Checklist · 10 picks · 3 categories
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A smart thermostat lets you warm up the place from bed, on the way home or by voice. Bob Vila installed six of them in real homes and lived with them for weeks to months.
First, pick the one that matches your voice assistant: Alexa, Google or a mix. Then check your wiring, because several need a C-wire, the extra wire that powers the thermostat. Bob Vila says if your home doesn't have one, a professional should install it, and anyone unsure about wiring should go with professional installation. If one room is always colder, a room-sensor model helps. A humidity monitor and a door draft stopper round it out for winter. Each card shows the drawback Bob Vila called out, so you know the catch before you buy.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you rent and can't swap the thermostat; the Smart Home Starter list has plugs, bulbs and speakers you can take with you.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Smart Thermostat | budget | $50-100 | alexa homes on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) | splurge | $200-300 | google homes that want set-and-forget heat | 1 outlet |
| Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential | mid | $100-150 | mixed homes with Alexa, Google and Apple users | 1 outlet |
| Sensi Touch 2 Smart Thermostat | mid | $150-200 | a big, easy screen with no C-wire | 1 outlet |
| Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat With Sensor | splurge | $200-300 | a bedroom that's always colder than the hallway | 1 outlet |
Best smart thermostatbudget pick · 3.5 x 3.5 in display
Best for alexa homes on a budget
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck smart thermostat: very affordable, with a simple app, voice control and reliable Alexa automation.
Heads up. Energy tracking is less precise, and the best features require Alexa
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Bang for the Buck smart thermostat.
$50-100
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splurge pick · 2.7 in circular display
Best for google homes that want set-and-forget heat
Bob Vila's best overall smart thermostat: an attractive dial, easy DIY installation and a thermostat that learns your schedule over time.
Heads up. Higher price than basic models, and less appealing without the Google ecosystem
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Overall smart thermostat.
$200-300
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mid pick · 2.8 in touchscreen
Best for mixed homes with Alexa, Google and Apple users
Bob Vila's best smart features thermostat: a strong app with energy insights, multi-room temperature balancing and beginner-friendly setup.
Heads up. Remote sensors cost extra, and it supports only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Smart Features smart thermostat.
$100-150
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Best room-sensor thermostatmid pick · 5.6 x 3.25 in touchscreen
Best for a big, easy screen with no C-wire
Bob Vila's best touchscreen smart thermostat: a large, readable glass touchscreen with guided app installation and support for room sensors.
Heads up. Room sensors are sold separately
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Touchscreen smart thermostat.
$150-200
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splurge pick · 3.5 in touchscreen
Best for a bedroom that's always colder than the hallway
Bob Vila's best smart thermostat for a remote sensor: you choose which room the system prioritizes, which helps with uneven temperatures.
Heads up. Requires a C-wire, and additional sensors add cost
1 outlet. Bob Vila best for Remote Sensor smart thermostat.
$200-300
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Best humidity monitorbudget pick · Tabletop
Best for checking humidity from your phone on the cheap
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck hygrometer: an accurate, reliable hygrometer for a reasonable cost.
Heads up. Runs on disposable AAA batteries
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Bang for the Buck hygrometer.
$15-25
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mid pick · Stand or wall
Best for checking humidity when you're away from home
Bob Vila's best overall hygrometer: one of the few it reviewed that both looks good and works well.
Heads up. Doesn't click into its stand very solidly
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Overall hygrometer.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holikme 2-Pack Door Draft Stoppers | budget | $15-25 | two drafty doors for the price of one fix | 1 outlet |
| Maxtid Adjustable Door Draft Stopper | budget | $15-25 | the front door that whistles in winter | 1 outlet |
| Magzo Door Draft Stopper for Kids | mid | $25-50 | renters who can't stick anything to the door | 1 outlet |
Best door draft stopperbudget pick · Up to 37 in wide
Best for two drafty doors for the price of one fix
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck door draft stopper: two silicone strips that trim easily, stay in place and are nearly invisible on the door.
Heads up. Arrives rolled, so it's awkward to apply and hard to reposition; get the placement right the first time
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Bang for the Buck door draft stopper.
$15-25
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budget pick · 36 in wide
Best for the front door that whistles in winter
Bob Vila's best overall door draft stopper: a quick, simple install that stays in place, trims easily and blocks drafts well.
Heads up. Adhesive backing is hard to peel off, and the Velcro can be tricky to align
1 outlet. Bob Vila best Overall door draft stopper.
$15-25
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mid pick · 36 in
Best for renters who can't stick anything to the door
Bob Vila's best door draft stopper for kids' rooms: a soft, animal-shaped draft snake that needs no installation and doubles as a doorstop.
Heads up. Shifts when the door opens and closes, and the glass beads could be a hazard if a pet tears it open
1 outlet. Bob Vila best for Kids Rooms door draft stopper.
$25-50
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Many need one. In Bob Vila's tests, the Honeywell T9 requires a C-wire, the Amazon and Ecobee need one or a power adapter kit, and the Nest and Sensi Touch 2 don't. Bob Vila's tip: if your home is less than 10 years old, it probably already has a C-wire.
Bob Vila calls the Nest an easy DIY install, but says that if the house doesn't have a C-wire, a professional should install one, and that anyone unsure about working with wiring should opt for professional installation.
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck, the Amazon Smart Thermostat, has reliable Alexa automation and voice control, but its best features require Alexa and its energy tracking is less precise. The Ecobee Essential also works with Alexa, plus Google and Apple HomeKit.