The Best Wireless Thermostat Under $250

By: John Garcia | Date Posted: October 4, 2022

Today we are going to review the best home thermostat of 2017. The thermostat industry is a relatively new market. The revolutionary NEST thermostat shook up the thermostat market. We have reviewed and chosen the best smart thermostats for the home. Home thermostats vary in their functions. Some thermostats are equipped with smart technology, some are pretty programmable and manual There are wireless thermostats that allow you to remotely control the temperatures by just using an app from your smartphone.

Manual thermostats require the user to adjust the temperature setting every time the user wants to change the temperature. The programmable thermostats require you to program temperatures at various times in a day. We present you with brief reviews of the best home thermostats and suggest you do more research before buying them. Let’s start the reviews. We have featured here the top 5 best-selling and best-performing thermostats for your home. Also, you can read the FALL AND WINTER ENERGY-SAVING TIPS from https://energy.gov/

  1. Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation, Works with Amazon Alexa

House thermostat

I choose this to be the best home thermostat. The thermostat works with Amazon Alexa. Currently, I am using Nest in my home as well and I am very satisfied. I bought it in August 2015 and it still works fine. Love it! The best! For constantly 3 years, the Nest Learning Thermostat has been recognized as the best performing thermostat outranking most of its competitors. The thermostat has received about 15000+ Customer Reviews on Amazon. With Nest, you can view your energy usage and see how much money you save on your next electricity bill. Works with a Wi-Fi connection. Various studies have shown Nest Learning Thermostat saved an average of 10-12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills. This is a great investment to reduce heating and cooling bills. The price is affordable as well. It’s better to buy Nest and in over years and cut down the energy bill. This is the best home thermostat of the year.

How to setup the Nest Thermostat

Nest Thermostat

The Nest thermostat comes with everything you need to transfer from your previous thermostat to the nest smart thermostat. In fact, it’s very easy to set up a Nest smart thermostat. Once you’ve installed the Nest thermostat, you’ll have a plate that covers the place of the previous thermostat. The nest smart thermostat’s base plate has a level built into it which makes it easy to get it level.
Attach the nest to your WiFi network since it has a built-in WiFi receiver.

The Nest is able to find out what the local weather is so that it doesn’t turn the heat on a hot day or the air conditioning on a cold day. It also has motion sensors, so it knows when you’re home and will adjust itself to your schedule.

When you first get the Nest, set the temperature to a comfortable temperature. It’s very easy and by just rotating the dial a little green shows up. Here’s another feature on Nest. Let’s say the heat’s on and I left the house but forgot to turn it off. I don’t need to waste the whole day heating a house that’s empty. The Nest thermostat has an iPhone and Android app which you can access remotely. I could turn the thermostat up and down remotely. After turning the heat down a minute or two later, the nest will turn itself off and my house will be unheated.

If you are not home and I want to turn it up before I get home, I can do that as well. Nest smart thermostat has a couple of advantages. First of all, it’s smart because it learns your behavior, so you don’t heat or cool your home when you don’t need it heated or cooled it. Second, the thermostat knows the weather outside. The only downside of the Nest thermostat is that it is expensive and costs around $250. You may be able to get the older versions of the Nest thermostat for a much lower price.

Features

  • The device works with Amazon Alexa Voice (Amazon Certified)
  • Auto-Schedule: Nest examines the temperatures you like and adjusts itself to that temperature
  • NOT AT HOME – Nest learns if you are not at home and turns itself OFF
  • Remote Control:  With Nest, you have the ability to adjust your home’s temperature remotely using your laptop, smartphone, and tablet.

Pros

Customer Reviews: First to mention is that Nest Has Great Customer Support. At first, I was a little bit hesitant to buy it since is a little bit expensive but I think it’s totally worth it. The best thing about Nest is its remote feature. I control the thermostat from my iPhone. Nest has learned our habits and preferred temperatures and automatically adjusts itself.  Saves s time and money! The setup is pretty easy. I would like to help the environment and save some money, so it was a good choice for me. The great thing about Nest is that when we are not home it turns off.

Cons

Customer Reviews: On some occasions, the thermostat constantly displays the desired temperature instead of the actual room temperature. Many customers have complained that Nest has this issue of not showing the real temperature in your home rather. It has many functions that you might never even use. Also, Nest doesn’t display its long-term history. Only shows one week of history. It would have been better to have the ability to check and compare previous and current month energy history.

  1. Sensi Smart Thermostat, Wi-Fi, Works with Amazon Alexa

Compared it Nest, Emersion offers more affordable home and apartment thermostats. Out of all wireless thermostats on the market, this one does have a free app. It is available for both iOS and Android. The best thing about Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat is that no other Wi-Fi thermostat works with more heating and cooling systems than Sensi.

Please check their website to figure out whether or not your home system is going to be compatible with Sensi.

