Best Smart Thermostats in the UK in 2026

Want the best smart thermostat for your home?

In this guide, we compare the leading smart thermostats available in the UK right now, including Google Nest Learning Thermostat, tado° X, Hive Thermostat / Thermostat Mini and Resideo Honeywell Home T6R.

We’ve looked at pricing, installation, smart features, app quality, virtual assistant support and overall value, so you can work out which thermostat is actually worth buying in 2026. Prices and offers move around, so treat the figures below as guide prices rather than permanent RRPs.

Quick comparison table:

*Prices checked on 15 April 2026 and may change.

Spoiler: what should most people buy?

For most UK homes in 2026, tado° X is the best all-round buy. It is cheaper than Nest, easier to expand into room-by-room heating, supports Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Home, and the new X range is built around Matter/Thread, which makes it a stronger long-term choice than older ecosystems.

If you want the cheapest decent option, the Hive Thermostat Mini is the standout budget pick at £79.

If you still want the best-looking thermostat with strong learning features and premium feel, the Nest Learning Thermostat remains a good product at £219, but it is no longer the obvious value winner in the UK.

Factors we considered when choosing the best smart thermostats in the UK 

A smart thermostat's main purpose is to help you control and monitor your energy use, you want it to be user-friendly, easy to install and genuinely useful in helping you to keep on top of your energy consumption and hopefully save you some money in the process. 

This blend is where the best smart thermostats perform well, while the less smart ones come out looking a little dumb.  

With this in mind, we have considered the following factors when ranking the thermostats, we analysed: 

• Ease of the installation process 

• User-friendliness of the thermostat 

• The overall usefulness of the features offered 

• The ability of the thermostat to save you time and money on your energy bills 

• Compatibility of the thermostat with virtual assistants such as Alexa and Google Home 

• The price range of the smart thermostat 

• Customer reviews and reputation 

• Warranty period the brand offers 

Best Smart Thermostats in the UK

• #1 tado° X Smart Thermostat

• #2 Nest Learning Thermostat

• #3 Hive Thermostat Mini

• #4 Honeywell Home T6R

#1 tado° X Smart Thermostat

tado° now takes the top spot.

That is mainly because it gives most homeowners the best balance of price, compatibility, useful features and future-proofing.

The newer X range supports Matter and Thread, works with all major smart home platforms and is compatible with most boilers and heat pumps using Relay or OpenTherm. It can also be expanded with smart radiator controls if you want room-by-room heating.

• Price: £129.99 for the starter kit

• Wireless: Yes

• Warranty: Up to 10 years on X devices

• Easy DIY: Yes, in many homes

• Subscription Required: No for the core thermostat, but some app services are paid extras

tado° X features

tado° X has all the main features you would expect from a modern smart thermostat, including app control, scheduling, geofencing and heating optimisation. Where it really pulls ahead is flexibility.

You can start with a thermostat and then add smart radiator valves later, which lets you control heating room by room rather than heating the whole house at once. That is a much smarter way to run heating in practice, especially in larger homes.

It also has strong compatibility credentials. tado says X works with all major smart home platforms and is Matter/Thread-enabled, which makes it a stronger long-term bet than some older smart heating platforms.

Can tado° X save you money?

tado says its smart heating can help users save energy, and its UK product pages reference savings claims tied to smarter control and reduced waste.

The exact saving will depend on what controls you had before, your heating habits and how much you use zonal control. The stronger case here is not the headline claim, but the fact that room-by-room control and OpenTherm support can reduce unnecessary heating.

tado° X device compatibility & connectivity

tado° X works with the major smart home ecosystems, including Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Home. It is also one of the few mainstream options now clearly pushing Matter support, which gives it an edge on future compatibility.

Will tado° X work with your boiler?

According to tado, the X range works with most boilers and heat pumps, including systems using Relay and OpenTherm.

tado° X design

tado’s design is subtle rather than flashy. It does not have the visual punch of Nest, but it looks clean, modern and unobtrusive, which plenty of homeowners will prefer.

That is the right design choice for a thermostat that is often meant to disappear into the room rather than dominate it. This design assessment is my opinion rather than a sourced product claim.

Can you install a tado° X thermostat yourself?

In many homes, yes. tado explicitly says you can replace existing room thermostats yourself in just a few steps. That alone makes it more approachable than some rivals.

tado° X smart thermostat: Heatable’s verdict

This is now the best smart thermostat for most UK homes.

Nest still looks better, and Hive is cheaper, but tado° X is the strongest all-rounder. It is well priced, packed with genuinely useful features and much easier to recommend as a future-proof buy.

#2 Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen) - best premium thermostat

The Nest 3rd generation smart thermostat is the go-to name when it comes to smart thermostats and with good reason, this brand (now owned by Google) continues to drive innovation in the smart home space and their smart thermostats are leading the way. 

