Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Amazon Smart Thermostat
Best BudgetEcobee Smart Thermostat Essential
Best Value Mid-RangePrice
$60-$80
$100-$130
Summary
The best sub-$100 smart thermostat by a wide margin, with occupancy sensing and Alexa Hunches built in. A no-brainer for Alexa and Ring households.
All the core Ecobee reliability at roughly half the price of the Premium. Works flawlessly with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit for users who don't need the built-in speaker or air quality monitor.
Pros
- Far better technology than other sub-$100 options, including occupancy sensing
- Alexa 'Hunches' can proactively adjust settings to save energy
- Deep integration with Alexa and Ring devices
- Simple installation with C-wire adapter included
- Works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit
- Flawless performance in testing via app, touchscreen, and voice
- Helpful energy-saving scheduling and geofencing features
- About half the price of the Ecobee Premium
Cons
- Best suited for Amazon/Alexa ecosystems — limited cross-platform support
- No remote room sensors available
- Lacks air quality monitoring and advanced scheduling of premium models
- No built-in Alexa speaker or microphone like the Premium model
- No indoor air quality monitoring
- No smoke alarm detection or home security features
Our take
For under $80, nothing comes close. If you're already in the Amazon ecosystem, this is the obvious buy — Alexa Hunches alone make it smarter than thermostats twice the price.
This is the sweet spot for most people — you get Ecobee's rock-solid app, broad platform support, and energy-saving smarts without paying for features you'll rarely use.
Buy