Before reviewing all the nice features that this thermostat has, it is important to note that the insulation is quick and easy and. All of the information you need to find is right on their website. The Scentsy app available on both iOS and Android makes controlling a thermostat whether you’re at home or not just very easy and convenient.

For example, if I’m at my friend’s house and I want to turn the temperature up two degrees Fahrenheit. I can do just that using the Sensi app. It works instantly and perfectly. The app lets you adjust the heat and cooling automatically and even shut it completely off. What’s even cooler is that you can adjust the thermostat’s display to show the time, humidity and whether you prefer Fahrenheit or Celsius. Lastly, the app even lets you set up scheduling per day. So let’s say, for example, you’re not at home during the whole week.

You can automatically adjust to bring up or bring down the temperature based on your own schedule. By the time you’re home, the temperature will already be set and you’ll be comfortable. This is a huge deal because it comes down to convenience and the ease-of-use.

For whatever reason, if you are not sure whether the Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat will work with your existing wiring setup in your home or apartment, then you can go to the Sensi website and actually use their compatibility tool to find out whether it will work or not. The website will instantly tell you whether the Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat will work with your existing wiring setup or not.

Sensi Smart Thermostat is another great home thermostat for 200 dollars. Easily connects with Wi-Fi and is made to be compatible with IOS and Android systems.  Works with Amazon Alexa as well. You can control the temperatures wih voice using Amazon Alexa. The Setup can be configured in less than 20 minutes.

It was the best Smart Thermostat ranked by ” by J.D. Power. The Sense Smart makers claim that customers save up to 30% on their energy bills. The thermostat is manufactured by Emerson which has over 75 yeas of experience in thermostat making. The thermostat has a dedicated support team. Sensi displays the weather information and humidity information in your home. The user can use the APP to adjust the schedule however it fits you. The thermostat can work with previous wires used for the old thermostat.

As mentioned before the best element of home thermostat is it’s superb customer satisfaction. J.D. Power Award is the best predictor that the product is as good as it gets. Fortunately, the Sensi Smart Thermostat has received Sensi Support Team can be reached at support@sensicomfort.com or 1.888.605.7131, seven days a week. For more information regarding Sensi thermostat rebate! 

Features

  • Works with the existing wiring on gas, oil, geothermal, heat pump, and radiant heat systems
  • Up to 4 stages of heating and 2 stages of cooling.
  • You can control  multiple thermostats from a single account
  • Has an indoor humidity sensor

Pros

Customer Reviews: The battery life is about 9000 hours.  Works with AA batteries.  Some customers argue that the temperature precision range of Sensi is better than Nest’s. The APP is pretty self-explanatory. Easy to use and set up. The thermostat looks great when you put it on the wall. The LED lights show when the thermostat it on and off. Some buyers suggest that their utility companies have been giving them rebates for having a Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat in the home.

Cons

Customer Reviews: Some people find the setup a bit complicated. The instruction handbook is needed sometimes. Other customers have said that C Wire was needed for them which does come with the thermostat. You may need to purchase the thermostat wall plate,, since, without the plate, it does not really good look on the wall. Also, beware to have a good Wi-Fi connection at home, because sometimes the connection will cut off.

  1. Smart Wi-Fi 7 Day Programmable Color Touch Thermostat, Works with Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, Google Home

Smart Wi-Fi 7 Day Programmable Color Touch Thermostat, Works with Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, Google Home

The Smart Wi-Fi 7-Day Programmable thermostat is made by Honeywell.  As compared to other thermostats reviewed here, the Smart Wi-fi Thermostat works with Alexa voice and Google Home.  The screen color can be changed to fit the wall and decor color. The thermostat can be controlled remotely through a laptop, smartphone or tablet. For security purposes, there is a lock feature that allows you to set up a password. The thermostat is equipped with a humidity sensor. In order to use the Smart Wi-Fi in your home, your system needs to have a c wire. Indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity information can be seen right on the home screen. The thermostat sends alerts in cases of extreme temperatures and when the filter needs to be changed. The Smart Wi-Fi works well at home and in offices as well.

it operates like a regular thermostat but you can also control it remotely using a web-based app or one of the free Android or iOS mobile apps. The home thermostat costs two hundred and fifty dollars which is the same as the popular Nest thermostat. So what sets it apart? The most obvious difference is its looks. The nest thermostat is round and is probably a little bit more in-your-face with its unique design. This one looks a lot more like your standard digital thermostat. The nest is also way more minimalist in its display. It basically just shows the current temperature and that’s it. The Honeywell wireless thermostat on the other hand has a lot of information on its homepage. It’ll show the current temperature. It’ll also show the outdoor temperature and humidity which is really important.

Another great feature of the Honeywell thermostat is its usability. There’s not much of a learning curve but don’t fret if you haven’t had a smart thermostat before. The app is alsoincredibly easy to use. With the app, you can set the temperature or even set your vacation schedule from the road and it really works. Honeywell claims that they could get the temperature within one degree of accuracy and that’s rue but if you don’t want the fan kicking on all the time you can actually adjust that.

