7 Best Programmable Thermostat to Buy in 2020
Smart Thermostats are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to manage energy costs, but they are so much more than simply a remote control for the thermostat. Programmable thermostats are capable of developing custom heating and cooling “themes” for the home, define temperatures for particular rooms in the home, and alert owners to issues that they feel are important. When reviewing the best programmable thermostats we want to look at several factors: affordability (<$300), compatible with more than one smart home program, heating and cooling system agnostic, and good user reviews (above 3.5 Star Rating). Here are our submissions for the best programmable thermostats:
Honeywell Smart Wi-Fi Color Touch Thermostat
Honeywell is a known brand in the heating and cooling market because it supplies dependable products at affordable prices. While they are never going to be at the forefront of technology trends, they will always lead the charge for those products best suited for Middle America. The Honeywell Smart Wi-Fi Color Touch Thermostat is the easy-to-use thermostat that you would buy for your parents or grandparents. The display screen is well lit, it is intuitive when it comes to programming temperatures, and its ability to program remotely places it squarely on any list for best programmable thermostat.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Display is easy to read
- Able to learn how long a home takes to heat or cool to a desired temperature and adjusts accordingly
- Aesthetically-pleasing
- Works with Alexa
Cons:
- May require assistance in setup for those not smart-home savvy
- Uses C-wire over battery
Ecobee4 Thermostat
Ecobee4 grown in popularity with the smart home community because of its intuitive programming. When these products are purchased with room sensors, they are capable of creating customized heating and cooling plans. They even have what they call a Free Cooling option of utilizing outside air rather than air conditioning (when conditions are permissible).
Pros:
- Affordable
- Free Cooling option
- Room Sensors
- Alexa built in
- Control from anywhere
Cons:
- Doesn’t fully support all of Alexa functionality
Nest Learning Thermostat
Nest is another popular name in smart home technology. Its products are some of the top-rated consumer opinion sites. The intuitive thermostat can sense your presence and light up the display screen when you are in the room. It adapts to change in seasons automatically and has a built-in Smart Energy feature that helps in heating/cooling costs. The product even promises to adapt to your heating and cooling preferences within a week so that there is no need for further programming.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Works with Google Assistant
- Smart Energy feature
- Adaptive and Self-programming
Cons:
- Does not yet work with all of the various “smart assistants”
Go Control
This is probably the cheapest programmable thermostat on the list. While the Go Control doesn’t contain many of the features that people come to expect from Smart Home Thermostat technology, it does offer a few bells and whistles to get people started. For example, it works with Alexa for voice control and works on Z Wave.
Pros:
Cons:
- Requires Z Wave to operate as a mobile device
Hive
The Hive Heating and Cooling smart thermostat comes in a pack and becoming a popular choice due to its affordability and ability to work with both Alexa and Google Home. It’s got all the basics (remote programming, ability to create comfort zones) plus it is buildable, allowing you to connect it with other smart home products. Hive’s suite of products creates an intensely livable space that responds to changes in situation and season. It has a 4 Star Consumer rating and complaints are generally not in regards to function.
Pros:
- Remote adjustments
- Easy to program
- Easy to use app and software
- Has terminal for humidity
- Compatible with Google and Alexa
Cons:
- Not an open ecosystem, requires smart hub to connect to a network
- Install is not as easy as with other brands
Lux Products GEO-WH Wi-Fi
This programmable thermostat is not going to provide the plethora of functions that you will see in other models, however, it is one of the easiest to set up and gets high marks for affordability. This Lux product has geofencing options and Alexa voice control. It interfaces with iOS and Android, making it a fairly agnostic device that can get you started on your smartphone path.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Geofencing
- Quick DIY setup
- Operating system agnostic
- Easy to program
- Works with Alexa for voice control
Cons:
- Not as much functionality as the pricier brands
Emerson Sensi Touch (Color Display)
Emerson Sensi Touch is another brand name with a plethora of positive user reviews behind it. The Sensi Touch models have received USA Today’s blessing as “Best Overall”. The color display model makes this list for the best programmable thermostat because it makes it very easy on the user to program. The color screen is great for delineating functions and guiding the user towards the options they desire. It is compatible with Alexa, provides remote access, and continually receives high marks from consumers for its simplicity and reliability.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Touch screen
- Smart alerts
- Easy to program
- Color display
- Works with Alexa
- Easy installation
- Geofencing
- Seven day schedule
Cons:
- Requires a C wire
There are so many smart home products available today to consumers. Most of them are reliable and perform basic remote functions. Where the differentiation lies is in affordability, ease of use, and difficulty when it comes to installation. We try to cover the major brands: Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell, Emerson, and Hive but are committed to uncovering the positives in newer brands.
