The 6 best smart thermostats to control your heating from anywhere

To test the best smart thermostats, we picked out a selection of the most popular options in the UK across a range of budgets and from a variety of different brands. We installed each one in our home – without professional installation where possible – to evaluate how easy it is to do. The property we used for this test had a combination boiler without a hot water tank.

Once up and running, we continued to use our heating as we usually would, turning it on and off where appropriate using the smartphone app and setting daily schedules, assessing how intuitive the accessory app was and how easily it fitted into our day-to-day life. We took note of how simple the main controller was to use, its build quality and how responsive it was.

Where applicable, we installed the smart radiator valves on all heaters in one room to see how well zonal control worked.

If extra features were included, we put them to the test, too. For instance, using an Alexa speaker to control the thermostat by voice, setting up geo-fencing to turn the heating off when we left the property, and experimenting with how effective the open window detection was.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we rigorously test the latest smart home and security gadgets, including the best wireless security cameras, video doorbells and smart thermostats. Our experts adhere to strict testing protocols to evaluate each product’s ease of setup, ease of use, design, real-world performance and overall reliability. This hands-on approach means we only recommend devices that prove their worth in real homes, under the same conditions you'll be using them.

This guide was written and tested by Yasmine Crossland, an experienced tech journalist (and former Good Housekeeping Institute team member!) who has been reviewing consumer gadgets since 2019. Previously the Technology E-commerce Editor at Digital Spy and Reviews Writer at T3, Yasmine has tested hundreds of products and has contributed to leading tech publications.

For this guide, she installed and used each smart thermostat in her home, reviewing them according to the Good Housekeeping Institute’s protocols. She evaluated all aspects of their performance, such as how simple each one was to set up (without professional help, where possible), how intuitive the thermostat’s app and controls were for daily use, and the effectiveness of any extra features. All of these real-world tests ensure that our smart thermostat recommendations are the best picks you can buy right now.

Before buying a smart thermostat, you’ll need to find out what’s compatible with your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system and what wiring your current thermostat has. In the UK, some boilers have a two-wire or three-wire thermostat system, and some use a receiver with a battery-powered wireless thermostat. Luckily, most manufacturers offer a compatibility checker on their website to help you find out which thermostats are available to you in your home.

If your boiler isn’t compatible, or you want more precise control over each room (rather than the whole house at once), you may want to consider using multi-zone heating smart radiator valves. It’s worth knowing that these tend to be more expensive because you need to install them in every room.

Budget is likely to be a deciding factor for many people. Thermostats can cost anything from around £50 to over £250, so it’s worth figuring out how much you’re willing to spend before you start shopping.

Consider which features you’d like to have, too. Most smart thermostats and smart radiator valves have remote control through a smartphone app, but some can also be controlled by voice and integrated into your smart home system. If you use a particular voice assistant at home, be sure to check that the thermostat is compatible with that, too. Some can even be triggered by other smart tech, like a motion sensor.

Many have more advanced tools, like a built-in temperature sensor to turn the heating on or off when it drops below a certain point or reaches the ideal level. Some will provide you with detailed energy usage reports and insights. Occasionally, smart thermostats have energy-saving features like geo-fencing, which can turn the heating off when your smartphone leaves the property. Others take that even further, using AI to learn and predict your energy usage habits and using that information to adjust the heating accordingly.

When it comes to the key specifications, these are some of the main factors we think you should keep in mind.

Display and controls

All smart thermostats offer control and scheduling via a smartphone app, but if someone at home doesn’t use a smartphone, or is less tech-savvy, it’s worth looking for a thermostat with an intuitive display.

Self-learning

Some smart heating thermostats are self-learning. They can assess how long it takes your home to get to the desired temperature and adjust to make sure your home reaches that temperature exactly when you want it to.

Smart home platforms

When you invest in a smart thermostat, think about your whole smart home. Do you also have a video doorbell, security camera or a preferred voice control system? Each brand tends to work with its own products, so sticking with what you know might be wise! However, it’s worth knowing that there is a protocol that helps smart devices to communicate, called “Matter”; this is developed jointly by Amazon, Apple, Google and other manufacturers to eliminate incompatibilities.

