Ecobee vs Nest: Thermostats Comparison
By Naila Syifa
Updated September 2023
If you're in the market for a smart thermostat, you might have come across Ecobee and Google Nest, two of the most popular smart thermostat manufacturers.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and Google Nest Learning Thermostat are both the most superior among the other Ecobee and Nest smart thermostat products. Both share some common features and benefits, but also have some differences that set them apart.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at how these two thermostats compare in terms of price, design, system compatibility, and features.
Key Takeaways
One main difference is Nest only works with Alexa and Google Assistant, while Ecobee supports HomeKit and SmartThings too. Nest Learning Thermostat can learn your schedule and make adjustments accordingly, while Ecobee can't. Nest also provides energy history, while Ecobee offers unique features like air quality monitor, smoke detector, built-in speaker, and microphone.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Superior Quality and Features
✓ Schedule, geofencing, energy recommendations
✓ Built-in speaker, air quality monitor, smoke alarm, an external smart sensor
✓ Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings, IFTTT
✓ No C-wire required
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
No More Manual Programming
✓ Auto-schedule, geofencing, energy monitoring
✓ High resolution display with Farsight and Nest Leaf
✓ Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
✓ No C-wire required (in most cases)
#1 Price
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
One of the first things that many people consider when comparing smart thermostats is the price. In general, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is slightly more expensive than the Google Nest Learning Thermostat. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is priced at $249, while the price of Google Nest Learning Thermostat starts from $169 to $220 depending on the color variant.
#2 Design
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Both the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat have sleek, modern designs that will fit in well with most home decor styles. However, there are a few key design differences between the two devices.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium has a slightly larger display with a higher resolution of 540x540 pixels, while the Nest thermostat comes with a screen resolution of 480x480 pixels. The display of the Ecobee thermostat is also a touchscreen, allowing for easier navigation. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat on the other hand still uses a physical dial for control, which is less intuitive and may be a bit hassle to control.
However, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is better at displaying the temperature and other information in a clear, easy-to-read way due to its Farsight feature. This feature lights up the display when your presence is detected across the room, so you don't have to be exactly in front of the device to see the displayed information. The display also shows the Nest Leaf when you choose a temperature that saves energy, giving you a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue using energy-saving settings.
Additionally, the Nest thermostat offers a wider range of color options to choose from, including stainless steel, white, black, copper, polished steel, mirror black, and brass. The Ecobee thermostat on the other hand only comes in black.
#3 System Compatibility
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
Both the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat are compatible with most 24V HVAC systems and are not compatible with high-voltage systems. To check compatibility with your home, visit the Ecobee website or Nest Compatibility Checker.
Both smart thermostats basically require a C-wire to supply power and keep the device running. However, both thermostats have systems to bypass the need for the C-wire, allowing it to work with most homes even with ones without a C-wire installed.
As a replacement for the C-wire, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium comes with a Power Extender Kit (PEK) that should be installed between the smart thermostat and the control board of your HVAC system. Meanwhile, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat bypasses the need for a C-wire with its internal rechargeable battery to supply power.
Relying solely on a battery is less reliable and may not be compatible with some HVAC systems in some houses that consume too much power. Therefore, the Ecobee is better than the Nest in terms of system compatibility as it provides a more reliable solution for homes without a C-wire.
#4 Features
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat share some common features including remote control, voice control, schedules, away mode, alerts, geofencing, and monthly usage reports.
In terms of features, one primary advantage that the Nest Learning Thermostat has over the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is its learning capability. The thermostat is able to learn your schedules and preferences to automatically create schedules based on the learned knowledge. This will save you the hassle of having to program the thermostat manually.
Additionally, the Nest thermostat has the Energy History feature that shows you how much energy you've used and gives you tips on how to save energy and money. A Sunblock feature is also available, allowing the built-in ambient light sensor to prevent the thermostat from turning on and off due to exposure to direct sunlight. These features are not available in the Ecobee counterpart.
However, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium offers much more advanced features. It comes with an external Smart Sensor that you can place in a different room to adjust the temperature in that specific room and reduce hot and cold spots. It also has a built-in speaker and microphone, air quality monitor, and smoke detector, so you get to enjoy a wide range of functionality.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium also supports wider integration into smart home ecosystems. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, and IFTTT. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat on the other hand only supports integration to Alexa and Google Assistant.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium vs Google Nest Learning Thermostat
Final Thoughts
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
In conclusion, both the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat are excellent smart thermostats with their own unique strengths.
Ecobee device is slightly more expensive, but it offers better system compatibility and a few additional features that may be of interest to some users, such as a built-in speaker, air quality monitor, smoke detector, and an external Smart Sensor. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat, on the other hand, has a unique learning ability and detailed energy history that can help you save money.
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 Honeywell T9: Smart Thermostats Comparison
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