Best smart thermostats that support Amazon Alexa in 2024

Efficiently control the temperature inside your home and manage energy usage with the best smart thermostats. These devices offer advanced features that will save you the hassle of manually adjusting your home’s heating and cooling system, making them ideal for switching from an analog thermostat. Additionally, they allow you to create customized schedules, so you can choose when to heat or cool the room.

Most smart thermostats employ machine-learning techniques to master user preferences for precise and intelligent temperature control. Furthermore, almost all smart thermostats support voice control and work with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. If you are looking for an Alexa-compatible smart thermostat, this list can help you get started.

Top Alexa-compatible smart thermostats

Whether you’re looking to upgrade or just want to jump in with one of the best options out there, the Google Nest Learning Smart Thermostat suits most buyers and most smart home needs. True to its name, the Nest Learning Smart Thermostat uses an algorithm to slowly become familiar with the household’s schedule and automatically adjust the climate to your preferences. In most cases, the thermostat can be up and running in less than half an hour, so there’s no need to be intimidated by the installation — but that learning part takes some time.

While the Learning Smart thermostat is nearly double the price of its non-learning counterpart, this option boasts a sharper resolution and larger display. This option performs well in various room sizes; the optional Nest temp sensor expands the thermostat’s reach in larger areas, while the Farsight feature that illuminates the Nest’s display when you’re detected makes at-a-glance information conveniently accessible no matter the room size.

This smart thermostat also encourages conscious energy consumption (and energy bill savings!) through habit learning and environmental monitoring with built-in sensors. It also comes in a nice color array to suit any home’s aesthetic. While meant for the Google Home ecosystem, the Nest Learning Thermostat integrates into an Amazon Alexa-friendly home perfectly fine. (Unfortunately, there’s no compatibility for Apple HomeKit users.)

Want a smart thermostat with just about every feature possible? The Ecobee Premium, while one of the most expensive options on our list, is loaded with perks. The thermostat doubles as a home security panel and monitors air quality stats including carbon dioxide, humidity, and other pollutants. Its 4-inch screen can also display useful information like local weather and outdoor temperature.

The thermostat’s intercom capabilities allow the Ecobee Premium to act as an extension of Echo devices, a huge bonus for large houses where there might not be an Echo in every room. You don’t even have to worry if you find yourself short on speakers or headphones; the Ecbobee can play music or stream podcasts, too, thanks to onboard speakers. This feature supports Spotify, Amazon Music, and AirPlay streaming. Although loud, the onboard speaker system doesn’t deliver audiophile-quality sound, as we found out during testing, so you shouldn’t expect much in terms of audio performance.

One smart sensor is also included with the Ecobee Premium, giving the thermostat access to info in a second location, like a basement. Note that a monthly subscription is required to unlock some features. The Ecobee Premium integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and any IFTTT system. If you’re in the early smart home stages, you can build your ecosystem around the Premium by adding Ecobee’s entry sensors, smart cameras, and temperature sensors.

If you’re early on in your smart home journey, shelling out big bucks for expensive gadgets can be daunting. The Amazon Smart Thermostat covers the smart feature basics for an affordable price. Being an Amazon product, this smart thermostat will integrate with Alexa seamlessly. Use voice commands to bump up the heat from anywhere in your house where an Echo or other Alexa-compatible device is, or turn on the AC remotely from the Alexa smartphone app on your way home from work.

Unfortunately, the Amazon Smart Thermostat doesn’t count as an Alexa smart speaker itself. This thermostat is small, white, square, and as plain in hardware as it is in visual appeal; it isn’t equipped with a microphone or speaker, so you’ll need an Alexa-compatible device or the Alexa app to communicate with it. Another major drawback is that Amazon’s smart thermostat is an Alexa exclusive; you won’t be able to integrate this thermostat with Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, or any IFTTT systems.

This thermostat draws on smart features and capabilities provided by Alexa. It will automatically adjust to preset temperatures when Alexa determines that you’re either home, sleeping, or out. Other perks of the Amazon Smart Thermostat include a stress-free DIY install, Ring app integration, and energy savings and rebates.

An affordable step-down from the Google Nest Smart Learning Thermostat, the Nest Thermostat is a very attractive buy for homeowners who want to reap as many smart features as possible, but don’t necessarily need the premium option. This thermostat will join the ranks of an existing Amazon ecosystem easily, but there must be an Alexa speaker, like an Echo, already present. This thermostat is easy to install, boasts a modern design, and comes in four trendy colors — sand, snow, fog, and charcoal.

What features do you lose out on when choosing the Google Nest Smart Thermostat over the more expensive learning version? The 2020 Nest Thermostat is currently the only Google thermostat model to support Matter integration (which, if you’re not familiar, is a newer way of connecting your smart devices over local internet networks). The pricier Learning Thermostat expands on available color options and incorporates Farsight, a feature that detects when a human is nearby and displays at-a-glance information like the time and temperature.

And, most notably, the Learning Thermostat can take your home’s climate schedule into its own hands, learning your temperature preference and schedule and adjusting accordingly. Not every shopper wants a thermostat that does the adjustment on their behalf, though. For that reason, the Google Nest Thermostat is a perfectly capable alternative without helicopter monitoring.

