Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential vs Nest Thermostat

The Nest Thermostat takes the overall edge here, thanks to a lower price, broader integrations including SmartThings and IFTTT, dual-band Wi-Fi and extra sensors such as ambient light. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential answers with a longer three-year warranty, more alerts and a 4-inch color touchscreen.

Reach versus interface. The Nest Thermostat supports more platforms, dual-band Wi-Fi and occupancy plus ambient-light sensing at a lower price, while the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential focuses on a larger 4-inch color touchscreen and a broader alert set.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential has the larger, more capable display: a 4-inch color touchscreen at 540 x 540 resolution. The Nest Thermostat uses a smaller 2.4-inch color screen that is not a touchscreen, controlled by a side strip instead.

The Nest Thermostat does. It works with Google Home, Alexa, Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT, whereas the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential covers Google Home, Alexa, Apple Home and Home Assistant but skips SmartThings and IFTTT.

Budget-minded buyers who want the cheaper unit with the widest integration list, dual-band Wi-Fi and ambient-light sensing, and who are comfortable with a smaller non-touch display and a one-year warranty.

Buyers who prioritize a 4-inch color touchscreen, a fuller alert suite (temperature plus optional intrusion alerts) and a three-year warranty, and who can live without SmartThings, IFTTT or 5GHz Wi-Fi.