The ecobee4 is the best Wi-Fi thermostat you can buy today. It not only works with additional room sensors, but it supports Apple's HomeKit home automation system and comes with Amazon Alexa built in!

Our Pick

ecobee4

The best Wi-Fi thermostat for most people

The ecobee4 one-ups other smart Wi-Fi-equipped thermostats by including remote sensors. It allows you to not only measure the temperature of the room or hallway where the thermostat is installed but, thanks to the additional sensors, also any other room as well. As such, you get more granular control and better comfort and energy efficiency in your house.

Who should buy this thermostat

The ecobee4 is for anyone who wants total control of their home climate with using Amazon's Alexa or Apple's Siri voice assistant. With the new Alexa-enabled ecobee4, you get all the magic of the HomeKit-enabled ecobee3 and built-in Alexa voice control. Even better, thanks to the built-in speaker and microphone setup, Alexa is just as powerful on the ecobee4 as it is on Amazon's Echo products. With HomeKit compatibility, you also get full support for Siri control, including the ability to change temperature with your voice and trigger more complex actions with scenes, using your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.

Is it a good time to buy this thermostat?

Yes. With extra temperature and occupancy sensors you can place throughout your home, built-in Alexa voice control, and HomeKit compatibility, the ecobee4 is hands-down the most integrated, powerful, and doggone fun Wi-Fi smart thermostat you can buy.

7 reasons to buy

  • Remote sensor compatibility.
  • Built-in Alexa control, complete with microphone and speaker.
  • Full Siri and HomeKit control.
  • ecobee is an independent company, so your data isn't being stored by some tech giant.
  • Complete control from your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and the newest Apple TV.
  • Access and control ecobee4 from anywhere in the world.
  • Three-year warranty in case anything fails.
  • Stupendously well reviewed across the board.
  • Alexa lets you control other smart home devices, like lights, and lets you set timers, search the web, and more.

2 reasons not to buy

  • There is a cheaper alternative if you don't need as many features or extra sensors.
  • There is an alternative if you're not entrenched in Apple's ecosystem.

Most people can benefit from a full-featured Wi-Fi thermostat

The ecobee4 is a full-featured, Alexa-enabled device. It comes with embedded microphones that feature far-field voice recognition (the same technology that makes the Amazon Echo hear you from across the room) and a speaker that makes Alexa sound loud and clear, despite coming from a thermostat fastened to your wall.

That means, on top of having all the same great features as the ecobee3 (HomeKit-enabled, satellite room sensors, energy-saving benefits), you can use the ecobee4 in the same way you'd use an Echo, Echo Dot, or Tap. Ask Alexa to set a timer, adjust the lighting, give you the steps to a recipe, play some jazz — you can do it all right from your smart thermostat. You can also — of course — use Alexa to adjust the temperature in your home but that's just one tiny detail.

Alternatives to the ecobee4

The ecobee3 lite is more or less the ecobee3 thermostat without the extra sensors. It has all the same great features, including HomeKit compatibility and Siri control; it's just constrained to the area where you install the main unit.

Runner-up

ecobee3 lite

Don't need sensors? Don't spend the extra cash.

If you have a small apartment, condo, or home, or just don't feel the need for extra sensors in other rooms, it's a great way to get started with ecobee3 and save a little money while doing it.

The Nest Learning Thermostat may not be the newest smart thermostat on the block any longer, but it was the one that sparked a generational shift. The HAL-like dial is futuristic, largely easy to operate (albeit sometimes clunky to type with), and Nest comes with a great iPhone and iPad app for controlling your house's temperature. It also supports the Works with Nest program, which provides integrations with dozens of other smart home products.

Great non-HomeKit alternative

Nest Learning Thermostat

No HomeKit? No problem.

The Nest Learning Thermostat is a cheaper alternative if you don't need HomeKit compatibility and have other "Works with Nest" products in your home.

Bottom line

For most people, the ecobee4 is a full-featured smart thermostat that truly does it all and caters to both folks who are all-in on Apple and those who prefer Alexa control.

The team that worked on this guide

Mikah Sargent is Senior Editor at Mobile Nations. When he's not bothering his chihuahuas, Mikah spends entirely too much time and money on HomeKit products. You can follow him on Twitter at @mikahsargent if you're so inclined.

Derek Kessler is Managing Editor for Mobile Nations, where he covers tech across the spectrum. He got his start a decade ago writing about Palm and hasn't stopped since. In his desk drawer you will find way too many phones. Derek also does a fair bit of technical work (including this fancy page); he's @derekakessler on Twitter, if you dare.

Rene Ritchie has been covering the personal technology industry for a decade. An outspoken analyst and critic, he writes at iMore.com/vector, podcasts at applepodcasts.com/vector, and you can find his show at youtube.com/vectorshow. Follow him @reneritchie on Twitter and Instagram.

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