Nest:

Nest has a built-in smart Learning technology that uses an Algorithmic strategy to learn the user’s preference pattern. From the time you install the Nest thermostat, it starts learning your usage pattern until around two weeks. After that, it starts working on its own. You can still change the settings or temperature, and Nest will keep on updating itself.

Which one to buy?

For very obvious reasons based on the very smart feature of Nest, it will be a go-for option. People with a non-fixed routine can have it and make their usage ideal with it. The auto-scheduling feature of Nest is not only a unique one but also an unbeatable one. If you have a Nest thermostat but not wants it to learn because you think its an extra benefit, you can simply turn it off.

Voice Control:

Getting control over your thermostat just by saying something to it is a major advantage for some people. All you have to do is talk to your thermostat through your phone app and do whatever you will instruct.

Ecobee:

Ecobee thermostats are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit Devices, and Microsoft Cortana. Whichever voice assistants you have, you can use them to control your Ecobee thermostat. The latest models of Ecobee thermostats (Ecobee4 and Ecobee5) comes with an inbuilt Alexa Speaker that will suit you if you do not have a smart speaker nearby.

Nest:

Nest thermostats are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Microsft Cortana. It does not support Apple Homekit Devices and does not even have an inbuilt Alexa Speaker. It is very unlikely that the Nest will work with Apple anytime sooner.

Which one to buy?

For voice control and compatibility, Ecobee is the only choice. The inbuilt speakers and working capacity with Apple Homekit are the superior advantages for Ecobee.

Geofencing:

Geofencing technology is a way to know whether you are home or not through the use of GPS means. The thermostat integrates with your phone’s GPS and determines whether you are home or not. It is a really useful feature as it leads to many other advantages. You can set your own geofence for your thermostat, when you will leave that, your thermostat will go on Away mode, and when you enter that, the thermostat will resume its heating or cooling.

Ecobee:

For Ecobee thermostats, geofencing technology works with one phone only. If you are away with your phone and other people are there at home, the thermostat will be on Away mode. Alternatively, some third-party apps like IFTTT and Life360 can solve the problem, but the process is long and quite complicated.

Nest:

Nest has an advanced geofencing feature that works with multiple phones. It realizes that geofencing with one person is like no geofencing until you live all alone. Nest has geofencing inbuilt in the app that also integrates with other Nest apps like Nest Protects. So if you are all away from home, leaving only your pets behind who obviously does not own phone, the other apps will identify the house’s motion and override the geofencing.

Which one to buy?

Ecobee’s geofencing feature has very restricted use. It does not even work with a house full of people just because the person on whom’s phone it has determined geofence is out of the range. Nest’s geofencing is an advanced and intelligent feature. With multiple phones’ compatibility for geofencing and then the motion detectors make it a definite choice to opt for.

Installation:

A c-wire or a common wire is essential for maintaining a constant flow of power. This constant flow enables the working of thermostats on big screens and Wifi systems. New HVAC systems have this c-wire with them, which makes the installation of thermostats easy. Old thermostats do not have it, which makes the process quite long.

Ecobee:

Ecobee thermostats are very easy to install if the HVAC system has a common wire. But if it does not have, Ecobee has a solution. Though the solution has made the process a bit lengthier, the company has not left people on their own. Ecobee thermostats include a PEK (Power Extended Kit). If your system does not have a c-wire, follow the instructions by Ecobee and install the PEK. in the process, you will need to attach a few wires to the control board.

Nest:

Nest thermostats are also easier to install if the system has a c-wire. But as we know that old HVAC systems do not have a c-wire, Nest thermostat works through a process called power-stealing. In this process, the system’s fan charges the battery of thermostats. Though it is a Nest process, it is not a good one as it can damage the thermostat and the HVAC unit. In that case, buy an add-a-wire kit and install it to work well with the Nest thermostat.

Which one to buy?

Both of the thermostats need a c-wire installation if the system does not have a c-wire. Ecobee already gives a kit to install while for Nest, you will need to buy an extra kit. Hence, Ecobee is a good option.

Pricing:

As with every brand, Ecobe and Nest have also produced their lower-cost versions of thermostats. These versions have skipped some of the features which have resulted in the lowering of costs. Read on to know more about Ecobee vs Nest.

