Best Smart Thermostats of 2025

A smart thermostat not only offers convenience (adjust temperatures by voice or app) but can also save you money by optimizing your HVAC usage. The best smart thermostats learn your schedule, provide energy-saving insights, and integrate with voice assistants. In 2025, there’s a clear trio to consider: Google’s Nest, Ecobee, and Amazon’s own thermostat for budget shoppers. All support at least one of the big ecosystems (some support all three). Here are our top picks:

Amazon Smart Thermostat – Best Budget Smart Thermostat (Alexa)

Amazon’s Smart Thermostat is a simple, affordable device that brings connected climate control to Alexa households without the hefty price tag.
Key Specs:

• Compatibility: Works with most 24V HVAC systems (requires C-wire or the included C-wire adapter for power). Does NOT support high-voltage (120/240V) baseboard systems.

• Controls: 2.5″ monochrome display, capacitive touch buttons (up/down temperature). No built-in microphones or speakers – it relies on Alexa devices for voice control.

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4GHz). Controlled via Alexa app or voice (Alexa-only integration). Does not natively work with Google Assistant or HomeKit.

• Smart Features: Uses Alexa’s cloud intelligence (“Alexa Hunches”) to automatically adjust temp if it thinks you’re home/away. Can use occupancy sensors from Echo devices (e.g., Echo Dot’s temp sensor) to inform routines. Supports schedules, away mode, and energy usage reports in Alexa app.

Pros:

• Incredible value – Priced around $59, it’s one of the most affordable smart thermostats on the market. You get core smart features (app control, voice control, scheduling) at a fraction of the cost of premium models.

• Easy installation – If you have a C-wire, setup is straightforward with the guided Alexa app instructions. Even if you don’t, Amazon includes a C-wire power adapter in the box, avoiding the need for an electrician in most cases. We found installation and setup took about 30 minutes.

• Alexa integration – Tightly integrated with Alexa, of course. You can just say “Alexa, set the thermostat to 72” or include it in routines (like an “I'm leaving” routine to set Eco mode). Alexa’s Hunches can intelligently adjust the temperature if you forget – for example, if Alexa senses everyone’s out, it might let the house drift a bit warmer/cooler to save energy.

• Energy dashboard – The Alexa app provides an energy usage report so you can see how often your AC/heating ran and get tips for savings. It’s not as advanced as Nest’s learning, but it does help raise awareness of your habits.

Cons:

• Alexa only – This thermostat only works with Alexa for voice and remote access. There’s no native Google Assistant or Siri support (you can’t add it to Google Home or Apple Home). If you’re not in the Alexa ecosystem, this is a dealbreaker.

• No native occupancy sensor – Unlike Nest or Ecobee, the Amazon thermostat doesn’t have built-in motion detection or remote temp sensors (it leverages Echo devices for occupancy and temp readings instead). If you don’t have Echo speakers in key rooms, it won’t “know” if you’re home as accurately.

• Basic intelligence – It doesn’t self-learn schedules like Nest’s learning thermostats do. You’ll need to set a schedule or rely on Alexa’s relatively basic Hunches. It also doesn’t support advanced HVAC features like humidifier controls or multiple stages as some high-end models do.

• Plastic build & simple display – The design is minimal (a plain white square) and the display only shows the current/temp setpoint when you tap it. It’s not as fancy-looking or informative on-device as thermostats like Nest Learning or Ecobee (no color screen or motion-activated info).

Rating: 4.0/5 – The Amazon Smart Thermostat is the top budget pick, especially for Alexa-centric users. It nails the basics at an attractive price and can indeed trim energy usage with Alexa’s help. Its closed Alexa-only nature and lack of frills keep it from a higher score, but if you have Alexa and a compatible HVAC, it’s an easy recommendation for penny-wise smart climate control.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium – Best Overall Smart Thermostat (Alexa & Multi-Platform)

Ecobee’s flagship thermostat is a feature-packed device with a sleek redesign, built-in Alexa and Siri, and support for every major smart home system – plus remote room sensors to ensure even comfort.
Key Specs:

• Compatibility: Standard HVAC systems (up to 2-stage heating/2-stage cooling, plus heat pumps, humidifier, ventilator support). C-wire required (or use Ecobee Power Extender kit if no C-wire).

