It has the most comprehensive home/away system and is the original thermostat that can “learn” your schedule. I only wish that you could tie the Ecobee's Home ... assistant … Nest vs. Ecobee: Which is the better smart thermostat? I’ve put together a comparison chart, which will offer you a quick overview of their features. ecobee vs. Nest Schedules Nest has improved its data feedback but lacks the charts and detail of ecobee. Gets a true reading of temperatures around home. Nest sensors sense temperature only (lacks motion). The best Google Assistant-compatible devices for 2020 The best Black Friday smart home deals 2020 After restarting, navigate to the Configuration > Integrations menu, hit Configure next to the discovered ecobee entry, and continue to authorize the app according to the above Automatic Configuration, starting at step 2.. Notifications. For people that are really hands off, I can see a definite benefit to Nest’s way of doing things. The thermostat is fully controllable through the GLAS smart thermostat app. The shiny outer ring is replaced with plastic and the screen has a matte finish that’s designed to blend in rather than stand out. All of the models compared. My Nest is in such a horrible spot (renting townhome) that it isn't in a spot where it cools down (AC) or kicks on heat (after shower right by nest … As mentioned in the previous paragraph, you can do this manually, or through your smartphone. pay extra for a custom solution built for Nest, or b.) I’m a proud ecobee user, but I have no problem admitting that the Nest looks great. Fortunately, there is a way to set up geofencing with multiple phones on the ecobee. Let’s say for example that you also have some Nest Protects (that’s the Nest smoke detector) at home. ecobee natively supports geofencing for 1 phone. ecobee decided to take the rectangular look from the programmable thermostats of the past 30 years and round the corners. He dreams of someday living in a castle on an island but for now will settle for smalltown, USA. Ecobee4/Ecobee3lite vs Nest 3rd gen./Nest E Comparison Chart. Who would have thought that a thermostat could be a topic of conversation? If you read just about any smart thermostat review, you’ll see these two almost always come out on top. Both devices connect with several energy devices for easier use. Are you a hands-on tinkerer with a love of customization and endless data? Therefore, the thermostat goes into away mode. Voice control is the number one way I interact with my smart thermostat. It automatically combines the use of geofencing with cues from other Google Nest devices to determine whether you’re home or not. Ecobee sensors have been on the market a little longer and they seem to have more interesting features than Nest sensors. I know what your thinking. You could also consider the lower-cost Google Nest E, which I mention below. Compatibility: Amazon Alexa: Yes, with the “ecobee” or “SmartThings” skill enabled Google Home: Yes, through the Wink … Uses “power stealing” instead. ecobee looks good, but doesn’t have the same “wow” factor as Nest. That also means that the thermostat can do just about everything an Alexa device can do. If you’re working with a tight budget, be sure to take a look at the best Nest thermostat deals available now. It’s not difficult, but it did take me about an hour to get everything set up. If you’re an Apple Home user, Nest is immediately thrown out of the equation as a result. It’s really not that difficult and you’ll avoid a potential source of major headaches in the future. However, both brands also have budget options to consider, and they’ve made some important updates for these options in 2020. Quickly compare the Ecobee vs Nest and see which models (Ecobee 4 or Nest 3) is right for you and your home. However, when choosing between Nest and Nest Thermostat E, I think more than a few people pay the extra money to get the looks of Nest even if they don’t need the accessory terminal. But, if your wires don’t include a c wire, you may have to jump through a few extra hoops to get your smart thermostat working correctly. Nest doesn’t support HomeKit directly, so if you’re a HomeKit user, the ecobee would be a better choice. The Nest is the most expensive at . The Nest Learning Thermostat has a modernized look of the classic Honeywell Round. If you take your phone and travel outside your geofence, the thermostat will go into away mode. Most of the time, the wires that connect to the thermostat can provide that power. Does your home get too hot in the summer, even as your utility bill continues to climb each year? Conversely, Nest offers a feature that’s beneficial in homes with heat pumps and auxiliary heat. Ecobee vs. Nest Basics. Nest’s geofencing is built right into their app. Using that, you can compare total usage between certain times of the day and different days. The ecobee uses a more conventional schedule. You might also like to know that the SmartThermostat is solely a hard-wired smart thermostat, whereas the Nest Learning Thermostat can operate off of either a home’s electricity or batteries in the event of a power outage. If you cross the geofence leaving your home, the thermostat can switch to away mode. All rights reserved. Today we start with Ecobee. Similar to Nest, Ecobee uses the sensors in