Ecobee:

Ecobee has a lower-cost version in the form of Ecobee3, which has almost the same functions as an Ecobee smart thermostat. The main difference arises from missing the Alexa speaker and an accessory terminal that connects to an accessory like an HRV or ERV.

Nest:

Nest has a lower-cost version in the form of Nest thermostat E that is significantly cheaper than the Nest smart thermostat. The difference is due to mainly the look of the thermostat that a Nest smart thermostat has. The E thermostat has a plastic ring instead of the steel one, and the glass also ha matte finish. The other difference is of missing the accessory terminal.

Which one to buy?

Based on lower-cost versions, none of the thermostats can outrank the other. Both of the thermostats are missing the accessory terminal, and the prices of both of these are not considerably higher or lower than the other. A buyer can decide as per his wish, or maybe he can save like $19 while buying an Ecobee3.

Energy Savings:

Almost all the thermostats are energy-efficient and can give you energy savings. But still, if you choose between Ecobee and Nest, their energy savings structure is different.

Ecobee:

Ecobee has got an analysis tool called Home IQ. It uses this tool to record and analyze data of 18 months. It takes into account all the data from the thermostat and the remote sensors. Home IQ is accessible from the web console and is free of cost for Ecobee thermostat users.

Home IQ is such an intelligent tool; it provides you data for System monitoring, weather impact, and home efficiency. With the feature of Home efficiency, you can monitor your energy consumption and compare it with other area users. With the Weather impact feature, you can monitor the impact of weather on your usage pattern.

Once you have used these features, you can optimize your HVAC unit usage and the associated thermostat to ensure that you are using energy smartly with as many savings as you can.

Nest:

Nest has a record system of the unit’s data for up to 10 days only. This record all the usage pattern, including turning on and off the thermostat and changing temperatures. Nest uses this data and sends it to the user on an email every month. This allows the user to compare his usage with those of the last months and other Nest users.

The Green Leaf feature if the Nest thermostat is a motivation for the users to save energy. Whenever your settings are energy-efficient, the thermostat will show a green leaf that will indicate that your pattern is in the right direction. This indicator is for the layman who does not want to see patterns and graphs.

Which one to buy?

Ecobee has got a much more advanced and smart record system than the Nest. It takes into account many features that the Nest misses. With that, the data collection time of the two is very much varied. For energy savings, Ecobee is the top choice as it gives you energy savings options that can bring a consif=derable difference. However, if you still want a self-motivation for energy savings through the Green leaf indicator, you can go for Nest.

Zone control:

Smart thermostats are smart in all means. They know where the user has located them and where the temperature needs to be set. It might be the case that you have installed thermostat at a place which not the same where you spend most of your time. Remote sensors in the rooms allow the thermostats to take the readings from all the rooms of your house and adjust the temperature accordingly. You may also want to read Payne Furnace Review [Updated] 2020

Ecobee:

Ecobee thermostats are smart enough that they have these remote sensors technology with them. Each of the Ecobee thermostats comes with a remote sensor. You can install that in different rooms, and they will send the temperature and motion information to the thermostat. In this way, the thermostat will know exactly where you are and will adjust the temperature where it will be necessary.

Each of the Ecobee thermostats has one remote sensor in the pack, but others are easily available in the market in a pack of two.

Nest:

Ecobee has got the remote sensors to feature for a long time while Nest was struggling for it. This created a shift of Nest users to Ecobee. To overcome this, Nest introduced its own set of remote sensors to control and adjust the temperature.

Nest remote sensors are similar to those of Ecobee, except that they do not send motion information along with the temperature information. This means that the thermostat gets to know that what is the temperature of the room but does not get to know that is there any person sitting there or not. Energy savings and temperature control work well with Nest remote control system. Only the occupancy feature is missing. Nest thermostat may continue heating or cooling an unoccupied room, which makes it less energy-efficient.

Which one to buy?

Based on Zone control and remote sensors feature, Ecobee has very clearly ranked itself high from the Nest. It was the first brand to introduce remote sensors technology and that too, with temperature and occupancy information together. This makes the Ecobee top choice if the basis of the decision is the zone control.

Conclusion -Ecobee vs Nest

Both of the brands have introduced many similar and many different features to make their thermostat different and well-operating. These thermostats are always on the top list whenever someone plans to buy a thermostat. But then these two compete with each other on the above differences, making it easier for the buyer to finalize his decision. Still, both of them are the best thermostats available for the user, and he can take into account his preference based on the above differences.