Winner
Updated November 2026
Data from the official Ecobee and Honeywell Home sites.
2026 verdict
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential wins this pairing because it can measure more than the wall it hangs on: it ships with a remote temperature sensor and picks sensors by presence, so heating follows the occupied room, and it adds humidity and proximity sensing, temperature alerts, a 4 inch colour touchscreen at 540 x 540 showing time and weather, Bluetooth alongside Wi-Fi, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa and Home Assistant support, and a 3 year warranty. Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat is cheaper and better received, and it covers the basics well with 7-day scheduling, geofenced Auto Home and Away, Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit, on-device voice control, monthly energy reports, a system health monitor with filter reminders and a large 4.95 inch high-contrast touchscreen. It has no room sensor support, no humidity sensing and no occupancy detection. Buy Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat for a simple, affordable upgrade; buy Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential when uneven rooms are the problem you are actually trying to solve.
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| Feature | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential | Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.99 | $78.00 | Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | 2.4 GHz WiFi | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, External Temperature Sensors | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Sensors | Proximity / Motion, Temperature, Humidity | Temperature | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| Alerts | Temperature Alerts, Intrude Alerts | Temperature Alerts | Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential |
| System Health Monitor | NO | YES | Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.2 | Tie |
| Power | C-Wire Required | None | Tie |
| Screen | YES | YES | Tie |
| Energy Savings | YES | YES | Tie |
| Voice Control | YES | YES | Tie |
Winner
10% OFF
$125.99
$139.99
- + Warranty: 3 years
- + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
- + Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, External Temperature Sensors
- - Price: $125.99 vs $78.00
- - System Health Monitor: NO vs YES
29% OFF
$78.00
$109.99
- + Price: $78.00
- + System Health Monitor: YES
- - Warranty: 2 years vs 3 years
- - Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi vs 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential or the Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat?
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential, because it includes a remote temperature sensor, senses humidity and proximity, offers a colour touchscreen with weather and carries a 3 year warranty. Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat wins on price, owner reception and system health monitoring.
Which one fixes a cold bedroom?
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential, thanks to the included remote sensor and presence-based selection, so the system heats the room being used. Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat does not support external sensors, so it can only react to the temperature at the thermostat.
How do the screens compare?
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential has a 4 inch colour touchscreen at 540 x 540 showing temperature, time and weather, and it wakes as you approach. Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat has a larger 4.95 inch touchscreen but it is monochrome and does not display weather.
Which platforms do they support?
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential works with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant, with no IFTTT or Matter. Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat covers Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings and Home Assistant too, and both offer voice control.
Do they sense humidity?
Only Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential, which measures temperature and humidity and sends alerts for sudden temperature swings that could damage the home. Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat measures temperature alone and offers temperature alerts without humidity data.
Who should buy the Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat?
Buyers upgrading an old thermostat in a home that heats evenly, who want 7-day scheduling, geofencing, three assistants, voice control and filter reminders at a lower price. If rooms differ or you want humidity data, Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is the better fit.
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