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What are smart thermostats?
What can they do and are they worth it?
Smart thermostats are a nifty way to control your heating on the go from your phone, tablet or other device. They're touted as a great way to save cash, but they're not cheap – so whether one will save you money depends on how you use it and what type of home you have.
So, what can they do and are they worth it? To help, this guide examines the basics and more...
Smart thermostats need-to-knows
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What are smart thermostats?
Smart thermostats are a nifty piece of kit that connects your heating system to the internet – letting you change the temperature or switch your heating off using your smartphone or other device when you're out and about, or with your computer.
You need an internet connection to use them of course, but seeing as you're reading this we'll go ahead and assume you do.
Remember that these are different from smart meters – which most energy firms are currently offering to install for free. For more, see our Smart Meters guide.
Plus, unlike smart meters, you install or arrange installation of smart thermostats yourself – so it doesn't matter which energy provider supplies your energy. Also, they don't affect switching suppliers.
Quick questions
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How much do smart thermostats cost?
Smart thermostats typically cost anywhere between £120 and £220, depending on make and model. Most makers also offer professional installation. This usually adds about £30 to £80.
But there are now several options on the market which don't require the help of a professional, and can be easily installed yourself - most brands have installation instructions. For where to pick one up, see the main thermostats and where to get them.
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Can smart thermostats help you save money?
There's no guarantee you'll save money – it all depends on your habits:
- Good for you if you come home at different times every day; if you're home a little later one day, you can delay the heating coming on remotely with smart thermostats.
- Not so good for you if your routine is set (you leave the house at the same time every day, returning at the same time). As you can programme most thermostats to come on at specific times, a traditional thermostat would do. Similarly, if you work from home, you can turn the heating up (or down/off) manually if it gets cold (or too warm) in the property.
If you don't have any controls – smart or traditional – either are worth it to avoid wasting heat or going back to a cold home.
Plus, see if you can save by making your home more energy efficient with our 70+ Energy Saving Tips, or see if you're eligible for free insulation or a new boiler.
- Good for you if you come home at different times every day; if you're home a little later one day, you can delay the heating coming on remotely with smart thermostats.
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What can smart thermostats do?
The clever feature of all smart thermostats is changing your heating with your phone – whether you're out and about, lounging on the couch or having a lie-in.
Other features vary by thermostat, but common ones include multi-room control, hot water control, 'geofencing' to track when you leave and enter your home, draught detection, safety and holiday modes to protect your pipes when you're not there, and feedback on your heating patterns.
Not every model will have all these features, but most are prevalent across different makes.
Quick questions
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Do smart thermostats work with other home tech such as the Amazon Echo?
They do. Most can work with Amazon Echo, Google Home and IFTTT (which stands for 'if this, then that'; it's an online platform that can connect apps and devices to each other). A more limited number work with Microsoft Cortana and Apple HomeKit.
Once you've connected your thermostat to your smart home device, you should be able to ask Alexa (Amazon Echo), Cortana or Google to set your heating at a certain temperature, increase or decrease the heating, or check what temperature your home is at – among other funky features.
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You can still switch energy supplier with a smart thermostat
Smart thermostats have no impact on switching energy provider. Yet right now, due to the energy crisis there's no deals worth switching to, as everyone is paying the same rates under the energy price guarantee.
Prices of smart thermostats don't change much across retailers, though you can sometimes find discounts via electronic sellers such as Amazon, Currys and Argos.
Just remember to factor in installation cost. Whether you go through the manufacturers themselves – such as Hive or Nest – or through retailers, you can usually choose to buy them with or without installation. So if you're handy with DIY, you may save up to £100.
A number of energy suppliers also sell smart thermostats and install them for you, and it generally costs much the same as going direct to the manufacturer. Some energy tariffs also include a smart thermostat – they're often touted as freebies as you don't pay the upfront cost, but you generally pay via higher bills.
We've listed the major providers and what their kit can do, but as some of the snazzy types of controls may be unfamiliar to you, here's an explanation of what the different features actually do.

Hive (part of British Gas)*
Typical cost: £200ish for mini or £280ish for standard (including installation)
Key features: Hot water control, geolocation, heat and hot water boost function, frost protection, temperature notifications, multizone (up to six zones), and holiday mode.
Extra info: The mini version has all the same features as the standard version, except some of the features are only available on the app rather than the thermostat itself. Hive also gives you historical information on temperatures inside and outside your home.

Nest (part of Google)
Typical cost: £300ish (including installation)
Key features: Learns your habits, hot water control, geolocation, frost protection, multizone (up to 20 zones), and holiday mode.
Extra info: Nest also says it can help you save on heating by using a green leaf symbol that pops up when you adjust your thermostat to an energy-efficient temperature.

Tado
Typical cost: £275ish (including installation)
Key features: Hot water control, geolocation, open window detection, weather forecasts, frost protection, open window detection, multizone (up to 25 zones), and holiday mode.
Extra info: Tado also gives you estimated savings from using its thermostat – based on the number of hours you'd be heating your home without it.
These are some of the main brands – all backed or partnered with major tech and energy firms – yet there are plenty of alternatives. Other popular ones include, Honeywell, Netatmo, Genius and Geo Cosy.
Smart thermostats are NOT the same as smart meters

It's easy to confuse smart thermostats and smart meters, but they're actually very different pieces of kit. While smart thermostats give you remote control over your heating system, smart meters mainly deal with your gas and electricity readings.
The new meters, which will be offered to all homes in England, Scotland and Wales by the end of 2025 (though they're not compulsory), take automatic meter readings and send them to your supplier, with the aim of ending estimated billing – as well as giving you more information on your energy use through the in-home display they come with.
Unlike smart thermostats, smart meters are free from your supplier. To see if these new meters are right for you, check our Smart Meters guide.
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