• Display & Sensors: 3.5" full-color touchscreen display. Built-in occupancy sensor, temperature sensor, and even an air quality sensor (measures VOCs/CO2). Comes with one SmartSensor (wireless remote sensor for temperature and occupancy in another room)tomsguide.com.

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. Voice Assistants: Alexa built-in (microphone & speaker on thermostat) and supports Apple Siri (can handoff requests via HomePod). Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings and moretomsguide.com – one of the most widely compatible thermostats.

• Smart Features: Learns your routine over time; supports scheduling, geofencing (auto-away), and adaptive recovery (learns how long it takes to reach temp). The remote SmartSensors detect motion and temperature in key rooms to balance comfort (only heat/cool when occupied). Doubles as an Alexa smart speaker with full Alexa capabilities (and Spotify, etc., via the tiny speaker).

Pros:

• Loaded with features – Ecobee Premium has everything: multi-room sensing, occupancy awareness, air quality monitoring, and even acts as an Alexa speaker itselftomsguide.com (you can literally talk to your thermostat to hear news or control other devices). It also supports Apple’s Siri and other platforms, making it arguably the most connected thermostat availabletomsguide.com.

• Remote SmartSensors – This is Ecobee’s killer feature. The included SmartSensor (and you can add more) measures temperature in another room and detects if people are theretomsguide.com. The thermostat can use these to eliminate hot/cold spots – for example, ensuring your bedroom reaches the target temp at night even if the hallway is a different temperature. The sensors also know not to heat/cool an empty room unnecessarilytomsguide.com, a big energy saver.

• Sleek new design & interface – The Premium model got a facelift: a zinc metal edge and a larger, sharper display than prior Ecobees. It looks modern and the touchscreen UI is intuitive. Information like weather, humidity, and air quality are readily available on the screen.

• Powerful integrations & expandability – Works with every major ecosystem without fusstomsguide.com. You can use Alexa or Google or Siri – or all three – to control it. It also ties into Ecobee’s own security system (it can double as a hub for Ecobee’s door sensors and camera, showing a live view on the thermostat screen). It even can function as a home security hub (arm/disarm system via thermostat, if you use Ecobee’s security subscription).

Cons:

• Pricey – This is one of the most expensive thermostats (~$249 list price). You are paying for the premium build and extensive features. If you don’t need things like an air quality sensor or built-in Alexa, the cheaper Ecobee Enhanced (or Nest) might suffice.

• Reliance on remote sensors for full benefit – The unit comes with one sensor; bigger homes may need to buy additional SmartSensors (around $80 for a two-pack). To truly leverage its strengths (like occupancy-based heating), you’ll likely want a sensor in each frequently used area – which adds to the cost.

• Alexa speaker is basic – While having Alexa built-in is cool, the tiny speaker on the thermostat is just OK for voice feedback. Don’t expect to play music through this with any semblance of quality – it’s more for voice responses and maybe brief news updates. For better sound, you’d still use an Echo device.

• Setup complexity – With great power comes a few more steps: wiring the C-wire or PEK, registering an Ecobee account, linking to Alexa/Apple, placing sensors, etc. It’s not hard (the app guides well), but it’s more involved than a basic thermostat. Also, some advanced settings (like tweaking how it uses sensors or responds to occupancy) require exploring the app menus a bit.

Rating: 4.7/5 – Ecobee’s Smart Thermostat Premium is our pick for the best all-around smart thermostat. It works in any smart home setup (Alexa/Google/Siri)tomsguide.com, looks stylish, and its remote sensors truly set it apart for managing comfort throughout your hometomsguide.com. The high price and feature overkill for some users are the only things keeping it shy of a perfect score. For most households aiming to save energy without sacrificing comfort, Ecobee Premium is worth the investment.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) – Best for Design & Advanced Learning (Google/Alexa)

Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Generation) combines an elegant design with powerful AI learning capabilities – it’s the premium choice for Google Home users, and it now even supports Matter for broader compatibility.
Key Specs:

• Compatibility: Works with most HVAC systems (supports multi-stage systems). Like previous Nests, no C-wire required in many cases thanks to power-stealing, but C-wire is recommended for consistent performance.

