Bonus WiFi Thermostat Reviews – Updated for 2019

Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation

I talked a little bit about the Nest 3rd Generation earlier, but I want to go into more detail about this model. What does the 3rd generation model have to offer, and why does it outdo the competition?

Nest 3rd Generation Features

Automatic scheduling

Auto-Away

Remote control

Wi-Fi connectivity

Nest leaf feature

Compatibility with 90% of 24V systems

Energy usage tracking

Like all the generations before it, Nest learns your habits to make heating and cooling your home virtually effortless. The automatic scheduling adapts and adjusts to your preferences, so it programs itself.

Prefer the temperature to be 73 degrees in the morning? Nest will adjust the temperature automatically, so when you wake up, you’re perfectly comfortable.

Over time, the Nest will continue learning your habits and continually make adjustments, so you’re always comfortable in your home.

The Auto-Away feature also detects when you’re away from home, and raises or lowers the temperature to save you money. No one wants to heat or cool an empty house.

Installation is a breeze, too, and Nest offers 24/7 support to help you with any snags you may come across along the way.

The Nest is an amazing alternative you can buy, and it’s backed by thousands of positive reviews.

Ecobee3 WiFi Thermostat

The ecobee3 is another thermostat model that I touched on earlier, and with remote sensors, it’s one of the unique models out there.

What’s the big deal about remote sensors? They allow you to keep tabs on the temperatures in your home’s most important rooms. These smart sensors also know when a room is unoccupied (or occupied), so it can make adjustments accordingly.

Ecobee3 Features

Remote sensors

Wi-Fi connectivity

Uses your home’s energy profile and the outdoor weather to adjust your HVAC system

Can save you up to 32% on your energy bills

Compatible with gas, oil, and electric systems

Simply put, the ecobee3 ensures that the room you’re in right now is the most comfortable room in the house. Unoccupied rooms are deprioritized, so you spend less money heating empty space.

If efficiency is your top priority, the ecobee3 is the best programmable thermostat on the market.

Like other smart thermostats, you have the option of controlling the temperature remotely. You can also track your energy usage to see where and when you’re spending the most money.

What I really love about the ecobee3 is that it doesn’t require a “C” wire for most systems. So, if you have an older HVAC system, you may be able to use this thermostat without having to run a new wire from your furnace to the thermostat itself.

Want to learn more about smart thermostats? Check out these helpful guides:

Top Rated WiFi Thermostat 2019

1. Nest Learning Thermostat – 2nd Generation T200577

Nest is a leader in the WiFi thermostat industry, and the second generation model is rated the best on the market by consumers. It’s slim, sleek and more compatible than ever. Did I mention it can also save you up to 20% on your energy bills? Let’s take a closer look at what the 2nd generation Nest thermostat has to offer.

Standout Features

Auto-away: Automatically turns the thermostat down while you’re away from home.

Auto-schedule: Automatically programs itself to your preferred temperatures.

Wi-Fi control: Connect your Nest thermostat to Wi-Fi to control it from a mobile device.

A Smart Thermostat

What if your thermostat intuitively knew what temperature you liked and automatically programmed itself? That’s exactly what Nest does. It learns what temperatures you like and programs itself automatically, so your home is always the right temperature.

Nest will also turn itself down while you’re at work, away for the night or out running errands. And when you connect your thermostat to WiFi, you can control it from your smartphone, tablet, laptop or any other mobile device (more on that later).

Sleek Design

Nest’s design is what initially attracted me to this thermostat, and I was surprised to see the 2nd generation receive an even slimmer, sleeker design. Encased in a solid stainless steel ring, the new Nest features a smooth sensor window and is now compatible with 95% of low voltage systems.

Save Energy

Nest’s energy-saving capabilities is one of its biggest selling points. But there’s one thing I’ve noticed about this thermostat– you have to train it right to see those energy savings. And Nest gives you plenty of tools to help you do that. I’ve already talked about the auto-schedule and auto-away features, but other energy-saving features include:

energy savings of 10% on average. The Nest Leaf : Each time you choose an energy-efficient temperature, a little Nest Leaf will appear. Earn a leaf every day, and you’ll see anon average.

30% less . Airwave : One of my favorite features. This nifty option will automatically turn off your air conditioner a few minutes early, but will keep the fan running. With the fan going, you’ll stay comfortable and your AC will run

System Match : Nest will work with your heating and cooling system to activate certain features that not only save energy, but help make your home more comfortable.

Personalize Your System

Not all homes are the same – and what’s comfortable for me, may not be comfortable for you. Nest knows this, and offers quite a few personalization tools to help you find the right thermostat settings.

Right from the get-go, I started using the Early-On feature. What this does is turn on your heating and cooling a little bit earlier than your programmed time to ensure your home is the right temperature at the right time.

Two other great personalization features are Filter Reminders and Heat Pump Balance. Filter reminders let you know when it’s time to change your air filter based on how many hours the heating/cooling system has been running.

Heat Pump Balance is a bit more complicated. Essentially, it keeps auxiliary heat to a minimum, which can be expensive.

