Best Smart Programmable Thermostats of 2026
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Smart programmable thermostats are an innovative way to regulate the temperature of your home. These thermostats can be programmed to automatically adjust the temperature based on your daily schedule, ensuring that you always come home to a comfortable environment. They can also be controlled remotely through a smartphone app, allowing you to adjust the temperature from anywhere. Smart thermostats can even learn your preferences and adjust the temperature accordingly. Additionally, they can help save energy and reduce your utility bills by optimizing your heating and cooling system. With their advanced features and convenience, smart programmable thermostats are a great investment for any homeowner.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Smart Programmable Thermostats
Amazon Smart Thermostat – ENERGY STAR certified
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is an ENERGY STAR certified programmable thermostat that offers an easy way to upgrade from a traditional thermostat and save money on energy bills. It can help reduce energy usage and comes with an Alexa app that offers automatic comfort and on-the-go control. Additionally, the Alexa app provides installation guidance, and customer service is available for further support. The product is reliable, made with Honeywell Home Thermostat Technology, and backed by 130 years of experience.
Emerson Sensi Lite Smart Thermostat
The Emerson Sensi Lite Smart Thermostat is a programmable thermostat that offers easy DIY installation and compatibility with most HVAC systems. With its built-in level and step-by-step instructions, you can install it yourself quickly. It doesn't require a common wire (c-wire) for most systems, making it even more convenient. This ENERGY STAR-certified thermostat can help you save about 23% on HVAC energy costs. It offers flexible scheduling, geofencing, and remote access, allowing you to control your home's temperature from anywhere using the top-rated mobile app for Android and iOS devices. The Sensi Lite also prioritizes privacy protection, ensuring that your personal information is not sold to third parties or used for targeted advertising. Additionally, it provides smart maintenance features, such as usage reports and equipment alerts, to help monitor the performance and efficiency of your HVAC system.
Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat
The Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat is a programmable thermostat that allows you to personalize its color to fit your décor. Its touchscreen interface makes it easy to read and operate, and it is compatible with most heating and cooling systems. The thermostat is Energy Star certified, and can help save energy by providing monthly energy reports and personalized tips on reducing energy use. It also allows you to enroll in your local utility's "DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM" which can reward you for allowing slight adjustments to your AC or furnace temperature settings during high energy demand.
Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
The Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat is an ENERGY STAR-certified programmable thermostat that can help you save about 23% on HVAC energy. It has a built-in level and step-by-step app instructions for easy DIY installation, and works with most HVAC equipment found in homes. The thermostat has smart maintenance features, such as performance monitoring, equipment alerts, and maintenance reminders. It also protects your privacy by not selling your personal information to third parties.
ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
The ecobee Thermostat Essential helps you save up to 23% annually on heating and cooling by adjusting your home's temperature based on your schedule. This means it lowers energy use when you're away and keeps things comfortable when you're home. It works with most HVAC systems, so you can easily check if it fits your setup. You can control the temperature using the colorful touchscreen or the ecobee app, giving you convenience whether you're at home or on the go. Plus, the thermostat automatically adapts to your routine to maximize comfort and energy savings without extra effort from you.
Google Nest Thermostat - Smart Thermostat for Home
The Google Nest Thermostat is an ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that saves energy and ensures comfort. It can be easily programmed through the Google Home app on your phone, and the remote control feature allows you to adjust the temperature from anywhere. The thermostat can also monitor your heating and cooling systems, alerting you if something is wrong and suggesting maintenance tips. It is compatible with 85% of heating and cooling systems, and can be voice-controlled with smart home devices that work with Google Assistant or Alexa.
Google Nest Thermostat
The Google Nest Thermostat is a programmable wifi thermostat designed to help you save energy and stay comfortable in your home. With its ENERGY STAR certification, it ensures efficient energy usage. It can be easily controlled through the Google Home app on your Android or iPhone, allowing you to create an energy-efficient schedule. The thermostat also has a remote control feature, enabling you and your family members to adjust the temperature from anywhere using your phone, laptop, or tablet. Additionally, the Nest Thermostat has a Savings Finder feature that suggests tweaks to your schedule to help you save even more. It also provides HVAC monitoring, sending alerts and reminders for maintenance. Installation is quick and simple, compatible with most heating and cooling systems. With the Google Nest Thermostat, you can enjoy energy savings and a comfortable home environment.
Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat by Emerson
The Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat by Emerson is a Wi-Fi enabled programmable thermostat that is easy to install, with step-by-step instructions in the mobile app. It is ENERGY STAR certified and can help save about 23% on HVAC energy with its flexible scheduling, remote access, and usage reports. The large color display features easy-to-read temperatures and intuitive menus. The Sensi mobile app for Android and iOS devices allows you to control your home comfort from anywhere. Additionally, the thermostat can monitor your HVAC system's performance and efficiency by delivering valuable usage reports, alerts, and maintenance reminders like filter replacement.
Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat
The Honeywell X2S Thermostat lets you control your home's temperature from anywhere using the First Alert app, making it easy to stay comfortable no matter where you are. It works with popular smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Home Kit, giving you flexible voice and app control. Before buying, make sure your home has a C-wire or get an adapter to power the thermostat properly. You can also customize settings like air filter reminders and indoor humidity monitoring to keep your environment healthy and efficient. Plus, it supports multiple heating and cooling setups, making it a versatile choice for different homes.
ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced is ENERGY STAR certified and can save up to 26% per year on heating and cooling costs. It is compatible with most 24VAC HVAC equipment and comes with easy installation instructions. The thermostat provides comfort without compromise by preheating or precooling your home before you arrive, and automatically adjusting to your desired temperature when you're home or sleeping. It is made with quality materials and designed to last for over a decade, and a SmartSensor is available for separate purchase to measure temperature and movement in specific rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are smart thermostats better than programmable thermostats?
A smart thermostat goes above and beyond a programmable thermostat and is more intuitive when it comes to heating and cooling your home. They actually learn from your behavior, following the temperature alterations you make and begin making those changes on their own.
2. Is it worth getting a smart thermostat?
The advantage of a smart thermostat is its ability to learn a household's patterns and adjust heating and cooling according to when a home is occupied or is about to be occupied. This reduces the use of heating and cooling systems when nobody is home for significant periods of time.
3. Can you replace any thermostat with a smart thermostat?
The devices most commonly called “smart thermostats”, such as thermostats from Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell, etc., are only compatible with “low voltage” 24v HVAC systems. You should be certain that your HVAC is compatible before you try to hook up a smart thermostat.
During our smart programmable thermostat research, we found 24 smart programmable thermostat products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 577,557 customer reviews through our big data system to write the smart programmable thermostats list. We found that most customers choose smart programmable thermostats with an average price of $103.28.
The smart programmable thermostats are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of smart programmable thermostats, including Emerson, Honeywell Home, ecobee, Google. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Howard Chester is an architect from New York who holds a master's degree in architectural design, his passions for interior design and home improvement contribute to his extensive knowledge of all things furniture and home goods. Howard Chester Specializes in various architectural and interior design projects. He often publishes articles related to decoration on key websites and interior design magazines.