The Cons Of The Honeywell Thermostat

However, the app sometimes logs out a lot which is really frustrating. Another small issue I had with this thermostat in general, is that it doesn’t come with different sized wall plates. So as you can see, you might not be able to cover up the old paint job. On the other hand, the nest comes with two different-sized wall plates, so you can cover up any unsightly paint jobs. Another problem I had with the installation, is that it requires a wire. The Honeywell thermostat requires a C wire, whereas Nest thermostat can be hooked up using a G wire so depending on which one your house has that will kind of inform which one you choose/. They’re both great but t’s kind of a matter of the installation. Overall I really love the Honeywell Wi-Fi smart thermostat. It works it looks nice and it’s going to be a great addition to your house.

Features

  • The user can select the temperature that they prefer when they wake up and the Honeywell Smart Wi-Fi will bring your home temperature to a comfortable temperature so you never feel cold in the mornings.
  • The screen color can be changed to any color to fit the wall paint.
  • The thermostat can cut down your energy costs.

Pros

Customer Reviews: Easy to setup usually under 20 minutes. If you like programmable thermostats just choose this one. The Honeywell Smart Wi-Fi thermostats are easier to use then Nest. Although the design isn’t as elegant as NEST, the home screen colors are bright and display more information than NEST. Works great with the Honeywell App.

Cons

Customer Reviews: Good device for the budget but not perfect. The thermostat requires a “C” wire which is not included. From time to time the Wi-Fi connection fails. Compared to NEST the thermostat doesn’t learn the schedule itself and doesn’t adjust temperatures by itself. Asks for contamination from Alexa every time the departure is being changed remotely.

  1. Ecobee3 Thermostat with Sensor, Wi-Fi, 2nd Generation, Works with Amazon Alexa

As compared to others, Ecobee3 Thermostat works well with Amazon Alexa. Control temperatures through voice. Using various factors such us: weather outside, the equipment you are using, the thermostat will figure out which temperature best suits your home. Ecobee3 senses in which room you are occupying at the moment and which temperatures you like, so its adjust itself to the desired temperature. If you are not home the thermostat sensors detect and doesn’t waste any energy. According to Ecobee.com, the 3rd generation thermostat will lower your energy bills –  an average of 23%* annually, paying for itself in energy savings (Learn more at ecobee.com/savings). The average battery life is 35000 hours. The manufacturer provides 3-Year Limited Warranty on materials and workmanship under normal use and service.  The Ecobee3 comes with 1 sensor, but you can add up to 32 sensors to make your thermostat smarter.

Features

  • The setup takes about 45 minutes to complete.
  • ecobee is hardwired and doesn’t use the battery to charge itself
  • Room sensors: detect where you are at home and adjust the temperatures for where you are located
  • Displays Live weather forecasts
  • This Ecobee3 comes with a sensor, other Ecobee models don’t include the sensor

Pros

80% of Customer Reviews are Positive: The Ecobee3 is different from other home thermostats because you can add other sensors in different rooms. Usually, the rest of the thermostats only sense the temperature of the hallways, Ecobee3 can sense temperatures in other rooms. Access to Web Reports about how much energy you consume and how much energy you save. Easy to setup and works great with smartphones.

Cons

Customer Reviews:  Changing the room temperatures using voice controls by Alexa is not as easy as it described. Some days the Alexa functionality works and some days it fails completely. Customers suggest that a good connection of Wi-Fi is needed to run the thermostat smoothly.

  1. Lux Products TX9600TS Universal 7-Day Programmable Touch Screen Thermostat

The most budget-friendly home thermostat on the market. This thermostat can be purchased for $50 dollars. The thermostat is great for heating and cooling systems including single and multi-stage heat pumps.  The thermostat is light and easy to set up. Adjust the temperatures with the touch screen. Compared to other thermostats, LUX is pretty basic. The best thing about the unit is that it’s affordable for most homeowners. 

Features

  • Universal compatibility for all system types. Large, lighted easy-to-read touchscreen display.
  • Biggest size display, Easy-to-use touchscreen menu operation.
  • User-selectable periods per day (2 or 4)
  • Programmable touch pad lockout for unauthorized users
  • Adjustable heat/cool set temperature limit stops, Energy usage monitor.
  • Programmable air filter life timer, Temporary temperature override, Adjustable temperature differential (swing).

Pros

The installation is pretty easy. You can install it yourself. The screen display is clean and the font of the numbers is large. Easy to see. Very affordable!

Cons

The thermostat isn’t as sophisticated as Nest or Ecobee. The programming is a bit slow. Not as elegant as others (Nest, Ecobee).

Thank you for reading!

John
 

John is the founder and chief editor of Homienjoy. With over 15 years of experience in the home improvement industry, John is passionate about helping homeowners confidently tackle their projects. Holding a civil engineering degree and working as a contractor, project manager, and consultant, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Homienjoy community.

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