Control Nest From Your Mobile Device

Connecting Nest to WiFi will allow you to control your thermostat using a mobile device, like a tablet or smartphone. Once it’s connected, you can change the temperature, see how much energy you’re using, and view and adjust your settings or schedule.

Every month, you’ll receive an Energy Report, and you can view your energy history for last 10 days on the web or mobile app.

WiFi connection isn’t necessary, but it’s recommended. Some people have had issues with the connection dropping off periodically, but this isn’t a common issue.

What really sets this thermostat apart are its learning and intuitive energy-saving features. If you train it right, the 2nd generation Nest will keep your home comfortable and save you money in the meantime.

Click here to see pricing and reviews on Amazon.com.

2. Honeywell WiFi Smart Thermostat

This Honeywell thermostat is similar to Nest, but lacks some of its automatic features. It’s a bit bigger and bulkier than the previous thermostat, but it does have an on-screen menu and help button. Even with a bigger interface, the Honeywell Smart Thermostat is sharp looking. You can even change the color of the menu to complement your home’s décor.

Of course, looks aren’t everything – especially with a thermostat. With smart features, a simple setup and WiFi connectivity, this is a thermostat that can help you save money each month on your energy bills.

Standout Features

Wi-Fi: Connect to Wi-Fi for remote thermostat control.

Reminders: Filter reminders let you know when it’s time to replace your air filter.

Alerts: Be alerted of extreme indoor temperatures, so your home is never too hot or cold.

Updates: Stay updated on local weather conditions.

Smart Response: Ensures that your home is the right temperature at the right time.

What Makes This Thermostat Unique?

The Honeywell Smart Thermostat does come with a few features that set it apart from Nest, such as.

Customizable touchscreen

Extreme temperature alerts

Weather updates

Outdoor/indoor temperature and humidity display

It also boasts some of the same features that make Nest a smart buy, such as:

Wi-Fi connectivity for remote control.

Fan controls.

A similar Early-On feature that ensures your home is the right temperature at the right time.

One issue I did notice with this thermostat is compatibility: it won’t work with electric baseboard heat systems.

That being said, this is still one of the best smart thermostats out there, and comes packed with plenty of great features, including:

Smart Scheduling

Honeywell’s flexible scheduling options really impressed me. You have the option of programming your device as a business or a home, and then you can select scheduling features for your home or business.

So, when your home or office is unoccupied, the thermostat will automatically adjust the temperature to save you money on energy costs. And with Smart Response, the thermostat will ensure that your home or office is the right temperature at all times.

The only downfall here is that the thermostat doesn’t have motion detectors (like Nest), so you’ll need to schedule the temperature adjustments manually.

Advanced Touchscreen

One great feature of the Honeywell digital thermostat is its advanced touchscreen. It displays the current indoor temperature and humidity as well as the outdoor temperature and humidity. This allows you to quickly and easily select the perfect temperature for your home.

On the right-hand side of the screen are simple “up” and “down” arrows that allow you to quickly adjust the temperature without having to jump through hoops. The screen also displays other information, like status, date, time, and schedule information.

Under the Fan control tab, you can adjust fan settings to improve the air circulation in your home and improve temperature regulation.

You can also create schedules right through the on-screen menu, and a “help” feature will guide you through the process.

The touchscreen is customizable , so you can choose a background color that matches your home’s décor. And if you’re worried about security, the advanced locking feature and password ensures that only you and your family can control your thermostat.

The touchscreen on the Honeywell Smart Thermostat is one of its most unique features, and makes this product very user-friendly. But if you prefer to control the thermostat remotely, you can with your smartphone, laptop or tablet.

Wi-Fi Connectivity

When you connect your Honeywell thermostat to Wi-Fi, you can control your home’s temperature and schedule right from your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Honeywell’s app is highly rated and available for both iOS and Android devices.

The one thing you’ll really love about the app is its ability to send you automatic alerts for filter reminders and extreme temperatures.

If your home is too hot or cold, the app will let you know, so you can adjust the temperature accordingly. And like Nest, it’ll remind you when it’s time to change your air filter.

The Honeywell WiFi Smart Thermostat is a great alternative to Nest. It lacks some of the automatic features, like the motion detector, but it’s almost on par with Nest in just about every other department. Just keep in mind that this thermostat is not compatible with electric baseboard heaters.

Click here to see pricing and reviews on Amazon.com.

3. White-Rodgers 1f86u-42wf Emerson Sensi WiFi Thermostat

Looking for a thermostat that’s easy to install and program? This White Rodgers thermostat may be the right choice for you. It may not be on par with Nest or even the Honeywell Smart Thermostat, but it gets the job done and even allows you to control your thermostat remotely.

What Makes This Thermostat Unique?

The Sensi comes with a few unique features that sets it apart from the other two thermostats on my list:

Better compatibility: A “c-wire” is not required with most heating and cooling systems, which allows Sensi to be used in more homes than any other smart thermostat on the market.

Precise temperature control to +/- 1 degree F.

Like the previous programmable thermostat on my list, the Sensi also includes:

Wi-Fi connectivity for remote control of your thermostat.

