Nest vs Honeywell 2018
Over the past few years, we’ve integrated technology into our daily lives at a rapid pace. It should come as no surprise that there has been an increase in the number of “smart home” appliances available. You can now buy smart thermostats for your home, with capabilities that expand far beyond setting the temperature.
If you’re considering a smart thermostat, your decision should come down to Nest vs Honeywell. Continue reading for our complete review on both products to determine which is best for you.
Benefits of Installing a Smart Thermostat
Before we compare the Nest vs Honeywell devices, it’s important to understand what exactly a programmable thermostat is and why it can be beneficial in your home. The standard thermostat that you currently have installed in your home serves as a control panel for your heating and air conditioning system. It requires manual adjusting to regulate the temperature.
Smart thermostats, however, offer much more, including:
- The option to pre-set the temperature depending on the time of day, even when you’re not home.
- The ability to learn from your behaviors and tendencies.
- Remote control of your home’s heating and air conditioning system from your phone, tablet, or computer.
- A live, real-time look into your energy consumption.
- Advanced detection features, which will sense conditions such as excess humidity and automatically adjust the temperature accordingly.
- Alerts if you need to replace your air filtration system.
Save Money on Your Heating and Air Conditioning
Smart thermostats keep your home at a comfortable level throughout the day, without you having to worry about adjusting the thermostat. Your programmable thermostat can lower the temperature in your home when you leave for work, saving you energy costs, and then automatically return the temperature to your predetermined comfort level when you return home.
The United States Department of Energy has said that smart thermostats can save you at least 10% annually on your heating and cooling bills. They are a worthwhile investment that will save you money for years down the road.
Products Being Compared
We’ll be comparing the Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat and the Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation. Both companies offer products that slightly differ in design or functionality, but these are the best two smart thermostats offered by each company.
We’ll outline a few categories the average consumer deems important when selecting a smart thermostat.
Integration – Nest
Once installing the Nest, you simply need to let it go to work. The device learns your habits, and will automatically adjust the temperature on your behalf. Of course, you’re welcomed to make manual adjustments. But the convenience of being able to carry on daily activities without having to once think about your thermostat cannot be overstated.
The Nest uses sensors to determine if you are home or not. If you’re home, Nest will automatically set the temperature to your pre-determined preference. Over time, Nest will recognize when you’re not home and shut down your unit while you’re gone. Nest will then turn the unit back on in time to have the house at 70 degrees when you arrive home.
The Honeywell allows you to program schedules, and then adjust those schedules if need be. The device will learn how your specific heating and cooling unit operates, and make adjustments accordingly. The Honeywell learns how much time is necessary for your unit to alter the temperature, and then turn the unit on in time to meet your scheduled temperature changes.
The Honeywell is dependent on these pre-programmed schedules, however. While the Nest automatically learns when you’re home and away, you need to tell the Honeywell when you’re home. The Honeywell interface does make it easy to adjust your schedule, however.
The Nest is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and Wink. The Honeywell device is compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Wink. Both thermostats have excellent apps that can be accessed anywhere remotely.
Pricing Options – Honeywell
A Honeywell programmable thermostat retails on Amazon for about $163. Its price on Amazon has also dropped recently. In September, the device cost about $170.
A Nest device currently costs a little bit more than $246 on Amazon, although it was as low as $230 in September. The Nest’s cost also depends on the model that you choose, with prices varying by about $10.
The Nest comes with a two-year warranty, while the Honeywell comes with a one-year warranty.
Design – Nest
When comparing designs, a Nest is much more aesthetically appealing than the Honeywell. Nest comes in a sleek, futuristic round design. It’s also available in three colors – white, copper, and stainless steel. The color options allow the Nest to blend seamlessly into your home. Nest measures 1.21” x 3.3” x 3.3”.
Nest invested heavily in their design, and it shows. Tony Fadell, credited with designing the original iPod, designed the Nest. The thermostat also features Farsight technology. When it senses you in the same room, it will automatically turn on and display the time, temperature, or weather.
Nest products are designed to be simplistic and rely heavily on smart-technology methods to control them. You’ll find yourself speaking to your Nest or using an internet application to control the thermostat. A Nest is smaller than a traditional thermostat, and you lose some on-screen functionality as a result.
A Honeywell device looks more like a traditional thermostat. It’s only available in a white, rectangular shape that, in our opinion, appears bulky and boring. It measures .9” x 4.5” x 3.5”. Although the thermostat may seem large, the Honeywell doesn’t waste any space. It features a vibrant 3.5” x 4.5” screen. The color touchscreen provides much more on-screen function than the Nest, and you can alter the background color of the touchscreen.
Ultimately, when comparing Nest vs Honeywell designs, the choice comes down to what you’re searching for. If you’re looking for a sleek thermostat that “looks smart,” and you plan to maximize the thermostat’s remote capabilities, then the Nest is the better option. However, if you don’t mind a more traditional-looking thermostat that offers on-screen capabilities, you may be more comfortable choosing the Honeywell.
Installation and Compatibility – Nest
Professionals can install both thermostats, but you don’t need to do so with the Nest.
The Nest is the easiest smart thermostat to install. Amazon claims that most customers can complete the installation themselves in 30 minutes or less. Additionally, the Nest is compatible with 95% of 24V systems on the market, making installation possible in most households.
Furthermore, once connected, the Nest will finish the installation process on its own. After being plugged in, the device will determine the type of heating and air conditioning unit to which it’s connected. You do not need to provide any additional information.
Installing the Honeywell thermostat requires a C-wire. Honeywell offers a guide that allows you to check your home’s capability before purchasing the device. If you don’t have a C-wire in your home, the device will require professional installation. Whether a device needs professional installation or not should be factored into your installation costs.
You may already have a C-wire in your home. But even if you do, you may need to run additional wiring to access it. The average consumer can find installing the Honeywell device to be difficult and frustrating.
Nest vs Honeywell – Who Wins?
When it comes to Nest vs Honeywell, both are great smart thermostat options. Realistically, you’ll be satisfied no matter which one you choose. But if it’s within your budget, we believe the Nest is ultimately the better option of the two.
The Nest looks and feels like a smart thermostat. It’s amazing that such an advanced device can blend into your home with such ease. We were truly impressed with the Nest’s design and simple yet bold display.
Nest’s learning capabilities are unmatched and help simplify your life. Knowing you’re saving money on your heating and cooling bill without ever having to think about it is a key feature that sets the Nest apart. Nest’s learning capabilities are unmatched by any smart thermostat on the market.
The Honeywell is a great smart thermostat device and does offer some unique features. We were big fans of the large touchscreen on the device, which is a sacrifice Nest makes. There’s something to be said about being able to get up and make manual adjustments to the thermostat without having to pull out your phone.
The price difference is also an important factor to consider. The Honeywell model is about $60 cheaper than the Nest. It’s a matter of your financial situation, as this can be a large difference in up-front cost. If possible, consider that you’ll have your thermostat for years to come. If you own your thermostat for a decade, that’s only $6 a year difference between the two.
Additionally, both models will save you money on your heating and air conditioning. Nest’s learning capabilities are worth the up-front cost when considering you’ll save more than $60 over the course of the first year.