• Display & Sensors: 2.4" circular color display (which “floats” on the wall due to a smaller base). Farsight feature – screen lights up to show time/temp when it detects someone nearby. Built-in temperature, humidity, motion, and ambient light sensors. Comes with a Nest Temperature Sensor (wireless remote sensor) bundled in the box.

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread (Matter) support. Smart Home: Works with Google Assistant and Alexa; now supports Matter, enabling control via other Matter-compatible apps/platforms (it can even be added to Apple Home via Matter).

• Learning & Features: Uses machine learning to auto-schedule – after a week or so of manual adjustments, Nest will learn your routine and start adjusting temp on its own. It also uses presence sensing (via motion sensor and phone location) to auto-switch between Home and Away modes to save energy. Provides monthly energy reports and suggestions (via Nest app or Google Home app).

Pros:

• Learns your schedule – Nest’s hallmark feature is that you don’t have to program a rigid schedule. It notices when you turn the heat down at night or up in the morning and creates a schedule automatically. Over time it fine-tunes these based on your feedback (you can accept or reject suggested tweaks). This “learning” really sets it apart – many owners barely ever touch their thermostat after the first couple weeks.

• Sleek design – The 4th-gen Nest got a sleek new design after nearly a decade since the last major redesign. The display is larger and appears to float, with a high-res look that elegantly shows info like time or weather when you walk by. It’s available in multiple finishes to match your decor. It’s arguably the most stylish thermostat on the market.

• Great integration and now Matter – As a Google product, it’s deeply integrated into Google Home – you can use voice with Assistant on your Nest Hub or phone easily. It also works with Alexa (via the Google Nest skill) for those with Echo devices. With the new addition of Matter support, you can control it with any Matter-compatible system (for instance, using Apple Siri via a Matter-enabled Apple Home app). This makes Nest far more flexible than before, essentially opening up HomeKit compatibility through Matter.

• Energy-saving intelligence – Nest optimizes in many ways: it uses Sunblock feature to adjust for direct sunlight on it so as not to mis-read the room temp, and it nudges you with a leaf icon when you choose an energy-saving setpoint. It can also automatically turn down when it senses you’re away (using motion + phone GPS) – a huge money saver if your schedule is irregular. One user on Reddit noted saving 45% of gas in a month after installing Nest with its auto-away feature.

Cons:

• Expensive upfront – Nest Learning is premium-priced (similar to Ecobee Premium in cost). You pay for the fancy design and learning smarts. Google does offer the Nest Thermostat (non-learning, cheaper model) for about half the price if budget is a concern.

• No native remote sensor occupancy – The included Nest Temperature Sensor is purely for temperature averaging in a room; unlike Ecobee’s sensor, it doesn’t detect motion. Nest relies on the thermostat’s own motion sensor and your phone’s location for occupancy. So if your thermostat is in a low-traffic area, it might mistakenly think the home is empty unless you carry your phone (this is mitigated if you use the Google Home app’s phone tracking and have multiple household members with accounts).

• Limited local control – Without Wi-Fi, the Nest is mostly just a basic thermostat (it will still follow last saved schedule). There’s no manual override scheduling without the app, etc. Also, some advanced features (like presence sensing using phone location) require using Google’s ecosystem and agreeing to location sharing – which some may not be comfortable with.

• Battery/Power quirks – If you don’t connect a C-wire, Nest steals power when the HVAC is off. In some systems this can cause brief humming or other odd behavior (though rare). Also, if the battery ever drains, it might disconnect from Wi-Fi to preserve power. Using the C-wire eliminates these issues – something to consider even though Nest advertises no C-wire needed.

Rating: 4.5/5 – The Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) is a standout choice for those who value hands-off intelligence and elegant design. It’s especially great in Google-centric homes, but with Matter support it’s now a viable high-end option even beyond Google’s ecosystem. We love its learning capabilities and polished user experience. It falls just shy of Ecobee in our overall ranking mainly due to slightly less multi-room sensing capability and ecosystem lock-in (which Matter is alleviating). Still, Nest Learning remains a top-tier thermostat that “learns” its way to saving you money and keeping you comfortable effortlessly.