It can sometimes become quite difficult to control the temperature of your air conditioners during hot and even cool weather to keep you warm.
In such situations, you can use Smart thermostats and install them in your homes, which will help control the temperature in your home based on the weather and a lot of other features.
Well, we know of two such brands or products with the edge of making the best smart thermostats in the market. You can choose either Nest or Ecobee thermostats for your home and save energy all year round.
However, the real question arrives as to why we even need these devices.🤔 To answer this, you must know that it is a struggle for big homes to maintain the temperature in every room.
Hence, these thermostats act as a smart machines to control and help you out so that you do not have to take care of it manually.
There are tons of features that you will come across while learning about Nest vs Ecobee thermostats.
Like other smart devices in your home, you can connect this and your virtual assistant and make commands as you have always wanted to.
We have reviewed Nest and Ecobee thermostats to help you pick one for your home.
Let us see what the Nest and Ecobee thermostats have for us.
Nest vs Ecobee Thermostat- Which One is Better
Nest Learning Thermostat – An Overview
Nest Learning Thermostat is known to be the first-ever to have been Energy Star certified. It is a smart thermostat that was introduced in 2011 and works seamlessly to help you save energy consumption.
Not only do households prefer to opt for this device, but multiple electric or energy companies have also advised using Nest Thermostat.
Well, you must be wondering what the unique aspect of this thermostat that makes it so popular is. Nest Learning Technology is a programmable and self-learning device that adjusts itself automatically based on your readings and sets the temperature based on your preference.
To work on such a concept, it has been programmed using machine learning that helps it make smarter decisions than any other ordinary thermostat in the market.
It does take a few weeks to learn your pattern on multiple occasions and weather conditions based on weather, sleeping schedule, leaving home, etc.
You can download the app on your smartphone and even make changes to the temperature through your smartphone when you are away from home.
It has built-in sensors, and your smartphone allows them to regulate the temperature automatically as soon as you leave home.
The Nest hardware system is not something too complicated to understand. The main display shows you the temperature along with the ring and the mainboard that is meant to be attached to the main connection terminal of the house.
The entire setup, if properly done, takes only half an hour.
Ecobee Thermostat – An Overview
Ecobee thermostat is a voice-control enabled smart thermostat that laid its foundation before Google introduced Nest. The company started with the earlier version of the device, which was the very first Smart thermostat of its time and became very popular.
It has been upgraded a lot since then, and now we have the most advanced Smart Thermostat than a response to Alexa voice commands and even saves tons of energy.
You will love the design of this stunning device. It is compact and lightweight, making it easy to fit on your walls. With fully touch functions on display, you can set your temperature anytime.
This smart thermostat allows you to control the Ecobee even if you are not at home through an app. Along with this, you will also get a Smart Sensor to detect temperature and occupancy.
Since it has a voice and so does it has a speaker and, you can ask the assistant to play Spotify & Bluetooth streaming.
In fact, not only this, you can ask the thermostat to make calls and even ask for relevant recipes to cook. If your room isn’t affected by the thermostat, use the Smart Sensor so that the thermostat can read it and make appropriate temp.
Let us not forget that it can save millions of dollars by saving energy at home. Or else you can also use food.
Nest vs Ecobee- Installation 🧱
Nest and Ecobee thermostats follow an easy installation process so that the users do not have to make tough adjustments.
Unlike any other device, this smart thermostat has fewer steps and will not need any professional to help you with it. Learn everything either from their official installation videos or the steps mentioned in the manual.
Ecobee Installation:-
Ecobee Smart Thermostat follows a similar instruction to install the device in your home. Firstly, it is requested the company to check the compatibility of your HVAC system before starting the installation.
After this, it is advised to download the app on your smartphone with every tutorial and info to get it done. Ensure you disable all the heating or AC units from the main switch. Also, remove the front panel of your older thermostat to display the wired connection.
If you have a C-wire connection, you are on the right path. If not, there are certain other steps you can follow for installation.
The C-wire connection makes it easy to connect to the Ecobee panel within seconds. Otherwise, you may have to use the Power Extender Kit (PEK).
To make sure you are on the right page, label the wires with their actual connection before disconnecting. Remove the old thermostat plate now and add the new Ecobee panel.
Make sure to connect the wires to the new panel on the side, as you will see in the instruction manual. Now, push back any excess wire coming out of the panel.
Place the Ecobee LCD screen on the top to cover it to complete the installation. Switch on the main switch to your system. For any further instructions on the wires and installation, you can find it on their official site or app.
Nest Learning Thermostat Installation:-
To start with, check the compatibility of your HVAC system with the Nest thermostat on the official site. Once you are done, then you can move forward.
Similar to what we have seen for the Ecobee installation, make sure to cut the power off from the mainboard to your heating and cooling system.
The Nest package has the necessary screwdrivers and labels to put on the older thermostat, as shown in the instruction.
Now, you can use their trim and steel plate to cover the screw holes. If not, directly add the panel and connect the wires to the new Nest thermostat. Once done, put over the main panel and wait for it to start over.
It is not a touch interface but rather has a moving ring-type design. Download the app and set up everything per your chosen temperature and instructions.
If you are not comfortable installing it on your own, you can schedule an appointment with the professional and get it done.
After studying the installation process, we would surely prefer Ecobee to be on the safe side. Both require a C-wired connection that provides a constant flow of power.
Where Ecobee has an alternative if your HVAC system does not have a C-wired connection possible with the use of PEK kit however, Nest does not have any such kit.
🤴Winner- Ecobee
Nest vs Ecobee – Design 🎎
Next up, we have an overview of the design of both these devices. So, both have a somewhat rounded shape of their main display panel. However, the Nest thermostat is perfectly round, whereas the other one is slightly squared in shape with round edges.
Nest Thermostat is available in multiple colors to suit your homes, such as white, black, copper, brass, and mirror black. The total assembled weight of the entire device is about 243g approx which is pretty lightweight.
It has a circular ring-like function through which you can operate the change in temperature and other functions. The shape has a great modern look, which you will find in other thermostats as well in the market.
Ecobee Thermostat, as we said, has a squared structure and does not have any outer plate to match the color of your home. However, it looks pretty sleek and weighs pretty less too.
The LCD screen has a touch interface that makes it better than the former and does give it an edge overall.
But it depends on you and which one would visually impress you. Hence we have a tie here, and both look brilliant no matter what color they are.
🤴Winner- Tie
Nest vs Ecobee – Scheduling 🎭
One of the most important aspects is setting up the devices’ schedules based on your sleeping pattern, weather, going away from home, time of the day, etc.
While both of these devices have proper scheduling features, there is a noticeable difference that sets them apart, which is pretty clear.
Nest Thermostat has one of the most advanced scheduling systems that uses the power of machine learning to detect your activities and make the changes by itself automatically.
You need to download the app, and for the first few weeks, you must make the changes yourself.
After that, the algorithm will further make up its schedule based on your schedule over the week, detect your timing and movement, and set everything by itself.
You do not have to keep changing the temperature when you sleep or leave home. The system will detect it based on your pattern and do it for you.
It keeps on learning every day with the help of sensors and your smartphone so that it can be accurate all the time. You can turn it off if you wish to act upon the auto-scheduling.
Ecobee thermostat, on the other hand, follows entire manual scheduling. It has a proper scheduling mechanism where you can set up every aspect so that the device acts accordingly.
Unfortunately, it does not have the feature to auto-learn the pattern as that of Nest. However, households with a specific way of living and patterns to follow work perfectly well.
🤴Winner- Nest
Nest vs Ecobee – Voice Control 🐱🚀
Not many thermostats have been providing the voice control feature. However, we have these devices that follow the command of virtual assistants such as Google and Alexa.
Ecobee has a built-in Alexa voice control that has unlimited possibilities. It supports Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit as well.
With the help of voice control, you can ask Alexa to make a call and message friends, ask the voice assistant to play music from Spotify, connect the thermostat with any smart speaker via Bluetooth and connect other smart devices to it via Alexa.
You can ask the device to make temperature changes and control other devices in your home.
Nest, on the other hand, does support Alexa and Google Assistant, but it does not have this as an in-built feature. However, it does not support the Apple HomeKit.
Furthermore, the many features of calling and playing music are not something you can do on the Nest Thermostat. Hence we have a clear winner with many more features than the latter.
🤴Winner- Ecobee
Nest vs Ecobee – GeoFencing 🧩
Geofencing is the service that uses the GPS to feature your device to determine when you have left the perimeter set up. Thermostats use it to set up a schedule so that they can act accordingly and automatically.
Nest thermostat, as we said, has the auto-scheduling and detecting feature where it has the built0in geofencing capabilities. The app on the smartphone sets everything up and uses GPS to record your schedule.
Well, it is available for multiple smartphones, and you can set it up accordingly. Even if you are not at home and other members are with the registered smartphone, the device won’t go into away mode.
We also have certain features to determine when you have kids at home alone, and the device has left the perimeter.
In such cases, you will have to buy the Nest motion sensor separately that will detect the motion in your house and thus take care of the temperature.
Ecobee thermostat supports Geofencing, but you can only get it for a single device. There are multiple third-party apps through which you can set up multiple devices activation, but it is hectic work and takes a lot of time.
Moreover, even with the sensors, it is not something that does the best work as for the Nest above.
So, the Nest thermostat has a clear advantage over the Ecobee in terms of connecting multiple devices and auto-detection for the away mode.
🤴Winner- Nest
Nest vs Ecobee Energy Savings 🎍
Another very important aspect both companies have spoken about for the devices is that they are the best for saving energy.
