Do you need a new smart thermostat? Have you seen reviews for both the Ecobee and Honeywell and can’t decide which one is best for you?
Then stick around as today these thermostats go head to head as we find out which is the better choice!
We know how hard it can be to find the right smart thermostat (see also ‘Best HomeKit Thermostats‘) for you.
With so many options out there, all offering different features and functions, you can quickly become overwhelmed and unsure about which is the best option for you and your home.
Well, no more! Today we are here with the answers you need! Just keep reading to see a detailed review of both the Honeywell and Ecobee smart thermostat and find your new thermostat today!
Table of Contents
ToggleEcobee 4 Smart Thermostat
First up, we have the Ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control! The thermostat uses SmartSensor technology to adjust the temperature based on room occupancy, which can help save up to 23% on your energy bills every year. That’s an impressive saving!
The thermostat itself takes less than an hour to install and can be controlled easily through your smartphone, Apple Watch, tablet, or computer.
There is also Alexa built-in, allowing you to control it with your voice. Even if you don’t have an Echo speaker, you can make the most out of this feature and adjust the temperature with just your voice!
Pros
- The thermostat has an elegant display and glass screen
- Touch Screen and intuitive app make it super easy to use and program
- The thermostat works with most smart home systems including Google Assistant and Alexa for hands-free commands!
Cons
- It can be tricky to program complex or detailed schedules
Honeywell Home T9 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
Next, we have the Honeywell Home T9 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat. This thermostat allows you to change the temperature in the room yourself, or you can let the smart room sensors do the job for you!
They will assess which rooms are more populated and focus the heat on these rooms!
It’s ideal for larger homes or families that want to keep the heat in certain rooms.
You can adjust the temperature easily too, either by your phone or the programming feature on the thermostat.
This allows you to only have your home heated or cooled when people are there, potentially saving you money on your energy bills.
Pros
- The sensors cover up to 200ft providing plenty of coverage
- Touchscreen display is stylish and incredibly easy to use!
- The thermostat can be installed easily and is compatible with most homes
Cons
- You need to program your schedule manually, rather than the thermostat learning it
- Mobile app can be a little slow, meaning it takes a while for the heating to update with your adjustments
Comparison Chart
Let’s take a look at all the specs and features you need to be aware of before we dive further into this review!
Ecobee 4 | Honeywell Home T9 | |
Weight | 1.72lbs | 1.46lbs |
Dimensions | 4.29 x 4.29 x 1 inch | 3.7 x 4.92 x 0.94 inches |
Style | Smart Thermostat | Smart Thermostat and Sensor |
Color | Black | White |
Control with an app? | Yes | Yes |
Battery Type | Lithium-Ion | Alkaline |
What’s in the box? | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Ecobee Smart Thermostat mounting plate Smart Sensor and detachable stand Wire labels Large trim plate Install and Quickstart guide | Honeywell Home T9 ThermostatThermostat Mounting hardware Sensor |
Works with smart home devices (Alexa, Google, etc)? | Yes | Yes |
Amazon Alexa Built-in? | Yes | No |
Warranty | 3 year limited | 1 year |
Now that we have an overview of each device and some pros and cons of them, let’s move on and examine them in closer detail to see which one best suits your needs!
Installation
Let’s start with the installation process. Now, both smart thermostats are easy to install.
How easy they are to install will depend on your experience with thermostats.
It might take you a little longer to install if this is your first thermostat, but it is unlikely that you will need to get a professional in to do the work for you.
Ecobee claims you can install their thermostat in 45 minutes or less, without needing any extra help.
There is a video that guides you through the process and a detailed guide on their app that is super easy to follow.
Should you need more help, you can call the customer support team and they can guide you through the process over the phone. There is plenty of help available from Ecobee!
Honeywell Home says their thermostat can be installed as easily as their competitors! To install their T9 Home, follow the installation guide provided.
What’s great about this thermostat is it comes with a power adapter that will replace a C-wire! This way you get power to the thermostat without any tricky installation.
Honeywell’s thermostat is compatible with most HVAC systems too, so you don’t need to worry about compatibility issues.
Overall, both thermostats are super easy to install! If you are wary about installing a new thermostat, you can’t go wrong with the Ecobee or Honeywell, making the first round in this competition a tie!
Design And Style
As important as the technical features of a thermostat are, it’s also worth touching on the style and design of the thermostats.
The Ecobee thermostat is a beautiful shape that doesn’t look too boring or extravagant.
The rounded edges give it a cozy feel that is sure to look perfect on your wall!