Location tracking and geo-fencing

If you’re always out and about and don’t adhere to a regular schedule, GPS location tracking can be very handy. Smart thermostats can track your location through your phone and learn your routine, adjusting your central heating schedule accordingly.

Heating zones

Creating heat zones gives you greater control over different parts of the house. This can be either through using multiple thermostats – one upstairs and one downstairs, for instance – or by investing in smart thermostatic radiator valves which give you control over each room.

Voice control

If you're already using Amazon Alexa at home, it makes sense to buy a smart thermostat that's also Alexa compatible, rather than suddenly switching to Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit and having to learn how to set up and navigate a whole new ecosystem.

How do smart thermostats work?

Smart thermostats connect your heating system to your wi-fi network, allowing you to control it remotely via a smartphone app. You can purchase a smart thermostat to replace your current wired or wireless device and manage your home’s heating system as a whole. Alternatively, you can buy smart radiator valves to control each heater individually.

Typically, a smart thermostat’s installation kit includes a receiver that must be wired to your boiler, along with either a wireless battery-powered or wired thermostat. If you opt for zoned heating, you can attach the devices to most common thermostatic radiator valves.

Both are usually possible to install yourself, but it may be wise to call a qualified electrician or heating engineer for assistance, especially if you’re not confident taking on the job of wiring the thermostat or its receiver.

Most smart thermostats provide data on your energy use to help you save money, and can be controlled by voice through your Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant smart speaker. Some feature sensors that detect the temperature in your home, allowing you to adjust it as needed. Brands also offer optional accessories like motion sensors to determine whether you are in the house and turn the heating on or off accordingly.

Others use geo-fencing to identify when your smartphone moves from the property, turning the heating off as you leave. There are a few that learn your habits over time and adjust themselves automatically, too.

How much does a smart thermostat cost?

You can expect to pay somewhere between £50 and £250 for a smart thermostat, depending on which one you buy and which features you need.

If you aren’t confident installing it yourself, a lot of brands will do it for you, but that will add an extra cost. It will typically set you back somewhere between £30 and £80 to have someone come and set up the device for you, although some may charge upwards of £100 for professional installation.

Note that some smart thermostats also require a monthly subscription fee to access some features. You'll need to decide how important those are to you and whether you're happy to pay the fee; we've detailed these in our write-ups.

Can a smart thermostat help you monitor energy use?

Smart thermostats and smart radiator valves provide an easy way to monitor your energy usage at home, which can help save money on your heating costs in the long-run. A companion smartphone app will display reports on your energy consumption, offering insights that will encourage you to be more mindful of when and how you use your heating.

Thanks to the accompanying app, you can also control smart thermostats remotely as long as you have an internet connection. This means you can turn off the heating when you're away from home, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. Even better, thermostats equipped with geo-fencing or motion sensors can do this automatically, so you won’t need to remember to switch it off yourself. If you go away a lot, you sporadically work in an office, or you’re regularly in and out of the house throughout the day, this is likely to make a significant difference to your monthly spend.

For those who are typically home at the same time every day, setting schedules and routines will be a reliable way to ensure your heating is only turned on when necessary. However, switching to a smart thermostat is unlikely to make a significant difference when compared to a traditional device. This also applies to those who work from home and tend to turn the heating on whenever they feel cold.

The best wireless smart thermostat at the time of writing is the Hive Thermostat. It’s full of features, offering everything from frost protection to geo-fencing, and gives you almost as much control on the device as on its app. It’s the top choice for those who have a water tank, too.

A slightly more affordable option, and the best choice for people with a combi boiler, is the Hive Thermostat Mini. It works just as well and has a lot of the same features, but the thermostat itself is more basic, and most of its control comes through the accessory app.

If you’d prefer a wired device with a much simpler interface, the Honeywell Home T6 or T6R has just as many features (including geo-fencing and open window detection) and is mains-powered. It’s a top performer, plus it looks sleek as well.

How to buy the best smart thermostat

There are several things to consider when buying a smart thermostat, and these are some of the main factors we think you should keep in mind.