• Price*
  £250 for the standard unit 

• Wireless
  No (needs to be mounted on a stand with 3 pin plug or connected via USB)

• Warranty
  2 years standard (4 years with NestPro Installation) 

• Easy DIY
  No

• Subscription Required
  No 

Nest Features

Nest smart thermostat has a range of smart features that help you to save energy and money and streamline your energy use, these include the following: 

Smart, auto-learning features

Nest learns from you, by monitoring your heating use it automatically adjusts and syncs your heating with your behaviour, knowing the times of day you use your heating, as well as the ideal room temperatures you prefer.

It also adjusts based on your home’s insulation and the weather outside, enabling Nest to create a personalised schedule just for you and your property. 

Control from anywhere 

The Nest mobile app means you can easily and conveniently control your Nest thermostat wherever you are (you will need to have Wi-Fi connected to your controller and internet/4g connected to your phone to make this work) allowing you to turn up your heating when you are on your way home, so it’s nice and warm for your arrival. 

Location detection (a.k.a Geo fencing)

Using the location of your mobile, it can accurately detect if you are at home and turn the heating off or down if you are out, helping to avoid wasting money heating an empty property. 

Open Therm technology 

The latest Nest thermostats also use open therm technology, helping you save even more energy.

This is an advanced algorithm that can modulate your boiler’s heating temperature, allowing your greener boiler to use less gas to reach the temperature set by the thermostat. 

Nest Protect

A carbon monoxide leak from your central heating boiler or heating system can be deadly, so it’s great to know the Nest can work in conjunction with the optional Nest protect smoke alarms to turn your boiler off should it detect a CO leak.

Can Nest thermostats save you money on your heating bills? 

Nest states that the average UK customer can save between 8.4% – 16.5% on their heating bills by using a Nest thermostat. 

Although there is no independent verifiable data to confirm this, it is certainly an impressive claim. 

With that said, the Nest does monitor your behaviour and adjust your heating as necessary, so there is little doubt that it will help to reduce your energy use and therefore save money.  

Looking to pay for your new boiler monthly? Refer to our boilers on finance guide for more info. 

Nest thermostat device compatibility & connectivity 

A major concern of many curious thermostat hunters is the compatibility – can it be used with your other devices? 

Thankfully, the Nest thermostat app is compatible with standard digital devices including: 

• Computers

• Mobile phones

• Tablets

But what about connectivity? For example, can the Nest be used with Alexa

Again, Nest is completely adaptable and can work with the most popular virtual assistants, including: 

• Amazon Alexa

• Google Home

• Logitech

• IFTTT

• Samsung SmartThings

• WeMo

• Wink

• Xfinity

It is worth noting that the Nest does have a few basic requirements to operate including a Wi-Fi connection, as well as a phone or tablet with iOS 8 or later, or Android 4 or later. But this is the same case for most smart devices. 

Will the Nest thermostat work with your boiler?

It's good news in that department, too.

The Nest thermostat is compatible with most heating systems including the following: 

• Combi boilers, biomass, system boilers, immersion heaters,  and heat-only boilers

• Air source/ground source heat pumps

• Underfloor heating systems

• Zoned heating/multiple zones

• Domestic tanks for hot water

• Systems enabled with Open-Therm technology

However, if you want to make doubly sure, you can always check your unit’s compatibility on the official Nest website, simply enter your appliance’s model number and it will give the answer.

You can do that, here. 

Nest thermostat warranty

When buying any new product, the warranty period is an important consideration, as if something does go wrong, you want the reassurance that the manufacturer will help you repair it and get it back in working order. 

Nest offer a 2-year warranty on the smart thermostat, but if you opt to get your Nest installed by a Nest Pro i.e. a professional and vetted Nest installer, you will be entitled to an additional 2-year warranty, so 4 years in total. 

Nest customer reviews

Customer reviews are a great place to look to get honest views of real users of the product. They can be incredibly revealing, hence why we have decided to make them part of our thermostat analysis. 

Nest have thousands of customer reviews online on various platforms such as Google and Amazon, averaging between 4 and 5, which is remarkable considering they must have sold tens of devices, at the very least. 

The most frequent feedback on the Nest thermostat is how much time and money it has saved via its geofencing capabilities, as well as the ease of installation. 

Nest thermostat design 

The simplistic and stylish design of the Nest makes it stand out from its rivals by a clear mile. The circular design and sleek, high-resolution digital interface free from wires and buttons make it look good almost anywhere. 

The Nest can be either wall-mounted or placed within a stand (available for an additional £30 - not included as part of the standard package).  

Want to have your boiler moved to a different location? Check out our "cost of moving boiler" guide.

Can you install a Nest thermostat yourself? 