You also get a crisp glass display that makes viewing the temperature and programming the thermostat a breeze. It certainly is a smart thermostat, see what we did there?
Honeywell’s thermostat doesn’t have quite the same design appeal. Sure, the shape is nice and soft, but it’s a little simple.
The white color is sure to match your decor, so if you are after one that will fit in with your wall color or decor, then it’s a fine choice.
Although both thermostats feature a nice design, we think the Ecobee wins this round thanks to its sleek and modern design.
Programming
Now, let’s get into the important stuff! The programming and learning capabilities of your thermostat are important features to look at, so let’s break them down for you.
First, is the Ecobee thermostat. This thermostat learns your daily schedule and offers recommendations that can help lower your heating bill! What’s great about this thermostat is that the sensors can adjust the temperature when you leave your room or house and adjust it when you return.
It’s perfect for those that only want their homes or rooms heated when they are in them!
Not, the programming can be a little tricky, especially if you have a complex schedule you are trying to program.
Thankfully, the support team is on hand to help if you need it, or you can skip this step entirely, and let the thermostat adjust your temperature automatically.
Now, Honeywell’s thermostat is quite different from the Ecobee here. It can’t automatically learn your schedule, so you will need to program it yourself.
Thankfully, it’s quite simple to program but be warned that you will need to do this rather than relying on the thermostat.
Honeywell’s T9 Home allows you to choose a temperature for each room, or you can rely on the sensors to heat the rooms for you.
The occupancy sensors will detect what rooms are in use and heat those.
The sensors ensure that people in those rooms are getting heat when they need them, or cool air in the warmer months.
As both thermostats can be programmed easily, this round is a draw!
Smartphone Apps
Let’s turn our attention now to smartphone apps. Both the Ecobee and Honeywell thermostats have apps you can use to control your thermostat.
Having an app on your tablet or smartphone makes it super easy to control your thermostat no matter where you are in the house! But is one app better than the other? Let’s find out!
Ecobee’s app not only allows you to adjust the temperature of your home but has plenty of other helpful features we think you will love! You can have notifications sent to you when your system needs maintenance or if the temperature in your home is low and could cause frozen or burst pipes. Now there’s no excuse to let those pipes freeze!
The Honeywell app allows you to monitor all your devices. You can adjust the temperature, as well as get reminders to change your air filter if your temperature rises or falls above normal which could cause problems like burst pipes.
What we love about it, is that your thermostat can work out if you are home or not based on your phone’s location.
It will then adjust the temperature, potentially saving you money on your energy bill every month!
Based on this, we think that the Honeywell app wins this round! Anything that can help us save some money is a winner in our books.
Features And Integrations
The features and integrations that a smart thermostat can offer is a great way to decide if it is for you or not.
So let’s take a look at some of the features that make these thermostats stand out!
First, the Ecobee comes with a Smart Sensor feature that enables the thermostat to adjust the temperature itself.
Combined with the eco+ software, you can expect an efficient thermostat that can reduce wasted energy in your home, saving you money!
The thermostat also works with smart home systems like Apple Home Kit, Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Samsung SmartThings.
You also get Alexa built-in, so you don’t even need to have a smart home device to enjoy the benefits! Simply ask your thermostat for a weather update to adjust the temperature, play music, or call friends and family. It’s never been easier to control a thermostat!
On to the Honeywell thermostat. It uses smart room sensors that determine what rooms are occupied and adjust the temperature to keep them comfortable.
The Auto Home and Away is a cool feature that will reduce wasted energy and keep your home heated or cool when you need it!
The sensors will change depending on your lifestyle, so when you are home in the evenings you can enjoy some heat and rest easy knowing that you aren’t wasting energy when you are out at work.
The thermostat is also compatible with smart home systems like Alexa and Google Assistant.
While both thermostats offer excellent features and would make fine choices, we think the Ecobee thermostat wins this round! The addition of Alexa built-in allows you to communicate hands-free, which we think is fantastic for the modern couple or family!
Final Thoughts
So, we have reached the end of our guide and we bet you are wondering, which thermostat is the better choice? Well, both thermostats are fine choices if you are after a smart thermostat that can adjust your home temperature for you.
But, there can be only one winner, and today it is the Ecobee smart thermostat!
The sleek design, SmartSensor feature, and voice control tipped it over the edge for us.
Now that isn’t to say the Honeywell thermostat isn’t a good choice.
If you want a good sensor range and various program settings, then it’s a great choice!
Ultimately, the choice is yours, but we don’t think you can go wrong with either the Ecobee or Honeywell smart thermostat!