Ecobee vs Honeywell T9: Smart Thermostats Comparison
By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2023
Are you looking for a smart thermostat that can help you save on energy bills while keeping your home comfortable? Two of the most popular options on the market are the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat.
Both thermostats share common characteristics and features, but they also have their own uniqueness that may make one a better fit for you than the other. Which one is the most suitable for your needs and preferences? Let's find out by comparing these two devices in terms of price, design, system compatibility, and features!
Key Takeaways
One key difference is that Ecobee comes with a built-in speaker, air quality monitor, and smoke alarm, while Honeywell T9 doesn't. Ecobee has built-in Alexa and Siri, while Honeywell T9 requires an external device for voice control. However, Honeywell's external smart sensor is helpful for monitoring temperature and humidity in multiple rooms.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Sophisticated Features
✓ Schedule, geofencing, energy reports
✓ Built-in speaker, air quality monitor, smoke alarm, an external smart sensor
✓ Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings, IFTTT
✓ No C-wire required
Honeywell Home T9 WiFi Smart Thermostat
Better Sensor for Multi-Room Control
✓ Schedule, geofencing, energy reports
✓ Smart Room Sensor
✓ Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings, Cortana, Vera, limited IFTTT
✓ No C-wire required
#1 Price
Honeywell Home T9 WiFi Smart Thermostat
When it comes to price, the Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat is slightly cheaper than the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium. The Honeywell thermostat is priced at $209.99, while the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is priced at $249. This is not a big difference, but Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat is often on sale and can get as low as $159, making a huge price gap between the two and can be a major consideration factor before making the purchase decision.
#2 Design
Honeywell Home T9 WiFi Smart Thermostat
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Honeywell Home T9 have different looks and designs. The Ecobee thermostat is a square with rounded corners, comes in black, and measures 1.02 x 4.09 x 4.09 inches. The Honeywell T9 is slightly larger and vertically longer with dimensions of 3.7 x 4.92 x 0.94 inches. It comes in a rectangular shape with white color.
The narrow design of the Honeywell thermostat means that it may not cover holes and marks left by your old thermostat. Additionally, it does not come with a wall plate included in the package, so one must be purchased separately. In contrast, the Ecobee thermostat comes with a trim plate included for installation to cover any holes or marks in the wall.
However, one advantage that the Honeywell T9 has over the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium in terms of design is its temperature adjustment interface which features the "up" and "down" buttons, compared to Ecobee's slider which may feel less precise and awkward for some users.
Both Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat feature a touchscreen display for easy and intuitive navigation. Both also look sleek and modern. For me personally, Honeywell thermostat looks more minimalist while Ecobee feels more luxurious. Ultimately, the design preference is subjective and depends on your own taste and suitability with your home decor.
#3 System Compatibility
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Both the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat are compatible with most low-voltage HVAC systems and not high-voltage systems. Both thermostats can work with most heating, cooling, and heat pump equipment. The main difference is that the Ecobee provides support for humidifiers and dehumidifiers, while the Honeywell T9 does not support control over humidity.
Both thermostats also basically require a C-wire to supply power. However, if you don't have a C-wire in your home, you can still use the Ecobee and Honeywell thermostats as they provide alternative options included in the package. The Ecobee provides a Power Extender Kit (PEK) to be installed between the thermostat and your HVAC system, while the Honeywell provides a C-wire adapter to bypass the need for C-wire. Therefore, both thermostats can work without C-wire, making them compatible with most homes.
However, just to be sure that your home is compatible with both thermostats, it is recommended to visit the compatibility checker on their respective website. To do a compatibility checker for Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, click here. To do a compatibility checker for Honeywell T9, click here.
#4 Features
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat have a range of features that can help you save energy and keep your home comfortable. Some features they share in common include remote control from anywhere via their respective apps, voice control, schedules, away mode, alerts, geofencing, and monthly energy reports.
Voice control in Honeywell T9 can be achieved through integration with voice assistants from compatible smart home ecosystems, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Microsoft Cortana, and Vera. Ecobee is also compatible with many smart home ecosystems including Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings, and IFTTT, enabling voice control and more home automation. However, voice control in Ecobee can also be achieved directly to the thermostat with the built-in Alexa and Siri.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium also has some additional features, such as a built-in air quality monitor that can send you alerts of poor air quality, a built-in smoke detector that can send you alerts of possible break-ins, and a built-in speaker that you can use to listen to your favorite Spotify playlists and podcasts. These features are not available in Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat.
Another disadvantage that the Honeywell T9 has over the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium in terms of features is that it does not allow simultaneous activation of both schedule and geofencing. You have to choose either one. This can be frustrating in cases when you deviate from the schedule (for instance, if you're home on a day that's usually a work day) and you're still technically within the geofence, the T9 may not detect the change and require manual intervention to override the program.
Honeywell Home T9 WiFi Smart Thermostat
However, the Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat offers greater support for multiple room control via its Smart Room Sensor. This external smart sensor is included in the package, but you can purchase more Smart Room Sensor separately for more rooms for a price of $28.87 per sensor. The Ecobee also comes with an external smart sensor included in the package, but a separate purchase for more Smart Sensor is more expensive, costing $99.99 for a pack of two.
Both Honeywell and Ecobee smart sensors are equipped with occupancy sensing technology to prioritize comfort in occupied rooms. However, both smart sensors have significant differences:
• Honeywell's sensor can read humidity (although the T9 itself cannot control humidifiers), while Ecobee's sensor can only read temperature.
• Honeywell's sensor can be recognized by Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can use voice commands to set the thermostat based on a specific sensor in a specific room. Ecobee's sensor does not support this functionality.
• Honeywell's sensor is powered by two standard AAA batteries. They are much easier to replace, compared to Ecobee's coin cell battery.
• Honeywell's sensor can deliver an efficient signal up to 200 feet and penetrate walls and floors across the home. This increases the quality of the data, allowing for greater accuracy and comfort control.
• Honeywell's sensor can only be mounted to a wall, while Ecobee's sensor comes with two installation options: wall mount or stand.
• Ecobee's sensor can detect home/away status without relying on a smartphone-based geofence, while Honeywell's sensor does not support geofencing. Geofencing for T9 is only possible through the mobile app.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium vs Honeywell Home T9 WiFi Smart Thermostat
Final Thoughts
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Both Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat offer great design, wide compatibility with most HVAC systems, and a wide range of smart features typically found in a smart thermostat.
The Ecobee thermostat provides more sophisticated features such as a built-in speaker, air quality monitor, and smoke alarm. On the other hand, Honeywell provides greater support for multiple room control via its capable Smart Room Sensor.
Both are excellent options for anyone looking for a smart thermostat. Ultimately, the choice comes down to personal needs and preferences.
If you like to read more about Smart Thermostats, check out our other relevant guides here:
Best Smart Thermostats in Singapore
Google Nest Learning Thermostat Review (with PROS and CONS)
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium Pros and Cons Review
Ecobee vs Nest: Smart Thermostats Comparison
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