The Nest smart thermostat can be installed by yourself, or if you prefer you can use a Nest Pro Installer. This is a professional Nest installer who has been vetted and accredited with specifically installing the Nest device. 

If you do opt to have the Nest installed by a Pro installer, you will be entitled to the extended Pro warranty, so it is certainly worth considering.

Read all about how to use a smart thermostat and see what temperature you should set your thermostat in winter. 

Nest smart thermostat: Heatable's verdict

There is little doubt that the Nest’s popularity reflects its superiority compared to its rivals. In our view, it is award-winning design currently has no competition, but its ease of installation, wireless capability and innovative features combined make this the best smart thermostat available in the UK. 

It may be a little pricier than some of the other devices, but the 2-year warranty and the fact that it has got all the necessary bases covered makes it well worth the extra investment.

Wondering who won the battle between Hive and Nest? Find out in our Nest vs Hive comparison. 

#3 Hive Smart Thermostat

The Hive smart thermostat is the creation of energy giant British Gas and as a result, many are now familiar with the brand, due to its huge marketing campaign in recent years. 

• Price*
  £179 for the standard unit 

• Wireless
  Yes as it can be powered by batteries, but, can also be mounted on a stand with 3 pin plug

• Warranty
  1 year

• Easy DIY
  Yes, knowledge of basic wiring required

• Subscription Required
  No 

Check our new boiler costs guide and use our boiler size calculator if you want to get a better understanding of how our fixed-price boiler quote tool works. 

Hive's features

Unlike Nest, Hive does not have as many features and it is lacking in terms of compatibility, but without further ado, here is our full analysis: 

Set daily schedules 

Hive smart thermostat allows you to set your own personalised daily heating schedule manually using the Hive mobile app.

You can set up to 6 individual daily slots, allowing you to easily adjust your heating based on your individual needs, helping to make further savings on your bills. 

Geofencing 

The Hive has geofencing and sends an alert to your phone when out of the area or re-entering the area to see if you want the heating on or off.

Geolocation 

Like the Nest, using the location of your mobile, the Hive can tell when you have left your home and if the heating has been left on, it will send you a reminder to turn it off. 

Frozen pipe protection 

Frozen pipes are a common issue during the winter months, so Hive’s frost protection can be incredibly useful. If the temperature outside drops below 7°C, frost protection will be activated, preventing your pipes from freezing. 

Hive thermostat device compatibility & connectivity 

Just like Nest, Hive can be connected and used on, most devices including computers, tablets, and mobiles. 

In terms of connectivity, it can be connected with the most popular virtual assistants including Amazon Alexa and Google home. 

Is your boiler leaking or losing pressure? Use our quick and easy tool to get your fixed price boiler replacement. 

Will Hive work with my heating system? 

Since British Gas is quite familiar with the British market, Hive Active Heating will work with most heating systems in the UK, including the following:

• Gas & LPG Boilers 

• Oil Boilers 

• Electric Boilers 

You can always check whether your specific new boiler replacement will be compatible with Hive on the official website.

Control your heating with Hive & Alexa 

Every Hive thermostat comes with a free Amazon Echo Dot*, allowing you to control your heating with your voice.

For instance, if you feel like your heating needs a little boost, you can simply say “Alexa give my heating a boost”, in which case Hive will provide you with an extra hour of heat before turning it off. 

Related thermostat guides: 

• The best location for a thermostat.

• Thermostat and boiler not communicating? 

• The thermostat on the boiler not working. 

• Boiler controls and thermostats. 

Hive thermostat design 

Nothing quite compares to the Nest’s sleek and award-winning design, unfortunately not even the Hive. 

The box-like design looks pretty good as far as thermostats go, but it looks quite dated next to The Nest’s high resolution, digital interface. 

Although, you can choose a custom thermostat frame designed by Dulux to match the colour of the décor of your home, which is a truly pointless, but nice touch. 

Hive customer reviews

Overall, Hive Smart thermostat has some very positive customer reviews, but far less than Nest, maybe reflecting a difference in popularity and sales figures between the two products. 

Notable complaints reference the poor customer service they received when something went wrong. 

Hive thermostat warranty period 

Unlike Nest’s impressive 2-year warranty, the Hive is only available with a 1-year warranty. 

Can you install the Hive thermostat yourself? 

The Hive thermostat can be installed by yourself, but you will need to have some knowledge of wiring it to the boiler, so it is probably not the best option for most people. 

British gas recommends a professional install carried out by one of their gas safe engineers, which takes around an hour to complete, after which you will receive an instructional tutorial by the engineer. 

Got a Hive and it isn’t working? 

You’re not alone. Check out our guide on the top reasons why your Hive app/thermostat isn’t working.

Hive smart thermostat: Heatable's verdict

There is no doubt that the Hive is the best and now on the 3rd generation, this brand shows no sign of stopping when it comes to innovating and improving the smart home technology they offer. 