A free app that’s compatible with iOS and Android devices.

While Sensi is compatible with most systems, there are still quite a few it won’t work with, like gravity furnaces and old millivolt wall units. All programmable thermostats will have some compatibly issues, so this is to be expected.

Despite this, the Sensi does come with some great features.

Intuitive Scheduling

The Sensi app makes it easy to program and schedule your thermostat. You can even control multiple thermostats and from multiple devices with ease. The app allows for detailed 7-day programming, so you can adjust your home’s temperature according to your own personal schedule.

You’ll also be able to see local temperatures and weather. Sensi even includes an automatic Daylight Savings adjustment.

You won’t be able to program your thermostat through an intuitive touchscreen like the Honeywell thermostat, but the app will give you complete control over your settings and schedule.

Easy to Install

Let’s face it – installing a WiFi thermostat can be a pain. Emerson aimed to make the job a little easier with the Sensi. There’s no need for a “c-wire” with most heating and cooling systems, which means this thermostat can be used in more homes than any other smart thermostat out there. It installs just like any other thermostat, and connecting to Wi-Fi is easy.

Digital Display

The Sensi may have a simple digital display, but it gives you all the information you need – and nothing more, including:

Time

Wi-Fi connection strength

Current room temperature

Set temperature

Mode/Fan/Schedule

Battery life

Menu and temperature buttons are featured alongside the screen for easy adjustment on the go.

Truth be told, the White-Rodgers Sensi isn’t quite as feature-rich as the previous two models on my list, but it’s a simple, reliable and accurate thermostat backed by the trusted Emerson name. It also happens to be one of the most affordable thermostats on my list.

Click here to see pricing and reviews on Amazon.com.

Why Buy a WiFi Thermostat?

WiFi thermostats offer many advantages over a typical programmable thermostat, such as:

Energy usage reports: See how much energy you’re using, and make adjustments to cut back on energy costs.

Remote control: With WiFi connectivity and a companion app, you can adjust your home’s temperature whenever – wherever.

Sleek design: Today’s WiFi thermostats feature sleek, modern designs that look good on any home’s wall.

How to Pick A Top WiFi Thermostat

Smart thermostats are intelligent, intuitive and adapt to your own personal preferences. That’s why it’s important to choose a model that fits your home and needs.

What works for your neighbor, may not work for you.

So, how do you find the top-rated wireless thermostat for your home?

Here’s what you should keep in mind…

Compatibility:

Before you pay a dime for a smart thermostat, you need to make sure that it’s compatible with your current system.

Central heating and cooling systems are the most common in modern-day homes, and they can be 24V, oil, gas, or electric. Not sure what type of system you have?

Check your furnace!

A gas furnace will have a small window on the front of the unit, and you should see a glowing blue flame inside. Gas burners also make a lot of noise.

Electric systems don’t have a glass window and are relatively quiet.

Heating and Cooling Needs

What does your schedule look like?

If you’re like me (and most other people), you’re in and out of the house all the time. You’ll benefit most from a programmable and smart thermostat because you can program your system to adjust the temperature automatically when you’re away.

But even if you spend a lot of time at home…

A WiFi thermostat can save you money every month and keep your home the perfect temperature.

The key thing is to make sure that the programmability is as complex or simple as you need it to be. Spend most of your time at home on the weekends?Look for a model that offers weekend programs.

Want to change temperatures throughout the day? Select a model that allows you to set different temperatures in a 24-hour period. Choose a thermostat that fits your schedule.

C Wire Availability:

The Top Rated WiFi thermostat will probably require a “C” (or Common) wire connection.

Why?

This low voltage wire is what powers the thermostat, and allows it to connect to your home’s WiFi. Without it, you won’t be able to use its advanced features.

If you have an older HVAC system (like me), you may not have this wire available, or it may be hiding in your wall.

I chose to have a professional run a “C” wire from my furnace to my thermostat, but there are a few models out there that don’t actually need this wire – like the Sensi.

If you do have this wire available, you can choose just about any model you want.

Now isn’t that kool? It Certainly Is.

Let’s move on to the next feature…

Ease of Use:

Heating and cooling your home shouldn’t be rocket science. I’ve installed my fair share of WiFi thermostats – some are a nightmare to use, while others are incredibly easy.

Now, it’s not always easy to judge a thermostat’s ease of use without actually trying it first-hand.This is where WiFi thermostat reviews can come in handy.

If buyers are saying that the thermostat is easy to use, it probably is. Also, check the product description for images of the user interface to see how complex or simple it is to use.

The best programmable thermostat won’t make it difficult to create schedules or change the settings.

Energy-Saving and Maintenance Tools:

A Wifi Thermostat will save you money, and help you extend the life of your HVAC system.

All programmable models have the potential to save you money – if you use them properly. Make sure that the thermostat lets you create schedules or programs.

And if you want to take it a step further, choose a model that also alerts you when it’s time to change your filter or perform other maintenance tasks.

Now that you know what type of thermostat you want, you can use my WiFi thermostat reviews to help you find the perfect model for your home.

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