There is no doubt both are equally good at saving energy consumption and also saving money. But one of them does have the edge over the other.
The Nest thermostat device saves energy and money on your energy consumption bills.
The approach based on the Nest device is that since they automatically schedule every activity, the program makes sure that you save as much energy as possible by making temperature adjustments likely.
It has the Green leaf feature, which indicates when you change the temperature, which saves energy. It will be indicated on display based on your previous adjustments.
Moreover, you can easily check your energy-saving data record for 10 days. The report shows when and how the temperature was turned up or down and how it changed over those ten days. It even sends you monthly reports of your consumption and how much you saved so that you can compare your previous energy bill.
Ecobee has special features i.e. Eco+, that are available for all its versions. This feature suggests to the user on the app how one can save energy.
It does not make changes by itself as seen in Nest so the user has entire control over the changes. It makes temperature adjustments when the demand is high to relieve the pressure on the power grid.
This Eco+ feature has 5 aspects that make it worthwhile. You can choose the Feels-like feature, which detects indoor temperature fluctuations and suggests adjustments accordingly to save the energy consumed.
A similar feature as Nest’s, Schedule assistant gives a better mapping to set a schedule to save energy while at home and when away. The times of use feature saves money by preheating or cooling the home when electricity is cheap and vice versa.
So based on the above statistics, we cannot ignore that Ecobee has taken an edge with its special Eco+ feature and multiple aspects.
However, the nest does have a great set of features too, and it is brilliant in its way, saving about 10% to 12% on their heating bills and 15% on their cooling bills.
🤴 Winner- Ecobee
Nest vs Ecobee – Cost 🤑
Once you determine all the aspects of both the devices for Nest vs Ecobee analysis, you cannot leave one of the most important aspects.
Well, it all depends on your budget and which one is the best based on their cost. Also, it is important to know at the cost provided the different features you will be provided with.
Nest Thermostat is available on the official site, and you can get it for $219. The package only includes the thermostat, trim kit, labels, and screws kit. Check the Latest Price on Amazon.
Ecobee Thermostat is available on its official site, costing $249. However, here you are getting a motion sensor in this package which you may have to buy separately for the Nest device. Check the Latest Price on Amazon.
🤴 Winner- Ecobee
Nest vs Ecobee – Who is better?🤔
After properly analyzing every aspect and feature, we must pick one winner. We have experienced this, and you can have the opposite view.
We did our review based on the Installation, Design, Energy Saving, Cost, Geofencing, Voice Control, and Scheduling. Among all of them, both had equally performed well in every category. Some have better features on Ecobee, while others have a better scope on Nest.
However, we have laid down our analysis based on Nest vs Ecobee thermostat and believe that our winner here is Ecobee. It has a great cost-benefit, amazing Energy Saving feature, accepts voice control, and the installation is much easier than Nest.
It requires C-wire but also comes with the PKE kit if you do not have one, which is the best part of it. Ecobee gives a detailed analysis of the energy-saving data from 18 months, whereas Nest only gives it ten days.
We do agree that the design, Geofencing, and Auto-Scheduling feature do not match that of Ecobee. So, if this is something that does make you want to go for the Nest Learning Thermostat, we could not be more thrilled.
It is equally good and works perfectly well for your home. Make sure you go through every aspect and decide for yourself whichever suits you and your home better.
📚FAQ
Is Nest Better Than Ecobee?
Many people think that Ecobee has better value when compared to Nest. The Ecobee thermostat has an Alexa speaker, remote sensor, and air quality sensor.
Ecobee has way more features than Nest. In many terms, Nest is better than Ecobee, but Ecobee thermostats have their benefits.
Which Saves More Money, Ecobee Or Nest?
Ecobee saves more money when compared to Nest. Nest users have been reported to save around 10-12% on their heating and around 15% on cooling bills. Regarding Ecobee, users save around 23% on their heating and cooling bills when using the Ecobee thermostat.
Which Is The Best Rated Home Thermostat?
If you are looking for the best home thermostat, you can go for Google Nest Learning Thermostat, Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat, Ecobee smart thermostat, Honeywell Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat, or Orbit Clean Comfort Programmable Thermostat.
How Long Does An Ecobee Thermostat Last?
An Ecobee Thermostat can last up to ten years. However, their life cycle depends on your use case. If your usage is less frequent, your thermostat will probably last longer than its average life cycle.
Are Nests Worth It?
If you are looking for a smart thermostat, you can go for Nest thermostats. Not only are they affordable, but they also have a clean and modern design.
Moreover, they are easy to install, which is another plus point for Nest thermostats.
Does Ecobee Work Without C Wire?
Ecobee needs 5 wires to work properly- 2 power wires, 1 fan wire, 1 heat pump, and 1 C wire. You can also add AC and heater wires to it.
The installation can be done with 4 wires by using an adapter in place of the C wire, but using all 5 wires makes the operation smoother.