its thermostat to detect if you're home and then adjust the temperature accordingly. Nest … The Google Nest Hub (formerly the Home Hub) is a great way to kick off a Google-centric smart home. and adjust it manually. Both offer the same premise of controlling the temperature of your home from the comfort of your smartphone. However, it doesn’t directly support Apple HomeKit and it’s unlikely that it ever will. Eric Blank blogs about smart homes and other connected technology here at thesmartcave.com. Unlike the Ecobee 4’s integrated Alexa, however, the Nest does not have any of these systems built … If you are interested in getting a voice assistant like Alexa or have a more awkwardly-placed thermostat that needs better sensors, the Ecobee SmartThermostat is the better option. Then, when you cross the geofence on your way back home, the thermostat will resume heating/cooling. The ecobee3 Lite is also typically sold as a standalone unit (no remote sensor included). The leaf icon doesn’t provide more information besides the icon cue, but Nest’s support documentation about the feature indicates it will challenge people to set the thermostat higher or lower than usual. 2nd-gen vs. 3rd-gen Echo Dot: What’s the difference? What is a C Wire? ecobee3 Lite has the same features as the ecobee but doesn’t come with a sensor, Alexa speaker, or support for an accessory. If your current thermostat wiring doesn’t have a c-wire, you could eliminate some wiring by going with the Nest. These accessories detect occupancy and adjust room temperatures automatically. Included with purchase of ecobee SmartThermostat. That additional option, combined with its smart energy-saving feature, makes Nest the winner here. It automatically makes small adjustments to try to save energy. The temperature where your thermostat is installed might be different than the temperature where you spend most of your time. Final Word ecobee seems like they’re really dedicated to voice control. If it happens to be the middle of January, it won’t be long before everyone in the house is freezing. In homes with dehumidifiers, the SmartThermostat can regulate indoor humidity to prevent frost buildup in colder weather coupled with high-humidity indoor environments. Each Ecobee sensor has a proximity detector ability. Ecobee supports geofencing too, but only for one phone. Nest has closed the gap some, but ecobee remains the superior option here. The thermostat is fully controllable through the Ecobee mobile app. Doubles as a smart speaker Ecobee SmartThermostat Multicolor mirrored lenses Nest Thermostat The Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control is intelligent in all the right ways. He enjoys technology, sports, outdoors, and dabbles in the dark realm of politics. You can also choose to average the temperatures of selected rooms with sensors regardless of the presence of people with the SmartThermostat. Advantage Nest, right? This is another tie. It performs excellently at controlling the temperature of the house . As the Nest Learning Thermostat gets smarter and learns the household’s preferences over time, you’ll see the leaf icon show up on the display whenever you choose temperature settings that save energy based on your preferences and habits. Plus, it doesn’t seamlessly integrate with other products like Nest does. They have motion sensors on them. Both have high-quality screens that can display a variety of information. So rather than keeping a fixed schedule, it will continually evolve. The bottom line: With so many extra goodies, like a built-in Amazon Alexa, a power extender, and a room sensor to monitor the ambient temperature, it’s hard not to be tempted by the ecobee4 thermostat, especially if your thermostat doesn't have a C-wire. Ecobee vs. Nest in the Home. If you don’t like the way Nest learns, you can always shut the feature off. Is Nest’s schedule learning feature better than a regular schedule like ecobee’s? The other thing that I preferred in EcoBee is that you can schedule a “Vacation” ahead of time with a start/end time for Away Mode. The ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control is very highly rated and seen as the main competitor to the Nest. The Nest sports a classic round design, featuring a ring of brushed stainless steel that's 3.3 inches in diameter and 1.26 inches thick, and it feels great when you turn it to raise or lower the temperature. If you have an Echo or aren’t interested in voice assistants, the Nest Thermostat is probably the better choice with its excellent design. The main functional difference between Nest Thermostat E and Nest is it’s missing an accessory terminal. On the other hand, ecobee includes their add-a-wire kit (PEK) with your purchase. Other than that, they function basically the same as the more expensive models. So what does that even mean? One of the primary reasons many people choose smart thermostats is because they want to cut down on utility bill costs. This is a bit of a problem for my wife and I. There’s no occupancy sensing. Model(s): ecobee4. However, if you’re a more hands on person like myself, you might not find Nest’s learning feature very useful. The Nest Thermostat is an Alexa- and Google-Assistant-enabled smart thermostat from Google -- and it's only $130, or even less. Using the Nest Thermostat for heating and setting it to 62 degrees or below will always get you the leaf, as will using the gadget to cool your home and setting the thermostat to 84 degrees or warmer. Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. It won the country over and done with its power to learn and program itself to decrease energy costs. There have been great advances in smart technology in recent years, which has seen our homes become increasingly intelligent. One such function is the ability to change the temperature in your home. Both companies have released lower cost versions of their flagship models. If not, turn it off. Read more: The Best Smart Thermostats. It has a stainless steel outer ring that reflects your wall color and allows it to blend in with any décor. Then, ecobee is your match. You can buy the Nest Thermostat in stainless steel, polished steel, black, mirror black, white, brass, or copper. I’ve used both products and I’ve found 8 key differences. Nest Learning Thermostat With Amazon's Alexa assistant and support for HomeKit built-in, along with satellite sensors that detect not only the temperatures of different rooms but the people in them, the ecobee SmartThermostat is a great all-around smart thermostat. Known as Heat Pump Balance, it allows you to choose how much auxiliary heat to use, which is handy since such heating options can be expensive. ecobee4 and ecobee5 are equipped with an inbuilt Alexa speaker and ecobee thermostats support Apple HomeKit while Nest thermostats don’t. Nest supports both Google Home and Amazon Alexa. Nest has released sensors of their own. ecobee thermostats can handle more sensors for accuracy, are more compatible with other devices, have better data recording, … Its heavy and feels sturdy. The unit boasts nearly all the same features as the Ecobee 3 and Ecobee 4, has an extremely stylish, modern design, and is compatible with all major Virtual Home-Assistants. However, that may have come to an end. To be honest, I think the Ecobee with it's sensors is really a smart thing. Either way, Nest’s learning feature is an extra option that ecobee doesn’t have. Instead, ecobee includes an extra set of wires they call the PEK (power extender kit). Both the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Ecobee SmartThermostat work with Google Assistant or Alexa, albeit in different ways. Therefore, it knows someone is home so it will ignore the geofence trigger to switch to away mode. Shop Now: Google Nest | ecobee SmartThermostat. For those already accustomed to touchscreens on their smartphones, tablets, and home appliances such as ovens, using the SmartThermostat to alter the temperature is a natural extension of those activities. However, the interface and operation aren’t quite as intuitive as the Nest Thermostat. You can’t really go wrong with either of these thermostats as both have the same price tag and contain equally helpful, albeit different, toolsets. When you adjust the temperature in a way that will result in energy savings, a leaf icon appears on the thermostat. Convenience is one of the primary advantages of having a smart home, and this smart thermostat certainly delivers it. The differences between ecobee and Nest aren’t huge. On one side you have Nest, a company famous for pioneering the smart thermostat way back in 2011. Therefore, even if I had the Nest, I would recommend installing a c-wire anyway. They support all three major voice assistants. Nest: temperature, humidity, near-field activity, far-field activity, and ambient light; ecobee: temperature, humidity, occupancy, and proximity; Works with. Then, if something turns on when its supposed to be off (or vice versa), I know something is wrong. Users can prioritize different rooms as needed. It has sold a ton of units and was the one thermostat that really put smart thermostats in the public eye. Over time it will continue to respond to your adjustments. The Nest thermostat also figures the heat pump’s efficiency, the current weather, and weather forecast into the mix with the Heat Pump Balance feature activated, relying on data to determine the best auxiliary heat usage. ecobee requires a c-wire, but comes with a c-wire adapter called the Power Extender Kit (PEK). One of the big marketing hooks for Nest is that it “automatically learns your schedule”. This is called geofencing. For example, Ecobee room sensor has motion detection ability, which is part of its Follow Me mode.Ecobee keeps track of which rooms in the house are occupied and then uses the average temperatures you ask for in these rooms to create an optimal and energy-efficient temperature setting. Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) is a great system for those who lack the c-wire or want an easy installation with mindless money savings. It uses those guesses as a baseline for its schedule. Both the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Ecobee 4 cost $249 retail initially, although sometimes you can find deals on each. However, the Ecobee SmartThermostat has Alexa built right in, which means you don’t need to use other devices — you can just talk to the thermostat directly. Nest only records 10 days of data. That means you won’t be able to connect the thermostat to an accessory (e.g. If you prefer your thermostat to be something that doesn’t say “look at me”, you may prefer the look of ecobee. It just doesn’t have the same “cool” factor as the Nest. So today, we will be looking at Ecobee vs Nest and see what each smart thermostat has to offer. While they have their differences, both the Nest and Ecobee4 are good-looking thermostats. Although both models mentioned here can help you reach your energy goals, the Nest approach is a little more user-friendly. Ecobee cannot be installed without a c-wire. Both the Nest and Ecobee models fared well in terms of cost, The best Google Assistant-compatible devices for 2020, Google Nest Thermostat (2020) review: A little less, yet still the best, Save $50 on the Google Nest Learning Thermostat for Cyber Monday, Save $50 on the Ecobee smart thermostat at Amazon for Black Friday, Which Instant Pot should you buy? Voice control is the number one way I interact with my smart thermostat. It doesn’t give you any fancy analysis either. Ecobee’s SmartThermostat is very similar, using eco+ software and a scheduling assistant to learn when the house is active and adjust the temperature likewise. However, one product had the edge in the critical areas of voice assistance and sensor technology. Because Nest is now owned by Google, Apple HomeKit support is not available. Every time the thermostat takes any kind of smart action, it gets recorded. The result is something that looks a bit like an oversized smartwatch. The Nest Protect motion sensors will detect motion in the house. How do you know if your smart thermostat is working the way it should? You can even set up multiple accounts so that geofencing works with multiple phones. Setting up the schedule is not difficult and can be done from the thermostat, the mobile app, or the web console. Both thermostats have rounded shapes. Still, the Google Nest and ecobee offer a few distinct advantages over each other. That means Nest’s sensor driven features are at a disadvantage (relative to ecobee) from the start. Unless you need the extra accessory terminal, most people prefer saving some money with the ecobee3 Lite over the ecobee SmartThermostat. I mostly use Alexa for my smart home, but Google Assistant and HomeKit can work just as well. Well, it’s because I have a super lame sense of humor. One of the best ways to compare the Ecobee and Nest smart thermostats is through the use of a chart. Both the primary Nest Learning Thermostat and the Ecobee SmartThermostat cost $249 retail. I want to see some details. You may want to consider a “. Ecobee Vs Nest: About smart thermostats, there are a couple of names that tend into the future up higher than the other: Nest and Ecobee. Nest Thermostat The Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control is intelligent in all the right ways. You must restart Home Assistant for the changes to take effect. ecobee is the clear winner when it comes to voice control and compatibility. The ecobee gives you nearly as much smarts as the Nest and backs that up with superior customization and data feedback. Personally, I prefer knowing the heat/AC is set to come on at a specific time. You may want to consider a “smart thermostat,” which is an evolution in heating and air conditioning technology. The SmartThermostat utilizes a touchscreen. Is it a magic, mind-reading thermostat? Nest The SmartThermostat has a black front piece with a blue strip at the top, and it doesn’t have color options available like Nest. Every time you manually change the setpoint, it gets recorded. If you prefer the same temperature-adjustment technique used for conventional thermostats, the Nest Learning Thermostat is a good choice. But, they ARE different and the differences DO matter. Also, the ecobee has an Alexa speaker built into it. It will also mark the times when the thermostat set point was changed. We just wish it was a little bit smarter and used batteries for backup power. For example, Nest supports variable fan speeds, but ecobee doesn’t. Ecobee while having a good number of steps in order to integrate is actually pretty simple. Smart Assistant Support This is the category where both the ecobee and the Nest Learning Thermostat take vastly different paths due to some unfortunate rivalry. And learn how to buy the right smart thermostat for your HVAC system. Dimensions. The Nest is compatible with many smart home programs, including Google Home Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Nest, and IFTTT. Whichever thermostat you purchase, keep in mind that smart home thermostat devices generally have advantages and disadvantages to assess before going through with a purchase. Why is there a picture of a Geo Metro in a championship fencing bout? (See my ecobee review for more details on Home IQ). Ecobee dropped the retail price on the Ecobee 4 to $199 on its website. The ecobee looks good, too. Both operate with voice commands and artificial intelligence (AI) assistant. If a person lives in an area characterized by severe weather that often causes power outages, the choice of two power sources in the Nest product could be advantageous. This can be a huge advantage if your thermostat is located next to a door (cold drafts) or in direct sunlight. This allows you to avoid the hassle of installing a c-wire yourself. The apps. 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