Display and controls

All smart thermostats offer control and scheduling via a smartphone app, but if someone at home doesn’t use a modern mobile phone, or is less tech-savvy, it is worth looking for a thermostat with a comprehensive and intuitive display.

Hive’s original Smart Thermostat, for instance, offers more on-screen control than the cheaper Hive Thermostat Mini, while Honeywell’s Evohome includes a complete touchscreen interface for easy control of each room’s temperature.

Self-learning

Some smart heating thermostats are self-learning, meaning they can assess how long it takes your home to get to the desired temperature and then adjust your schedule to make sure your home is at the temperature you want when you want it.

Smart home platforms

When you invest in a smart thermostat, think about your whole smart home. Do you also have a video doorbell, security camera or a preferred voice control system? Each brand tends to work with its own products, so sticking with what you know might be wise.

It’s worth knowing that there is a new protocol that now helps smart devices to communicate, called “Matter”. This is developed jointly by Amazon, Apple, Google, and many other manufacturers to eliminate incompatibilities.

Hot water and heat

If you live in a home with separate heating and hot water systems, some smart thermostats such as Tado give you app control over both. This could be very convenient if you need to turn on the hot water and have it ready for your return home. Not all systems do this, and it can cost extra.

Location tracking

If you’re always out and about and don’t adhere to a regular schedule, GPS location tracking can be very handy. Smart thermostats can track your location through your phone and learn your routine, adjusting your central heating schedule accordingly.

Heating zones

Creating heat zones enables you to have greater control over different parts of the house. This can be either through using multiple thermostats – one upstairs and one downstairs, for instance – or by investing in some smart thermostatic radiator valves which give you control over each room, for potentially greater savings.

Voice control

If you're already using Amazon Alexa at home, it makes sense to buy a smart thermostat that's also Alexa compatible, rather than suddenly switching to Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit and having to learn how to set up and navigate a whole new ecosystem.

How much does a smart thermostat cost?

There are now plenty of smart thermostats to choose from, and most cost between £100 and £200 without professional installation. Hive’s Thermostat Mini is one of the cheapest, at £119, including the hub that connects to your router, while the Google Nest Thermostat E costs around £200 and Tado’s starter kit costs £179.

If you are installing smart radiator valves, these cost from £30 each, but most brands offer multi-pack discounts.

It’s worth checking if there are any additional subscription costs with your chosen smart thermostat brand. Tado for instance offers some clever extra features for £2.99 per month and Hive has a similar subscription for £3.99 a month.

Is it worth getting a smart thermostat?

Aside from the fact that remote (and voice-controlling) heating from anywhere in the world is convenient, it is worth getting a smart thermostat if you are keen to learn about your energy use.

You will need wifi and a smartphone. Once it’s all set up, the combination of geolocation tracking, advanced scheduling, and computer learning will help you to see where and when you’re wasting energy, while those systems with smart radiator valves will prevent you from unnecessarily heating individual rooms.

Can a smart thermostat help you monitor energy use?

To make the most of a smart thermostat system, you will need to work with the technology, not just rely on it doing some magic. Smart thermostats record all your heating data and let you see how your energy use changes over time.

This can be invaluable information, especially as simply turning down the thermostat is still the most effective way of reducing energy use.

A smart thermostat that has location tracking will be able to turn your heating off automatically when no one is home, while multi-zone designs enable you to heat only certain rooms of the house. We recommend taking time to schedule your heating instead of letting the tech take the strain.

Can you install a smart thermostat yourself?

Installing most smart thermostats is straightforward if you’re happy working with wires and electrics. For example, Google calls installing its Nest an “easy DIY project that takes about 20 to 30 minutes” but it also offers an installation service using its Nest Pro network of installers.

Hive offers a Pro Install service when you order the hardware through its website. Tado offers DIY installation and instructions for more than 16,000 compatible heating systems, plus technical support, while Honeywell’s Evohome and Drayton Wiser can be DIY installed, but they’re a little more complicated than most as they’re whole home systems with multiple smart thermostats.

Make sure to check the compatibility with your central heating system on the thermostat manufacturer’s website if you’re planning to do the installation yourself.