Benefiting from the best design by far that includes a high resolution and easy-to-use interface, this device has all the features you could need to keep tabs on your energy use. 

The only downside is the price, at £179 it is positioned as the premium option but who can blame them? DIY installation, crisp design and all the features you could need to make it the best smart thermostat to own.

#4 Honeywell T6 smart thermostat 

The Honeywell brand has been a giant in the heating and cooling industry for decades, boasting that they helped put a man on the moon and made air travel safer, so it’s not surprising that they also offer their smart thermostat. 

• Price*
  £150

• Wireless
  No (but, can also be mounted on stand with 3 pin plug)

• Warranty
  2 years

• Easy DIY
  No

• Subscription Required
  No 

Honeywell T6 smart thermostat features

Honeywell does not have as many features as the Nest, but it does have all the major perks you would expect in a smart thermostat, these include the following: 

Geofencing 

The geofencing or location-based temperature control is just like the features offered by rivals. The T6 smart thermostat allows you to control it remotely using the Honeywell application on your mobile or other devices, allowing you to adjust the temperature on demand. 

The T6 also uses your phone's location to determine if you are at home or not, adjusting, as necessary. 

For example, if not home, it can turn off to save energy and will start to heat your home when it detects you are on your way back home. This feature is standard for most smart thermostats, albeit very useful. 

Adjustable, programmable & flexible 

The T6 can adjust the temperature of your home to meet your heating demands, no matter what time of day, how insulated your property may be or the temperature outdoors.  

The best part is that you can set a 7-day schedule based on your specific routine, helping you to save energy and money and ensure the temperature is just how you like it when you like it. 

The T6 offers you maximum flexibility, enabling you to adjust your schedule remotely from the Honeywell app at any time, should your plans change. 

Honeywell T6 device compatibility and connectivity 

As standard, the Honeywell T6 thermostat is compatible with everyday devices including computers, phones, and tablets. 

You connect to the device using the Honeywell Home App, which is the hub of all other smart home products offered by Honeywell, which includes thermostats, leak detectors, TVs, and security systems. From here you can control the T6 and adjust the settings as required.

The T6 can be connected to the most common virtual assistants and smart home interfaces, including the following: 

• The Apple Homekit 

• The Apple Watch 

• Google Home 

• Amazon Alexa

• IFTT

Honeywell T6 thermostat warranty period 

Honeywell offers a 2-year warranty on their T6 smart thermostat, which is reasonable and standard for the thermostat market. 

Honeywell T6 thermostat design 

Honeywell’s T6 offers a sleek, modern design and a user-friendly digital interface that provides the subtlety that many people look for. 

It is certainly one of the better-looking smart thermostats on offer, right up there with the Nest, but somehow the Nest’s timeless design and large high-resolution interface have a lasting impact that the T6 does not quite achieve. 

Honeywell T6 thermostat customer reviews 

Honeywell has been a leading brand in the heating and cooling space for years, so it is not surprising to see their smart thermostat earn itself a solid 4 out of 5 on average. Seen on sites like Amazon. 

Unfortunately, the negative reviews are concerning with one self-described HVAC technician referencing the lack of a temperature differential within the unit, causing it to turn on and off every few minutes to maintain the chosen temperature, which he notes will cost a lot of money. 

Other than that, most reviews are positive and frequently reference the unit's ease of connectivity with other devices and virtual assistants and its user-friendliness. 

In need of a new boiler? Learn all about combi boilers in our what is a combi boiler guide. 

Do radiator covers block heat? Check our guide and more energy-saving tips. 

Can you install the Honeywell T6 yourself? 

The T6 does not have the same wireless capability as other thermostats, so needs to be wired directly into your boiler, therefore, it is designed with professional installation in mind. 

Honeywell T6 smart thermostat: Heatable's verdict 

Honeywell has been around for over 100 years and has built a solid reputation for its high-quality range of heating and cooling products, so their brand is certainly one that is easier to trust. 

Their smart thermostat has all the essentials, allowing you to easily control and modulate your home heating for maximum efficiency. 

Unfortunately, they do require professional installation, but for just £150 they are the ideal budget-friendly option.

Our two-pence on smart thermostats 

We hope our smart thermostat analysis has helped you see how the most popular brands in the UK currently compare and draw your conclusions.

As made clear in our thermostat reviews, our current recommendations are as follows:

• The Nest 3rd Generation Learning Thermostat is the best smart thermostat overall. 

• The Honeywell T6 is a great option for those with a limited budget. 

If you would like to have more control of your energy use and save money on your bills, a smart thermostat is a great way to start.

In fact, according to Energy Saving Trust, installing heating controls could save you as much as £75 a year. 

New boilers installed by Heatable are compatible with smart thermostats including Nest, which you can now order with your boiler.