Winner
31% OFF
$89.99
$129.99
Updated November 2026
Data from the official Google and Honeywell Home sites.
2026 verdict
In an Apple or Google household that wants the heating to back off when nobody is home, the Nest Thermostat is the better buy than the Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat.
The Nest adds Apple HomeKit, occupancy and proximity sensing that drive its eco and away mode, an ambient light sensor, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi with Bluetooth, and it is usually the cheaper of the two. The Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat counters with a customisable colour touchscreen, filter and humidifier pad reminders, monthly energy reports and full Home Assistant support, where the Nest is only partial. Both read humidity, send temperature alerts, work with Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings and carry a one year warranty, and neither supports Matter or room sensors. Choose the Nest Thermostat for presence-based savings, and the Honeywell for a big touchscreen and maintenance reminders.
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz
- Bluetooth
vs
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- Pack of 2$359.98$179.99 per unitBuy
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
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| Feature | Google Nest Thermostat | Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1 | 4.3 | Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | 2.4 GHz WiFi | Google Nest Thermostat |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant | Google Home, Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant | Google Nest Thermostat |
| Sensors | Proximity / Motion, Occupancy, Temperature, Humidity, Ambient Light | Temperature, Humidity | Google Nest Thermostat |
| System Health Monitor | NO | YES | Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat |
| Local Control | YES | NO | Google Nest Thermostat |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Screen | YES | YES | Tie |
| Alerts | Temperature Alerts | Temperature Alerts | Tie |
| Energy Savings | YES | YES | Tie |
| Voice Control | YES | YES | Tie |
| Speaker | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Presence sensing
The Nest Thermostat has proximity, occupancy and ambient light sensors, so it can tell the house is empty and switch to eco. The Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat has none of these and relies on its schedule and Smart Response learning.
Apple Home
The Nest Thermostat works with Apple HomeKit; the Honeywell does not. Both work with Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings.
Screen and controls
The Honeywell has a full-colour touchscreen with a background you can match to the wall. The Nest has a 2.4 inch colour display behind a mirrored lens, operated from a touch strip rather than a touchscreen.
Maintenance and reports
The Honeywell reminds you about the filter and humidifier pad and sends monthly energy reports with tips. The Nest Thermostat has no system health monitor.
Wi-Fi and Home Assistant
The Nest joins 2.4 or 5 GHz networks and has Bluetooth, while the Honeywell is 2.4 GHz only. In Home Assistant it is the other way round: full support for the Honeywell, partial for the Nest Thermostat.
Which one to buy if
- you use an iPhone and the Home app
The Nest Thermostat works with Apple HomeKit; the Honeywell does not.
- your schedule is unpredictable and the house is often empty
The Nest senses occupancy and switches to eco on its own.
- you want a large touchscreen you can personalise
The Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat has a customisable full-colour touchscreen.
- you run Home Assistant
The Honeywell has full Home Assistant support through Total Connect Comfort; the Nest is only partial.
Winner
31% OFF
$89.99
$129.99
- + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
- + Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant
- + Sensors: Proximity / Motion, Occupancy, Temperature, Humidity, Ambient Light
- - Rating: 4.1 vs 4.3
- - System Health Monitor: NO vs YES
- + Rating: 4.3
- + System Health Monitor: YES
- - Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi vs 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
- - Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant vs Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant
What owners say
Owners of both thermostats report straightforward installs, and both groups warn that a C wire, or an adapter, is part of the job. Nest Thermostat owners focus on savings: lower bills, utility rebates and an eco mode that uses phone location and the motion sensor to stop heating an empty house, plus weather on the display. Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat owners focus on durability, many having replaced Nest units that failed, and on the customisable colour screen with outdoor readings. The complaints differ: Nest Thermostat owners mention the Google Home app being the only way to manage it, a touch strip that feels less intuitive and an eco mode that can overreach, while Honeywell owners mention Resideo cloud outages and remote features that are effectively US-only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Nest Thermostat or Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat?
The Nest Thermostat for most homes, thanks to occupancy sensing, Apple HomeKit support and dual band Wi-Fi. The Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat is the pick for a colour touchscreen, maintenance reminders and full Home Assistant support.
Does the Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat work with Google Home?
Yes. The Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat works with Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant. It does not work with Apple HomeKit, which the Nest Thermostat supports.
Is there a Honeywell thermostat like the Nest Thermostat?
The Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat covers the same Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings control and adds a larger colour touchscreen, but it lacks the presence sensing that lets the Nest Thermostat switch to eco when the house is empty.
What is the biggest difference between the Nest Thermostat and the Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat?
How they save energy. The Nest Thermostat senses whether anyone is home, while the Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat learns your system's heating and cooling times and sends monthly energy reports.
Who should buy the Nest Thermostat?
Google or Apple Home households that want automatic eco savings based on who is home, and anyone with a 5 GHz router.
Who should buy the Honeywell Home RTH9585WF Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat?
Buyers who want a large customisable touchscreen, filter reminders and energy reports, and Home Assistant users.
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