One of the most notable upgrades you’re paying for when picking Ecobee’s top-shelf thermostat, the Ecobee Premium, is an onboard microphone and speaker for quick Alexa/smart assistant access and even music streaming like a normal speaker. The Ecobee3 Lite is a step-down from the Premium, shaving a few bucks off the price as well as those built-in microphones/speakers, a prudent sacrifice to make if you already have multiple Alexa-compatible speakers or hubs throughout the home.

Featuring a sleek rounded-square design and 3.5-inch display, the Ecobee3 Lite is easy to install and operate. There’s a HUD similar to the Ecobee Premium’s, offering quick details like local weather. It doesn’t offer quite as many smart features as competing thermostats that add $100 or so to their price, like learning, air monitoring, or remote sensors.

This midrange smart thermostat appeals to the average smart homeowner who isn’t new to smart devices but also doesn’t see the appeal in feature-loaded premium devices. The Ecobee3 Lite is quick to install, listens to Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant (Ecobee also throws IFTTT and Wink integration in there, too), and can expand your indoor climate control with the addition of Ecobee SmartSensors to detect cold spots or open doors.

Cooling and heating bigger homes can be quite the headache, but with the Honeywell Home T9 WiFi Smart Thermostat, it doesn’t have to be. This thermostat supports an ecosystem of up to 20 sensors, so you can keep eyes on the climate on every floor, in every room. (The thermostat ships with one included sensor.) The Ecobee Premium supports 12 more sensors than this, but the Honeywell sensors are more affordable and more capable. The T9 monitors humidity in addition to temperature — as do its satellite sensors, unlike Ecobee’s. Use the Resideo app to check in on each individual sensor and create schedules accordingly.

The Honeywell T9 isn’t a learning thermostat, but it uses geofencing to detect when you leave or come home to automatically adjust to your preferred temperature. If location-based adjustments aren’t your style, the T9 supports simple time-based schedules, too. Unfortunately, the two are mutually exclusive; you have to go all-in on one type of schedule at a time.

While this thermostat requires a separate app for operation — Resideo — it does integrate with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, or any IFTTT smart home system for easy operation. It requires a C wire for power but comes with an adapter if needed.

If you’re curious about what’s out there for smart thermostats besides Google, Amazon, or Ecobee products, the Emerson Sensi Touch is a great place to look. It’s an Alexa-compatible product that installs in minutes (it’s standard thermostat size, so it fits easily in most existing spaces, comes equipped with click-in terminals, and has step-by-step instructions) and comes in three sleek colors — white, silver, or black. It features a 4.3-inch screen and does require a C-wire for power, so you’ll need to use the included adapter if you don’t have one.

This thermostat also keeps track of humidity levels, which is always a nice feature to see in smart thermostats. The Sensi offers your standard suite of smart thermostat features. Through the Sensi app, you can set your preferred climate schedule in the app, and the thermostat will respond accordingly when its built-in geofencing detects you leaving. There’s quite a bit of freedom in scheduling — set and name as many different heating and cooling schedules as you’d like, whether it be for weekdays and weekends, or divided up by different times of day.

The Sensi’s versatile smart home compatibility is an attractive feature. It integrates with most major smart home ecosystems, unlike other competing thermostats: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Wink, and Samsung SmartThings.

One of the most compelling components of the GE CYNC Smart Thermostat is its 5.3-inch-by-3.33-inch display. Users who want their smart thermostat display to be more prominent, or need a larger screen for vision impairment or accessibility purposes, may find the GE CYNC to be more fitting than the small displays found on Google products.

The GE brand as a whole has some maturing to do in the smart home field — its own first-party devices don’t integrate with one another, and the smart assistant compatibility is very limited — but even at this stage, there’s a lot to like about the CYNC thermostat. At less than $150, the CYNC appeals to homeowners who are either new to smart things or want to keep the smart system in their home quite simplified, even in its final form. It features a bright, information-packed display, remote control, and schedule setting via the CYNC app. This thermostat is scalable with add-on sensors, but it keeps its circle small, supporting only up to six sensors.

The GE CYNC is compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant smart homes and allows for remote control or schedule setting via the CYNC app. Unfortunately, it’s not friendly with Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, or IFTTT ecosystems, so there’s a considerable loss there for a thermostat marketed as “smart.” There’s no built-in mic or speaker, either, so you’ll need an existing smart speaker or hub to enable voice controls.

Which is the best Alexa-enabled smart thermostat?

It doesn’t matter whether you are a smart home beginner or an expert, a smart thermostat can be a great addition to your Alexa ecosystem, providing full automation and precise temperature control for a comfortable living space. Nestled in these devices are advanced sensors that make your HVAC system smarter and more efficient. That said, you can set the system to cool or heat only when someone is home, reducing energy consumption.

The Google Nest Learning Smart Thermostat is one of the best options. It uses learning algorithms to familiarize itself with your home’s heating and cooling schedule. As such, the thermostat will control all HVAC functions on its own for a hands-free user experience. This thermostat also has a humidity and proximity sensor, making it even more convenient.

The Ecobee Premium Smart Thermostat, on the other hand, boasts premium features that you won’t find on most thermostats. For starters, it has a built-in microphone and speaker, so you can use it as an extension of Amazon Echo devices. Better yet, the thermostat works with all major smart home assistants including, Apple HomeKit, and doubles as a security hub for Ecobee devices.

Those looking for a simple yet reliable thermostat that offers good value for money should consider the Amazon Smart Thermostat. It has all the basic features one may look for in a modern thermostat and readily integrates with Amazon Alexa.