ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced vs. Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen): Which is Better for Your Home?

Naila Syifa

Updated October 2024

ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced vs. Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

When it comes to smart home climate control, two popular options stand out: the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen). These cutting-edge devices offer advanced features, sleek designs, and energy-saving capabilities, but they differ in several key aspects that might sway your decision.

Let's dive into a detailed comparison of these two top-tier smart thermostats to help you decide which one is the best fit for your home.

On our list

#1 Design

#2 Features

#3 System Compatibility & Setup

#4 Price & Availability

Key Takeaways

With more terminals, the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) has wider HVAC compatibility and is better suited for homes without C-wire. Nest also stands out with advanced energy-saving features and HVAC system optimization. However, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced offers additional benefits such as smart home security hub functionalities and a way cheaper price.

	ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced	Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)
Dimensions	4.09” x 4.09” x 0.94”	3.9” x 3.9” x 1.1”
Display	540 x 540 pixels	600 x 600 pixels
Touchscreen	✅	❌
Sensors	Radar Occupancy & Proximity, Temperature, Humidity	Soli, Temperature, Humidity, Ambient Light
Air Quality Monitoring	❌	✅ Outdoor
Auto-Schedule	✅	✅
Home & Away	✅	✅
Smart Home Integration	Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, IFTTT	Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Matter
Additional Sensor	SmartSensor (optional)	Temperature Sensor (included)
C-Wire Required	✅ Power Extender Kit Included	❌
Terminal	8	12
HVAC Accessory Support	One 1-wire accessory	One 1-wire + One 1-wire or 2-wire accessory

ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced

Versatile Energy-Saving Thermostat

✓ Schedule Assistant
✓ Works with SmartSensors
✓ Smart Security Hub
✓ 8 Wiring Terminals

Buy on Amazon

Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Generation)

Intelligent Energy Saving & Comfort

✓ 2.7” Display with Dynamic Farsight
✓ Smart Schedule & Adaptive Eco
✓ Matter-Certified
✓ 12 Wiring Terminals

Buy on Amazon

Design

Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced has a more minimalistic look with a black rectangular front glass and white plastic back, compared to the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) with a more premium metal construction and customizable color options. Nest offers 3 metal finishes to choose from – Polished Silver, Polished Obsidian, and Polished Gold.

Nest Learning Thermostat's circular, borderless LCD is not a touchscreen, but it has a higher 600 x 600 pixels resolution than the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced's touch LCD at 540 x 540 pixels resolution.

Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) also edges out with a customizable home screen and Dynamic Farsight feature. Users can select from various display options, and the screen intelligently adjusts its content based on whether you're viewing it from across the room or up close. It is a more dynamic and interactive user experience that the ecobee cannot match up.

Winner: Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Features

Common Features Shared by ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced and Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Learn and analyze routines to suggest potential schedule changes for improved energy-saving. It is known as Smart Schedule in Nest and Schedule Assistant in ecobee.
Home/Away routines. Adjust to energy-saving temperature when the thermostat senses nobody's home or if Away is set.
Built-in humidity sensor. Monitor moisture levels in the air and make appropriate adjustments to the HVAC system.
Off-peak energy optimization. Energy consumption is optimized for periods when electricity is more affordable and environmentally friendly. This feature is called Nest Renew for Nest and Time of Use for ecobee.
App remote control. The Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) uses the Google Home app while the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced uses the ecobee app. Both apps are available on Android and iOS devices, but the ecobee app is also available on Apple Watch.
Smart home integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and SmartThings.

Exclusive Features of ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced

ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced

Compatible with ecobee SmartSensor (sold separately). The SmartSensor can be placed in different rooms to detect occupancy and temperature, helping to manage hot or cold spots in your home. When there are multiple sensors throughout the home, Follow Me mode can be activated to prioritize temperature adjustments based on occupied rooms. The Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) includes a Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd Gen) in the box, but it only detects temperature, not occupancy.
Double as a security hub. For ecobee Smart Security subscribers, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced can be used to arm and disarm the security system, send motion alerts when the system is armed, and send frozen pipe warnings if there are sudden temperature drops.

Exclusive Features of Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Adaptive Eco. In Away mode, Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) runs at an energy-efficient temperature to a level that can be quickly restored to comfort within one hour when someone returns home.
System Health Monitor. Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) can send alerts if it detects unusual patterns in your HVAC system's performance, potentially indicating maintenance issues or inefficiencies.
Smart Ventilation. Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) can auto-pause ventilation when outdoor air quality is poor. Note that air quality monitoring is not built-in on the device as in the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced, but relies on data from the Google Home app.
Natural Heating/Cooling. Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) optimizes HVAC system based on outdoor weather conditions to reduce energy consumption. For example, it might delay heating on a sunny day when natural warmth is expected.

Winner: Tie

System Compatibility & Setup

Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Both thermostats are compatible with most HVAC systems. They work with heating, cooling, heat pumps, fans, power, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ventilation systems. However, Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) offers 12 wire terminals as compared to just 8 in the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced, giving it more flexibility in connecting to complex HVAC setups.

Below is a comparison of the wire terminals for both thermostats:
ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced: R, W1, W2/OB, Y1, Y2, C, PEK+, G
Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen): Rc, Rh, W1, W2, Y1, Y2, C, O/B, G, AQ+, AQ-, *

Nest has two dedicated terminals for HVAC accessories, including AQ+/AQ- to support a 1-wire or 2-wire accessory, as well as the star (*) terminal to support a 1-wire accessory. That's two HVAC accessories supported in total, so you can connect both a humidifier and a dehumidifier, for example, to the thermostat.

Meanwhile, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced uses the PEK+ terminal to support one 1-wire HVAC accessory, whether a humidifier, dehumidifier, or ventilator. However, PEK+ is also intended to connect to the Power Extender Kit, which is required for homes without a C-wire. That means, if your system has no C-wire, the PEK+ terminal has to connect to the Power Extender Kit and is not available for connecting an HVAC accessory.

The Nest Learning Thermostat requires no C-wire and its extra terminal options offer more flexibility for connecting HVAC accessories.

Winner: Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)

Price & Availability

ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced

Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) retails at a premium pricing of US$280, while the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced is priced more affordably at US$190. That's a $90 difference in favor of the ecobee model, making it a more budget-friendly option for those seeking smart thermostat functionality.

Buy the ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced on Amazon here.
Buy the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) on Amazon here.

Winner: ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced