The best smart thermostats for 2023

Upgrading your traditional thermostat to a is an easy way to save money. Along with giving you suggestions on how to lower your energy consumption, many of them can adapt to your schedule and learn how to optimize your heating and cooling needs. Smart thermostats are available in a wide range of prices, and the more you spend, the more features you’ll unlock.

Trying to find the right smart thermostat has become increasingly difficult, as the market is saturated with products. But that also means there’s an array of great items to choose from – as long as you know where to look. Here are the best smart thermostats, including both premium and budget picks, as well as products that work with , , and .

There are a lot of reasons to love the Ecobee SmartThermostat. For starters, the install process is pretty painless. Even if you don’t have a C-wire, Ecobee has you covered with a power extender kit included.

Plus, the installation instructions are easy to follow, and the setup process is quick. The SmartThermostat has a responsive touchscreen display with a clean interface. It also has voice control built-in via Alexa, like the previous Ecobee.

However, with the SmartThermostat, Alexa can play podcasts, playlists, news, and music from services like Spotify (and it actually has good sound). You can even use your thermostat for features like Alexa Calling, Messaging, and Drop In. However, if you’re not into Alexa, the Ecobee is also compatible with other platforms like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, SmartThings, and IFTTT.

The Ecobee SmartThermostat also comes with a SmartSensor. If you have hot or cold spots in your home, the sensor can help even things out and make your home more comfortable. Available in Snow, Sand, Fog, and charcoal colors, the Google Nest Thermostat is Google’s latest mid-tier offering, standing just a step behind its premier Learning model (featured below).

Capable of Alexa and Google Assistant controls, the redesigned thermostat features a mirrored display and side-mapped touch controls as opposed to the physical settings dial of the previous E model. Using the Google Home app, you can adjust the temperature, create customized routines, monitor HVAC usage, and more. There’s even a routine function that can be paired with other smart devices.

For instance, uttering a voice command such as “good morning” can draw your smart blinds, tune your Google Nest Hub to your favorite morning podcast, and set your ideal 10 a. m. temperature.

All of these great features can be had for only $130, which in the world of smart thermostats isn’t half bad. We really like the Nest Learning Thermostat because of its learning capabilities. After you install the device and set the temperature you like, the thermostat does the rest.

Nest takes note of how you move around your house throughout the week, adjusting the various temperature settings according to the time of day and your habits. With the third-generation model, a new set of sensors called Farsight makes this even more accurate. Farsight detects when you enter a room or walk past it up to five meters away, a significant improvement over earlier models.

Additionally, up to 10 additional sensors can monitor temperatures in other rooms, further optimizing your heating and cooling. You can monitor temperature from a much farther distance thanks to a 3. 25-inch screen, a half-inch bigger than previous models.

Like any good friend, the device will offer suggestions designed to save you money. Its ability to adjust the temperature of your home a half hour before you arrive from work only furthers its intuitiveness. Smart thermostats aren’t just for homes with central HVAC systems.

Thanks to companies like Cielo Breez, those of us stuck with window air conditioners, ACs on wheels, and mini-splits now have smart options for keeping the house comfy in the summer. The Plus works its magic by way of four infrared sensors that are built into the thermostat. These sensors interact with the infrared signals produced by your portable AC and its remote control, effectively learning the infrared language of your AC brand.

All you have to do is mount the Plus module in the room your air conditioner is located in, connect to Wi-Fi, and your smart controls are up and running. Additional capabilities for Alexa and Google Home let you control your ACs with simple voice commands or with your Alexa and Google Home apps. You can even set temperature and humidity triggers that will automatically power your AC when things get too hot.

The icing on the cake with this non-HVAC savant is that once you’ve registered your Cielo Breez Plus, you can use the thermostat offline to control power, fan speed, and temperature. Your bandwidth will sure be happy. Clocking in at just $80, the Amazon Smart Thermostat is one of the most affordable smart thermostats around.

But despite its low price, Amazon managed to pack the device with tons of high-end features. This includes support for Alexa, remote access via a smartphone app, and the ability to adjust its settings automatically depending on whether you’re home, away, or asleep. The biggest knock on the product? Its design – which doesn’t look quite as premium as the competition.

However, considering its price tag, that’s a minor caveat for an otherwise stellar product. .