Control Type: Touchscreen or app | Power Source: Hardwired | Program Mode: 7-day This thermostat is a pricier option, but it’s Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to control it from your smartphone, and it can even detect your presence, automatically reducing energy use when you’re away. You can integrate this Ecobee thermostat with various smart home systems, including Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice assistants, and it can even help control accessories like humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Price at time of publish: $220 Dimensions: 4.29 x 4.29 x 1 inches | Control Type: Touchscreen, app, voice | Power Source: Hardwired | Program Mode: 24-hour Price at time of publish: $170 Dimensions: 3.4 x 5.63 x 1.17 inches | Control Type: Touchscreen or app | Power Source: Hardwired | Program Mode: 7-day This thermostat doesn’t look as sleek or modern as other models, but it has a bright digital display with a blue backlight and switches that let you toggle between heating and cooling as needed. It offers precise control over your home’s temperature, keeping it within plus or minus 1 degree, and it has a permanent memory backup in case of power loss. Price at time of publish: $52 Dimensions: 4.75 x 3.8 x 1.5 inches | Control Type: Push button | Power Source: Battery or hardwired | Program Mode: Not applicable In addition to a large, easy-to-read display, the Clear Comfort Pro allows unique daily scheduling and up to four temperature changes throughout the day. If you don’t need a different daily schedule, the thermostat’s copying feature allows you to carry over a program to one or several days. While the Clear Comfort Pro lacks compatibility with multi-stage systems, it works with other systems, such as central air conditioning and heating, gas, and oil and electric furnaces. Price at time of publish: $55 Dimensions: 5.38 x 1.25 x 3.25 inches | Control Type: Push buttons | Power Source: Batteries | Program Mode: 7-day Another favorable tradeoff for backlighting is the memory function. Despite not operating on a battery, this thermostat remembers your programmed settings and preserves them if the power goes out—restoring them within four hours. This Aube model also has an early start feature that ensures the heat reaches the desired temperature right when you’ve scheduled it. Price at time of publish: $61 Dimensions: 5 x 1.5 x 4.94 inches | Control Type: Push buttons | Power Source: Hardwired | Program Mode: 7-day
Features
Today’s thermostats come with various features, and you can select one that’s as basic or high-tech as you need. One popular feature is the ability to set daily programs that automatically adjust the temperature in your home—people often set programs that adjust the temperature when they leave for work, return home, and go to bed. If you’re searching for a higher-end thermostat, Anand recommends browsing smart thermostats, which connect to Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to adjust your thermostat from your phone and even connect it to other smart home devices. Anand also advises considering models that offer capabilities such as geofencing, which allows your thermostat to adjust the temperature of your home after detecting that you’re away from your home via phone app connection. Other features you may want to look for include the ability to control multiple zones and compatibility with remote sensors.
Design
Thermostats are often displayed prominently within your home, so it’s always a good idea to select one that you find aesthetically pleasing. Some of today’s high-end thermostats have sleek modern designs—some even allow you to change the color of the display screen—and many offer touchscreen controls for added convenience.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. After living in more than 10 different apartments, she’s used all types of thermostats, including basic, no-frills models, as well as high-tech smart products. While selecting thermostats for this list, she considered factors such as their compatibility with different heating systems, as well as the complexity of their installation. She looked for options with a wide range of features, as well as products to suit every budget. However, it’s important to select a thermostat that’s compatible with your existing heating and cooling system, otherwise, it may require connections that aren’t readily available. “If you have a whole home humidification system, that would be an installation where you want professional assistance, especially if you want all your systems connected,” adds Anand. The same applies to economizer and zoning home systems. “Some people purchase off-the-shelf temperature sensors to test if the display and air temperature match, if they’re different then that may be an indication of a larger issue,” says Anand. “You can also just turn the fan on and off to see if it runs without adjusting the temperature.” The easiest way to check a smart thermostat’s performance is to ensure that it maintains a strong Wi-Fi connection. A poor Wi-Fi connection would lead to issues and could be a cause of poor system performance. Emma Phelps, an Updates Writer for The Spruce, provided additional assistance for this article by speaking with Shilpa Anand, a senior product manager for smart thermostats at Resideo. Anand provided essential information on what qualities to look for in a thermostat and how to test a home thermostat’s performance.
