$79.99
Also sold in packs
- Pack of 215% OFF$135.98$159.98$67.99 per unitYou save $24.00Buy
Updated October 2026
Data from the official Amazon and Ecobee sites.
2026 verdict
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential wins this matchup on breadth, adding Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, humidity sensing and temperature alerts that the Alexa-only Amazon Smart Thermostat does not have.
The Amazon Smart Thermostat answers with a lower price, a trim plate and a C-wire adapter already boxed in, which can make its installation the easier of the two. Everything past that leans toward the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential: a three year warranty against one year, a proximity sensor that wakes its touchscreen, and the option to add ecobee SmartSensors later for room-by-room comfort. Both are locked out of Matter for now. Buy the Amazon Smart Thermostat if Alexa is your only platform and price is the priority, and the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential if you want more sensors, more platforms and a longer warranty.
Works with
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
vs
Winner
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
- Bluetooth
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| Feature | Amazon Smart Thermostat | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $139.99 | Amazon Smart Thermostat |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.2 | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Warranty | 1 year | 3 years | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Included accessories | Trim Plate | None | Amazon Smart Thermostat |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi | 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Integrations | Alexa | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, External Temperature Sensors | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Sensors | Temperature | Proximity / Motion, Temperature, Humidity | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Alerts | None | Temperature Alerts, Intrude Alerts | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Power | None | C-Wire Required | Tie |
| Screen | YES | YES | Tie |
| Energy Savings | YES | YES | Tie |
| System Health Monitor | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Smart home platforms
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential works with Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant on top of Alexa and Google Home. The Amazon Smart Thermostat answers only to Alexa, with nothing else supported.
Remote room sensors
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential can add ecobee SmartSensors, sold separately, so it can track whichever room actually has people in it. The Amazon Smart Thermostat has no way to add an external sensor at all.
Humidity sensing
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential reads room humidity alongside temperature. The Amazon Smart Thermostat has no humidity sensor, so it works from temperature alone.
What ships in the box
The Amazon Smart Thermostat includes a C-wire adapter and a trim plate. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential ships with neither, so a home without a common wire needs to source ecobee's own adapter separately.
Warranty
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential carries a 3 year warranty, against 1 year on the Amazon Smart Thermostat.
Which one to buy if
- you're on Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings or Home Assistant
The Amazon Smart Thermostat only ever answers to Alexa; the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential works with all three.
- one room runs hotter or colder than the rest of the house
SmartSensors give the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential a way to read that room, which the Amazon Smart Thermostat cannot do at all.
- you have no C-wire and want to avoid any extra purchase
The Amazon Smart Thermostat already includes a C-wire adapter and a trim plate in the box.
- price decides it and Alexa is the only platform you use
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is the cheaper of the two, and Alexa is the full extent of what it needs to do anyway.
$79.99
- + Price: $79.99
- + Included accessories: Trim Plate
- - Rating: 4.0 vs 4.2
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 3 years
Winner
$139.99
- + Rating: 4.2
- + Warranty: 3 years
- + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
- - Price: $139.99 vs $79.99
- - Included accessories: None vs Trim Plate
What owners say
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential owners mainly talk about how fast the install goes, commonly fifteen minutes to an hour and often without an electrician, and about an app they call intuitive for schedules, remote control and monthly energy reports. They like the 4 inch color touchscreen and the option to add ecobee SmartSensors so the thermostat follows whichever room has people in it, rather than reading only where it hangs. The complaints that show up are SmartSensors being sold separately rather than included, a wiring check some owners wish they had done more carefully first, and a small number of reports of a unit losing reliability after a few months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Amazon Smart Thermostat or Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential?
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential, for its wider platform support, its proximity sensor and the option to add room sensors. The Amazon Smart Thermostat is worth it mainly for the lower price in an Alexa-only home.
What is the biggest difference between the Amazon Smart Thermostat and the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential?
Platform and sensor support. The Amazon Smart Thermostat works only with Alexa and has no humidity sensor or way to add one, while the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential reaches Apple HomeKit, SmartThings and Home Assistant and can grow with ecobee SmartSensors.
Does the Amazon Smart Thermostat work with Google Home or Apple HomeKit?
No. It works with Alexa only; Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant are all unsupported.
Does the Amazon Smart Thermostat include a C-wire adapter?
Yes, a C-wire adapter and a trim plate ship in the box, which the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential does not include.
Who should buy the Amazon Smart Thermostat?
An Alexa-only household that wants the cheapest smart thermostat and appreciates having a C-wire adapter and trim plate included.
Who should buy the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential?
Buyers on Apple HomeKit, SmartThings or Home Assistant, anyone who wants humidity sensing or the option to add room sensors later, and anyone who wants the longer warranty.
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