Smart Thermostat Showdown
We compare Tado, Nest & Hive
With rising energy costs and environmental concerns, choosing the right smart thermostat can make a significant impact on both comfort and efficiency. Here’s a breakdown of three popular options — Tado, Nest, and Hive — I’ve installed and run all three systems and have lived with all of them for long enough to compare them thoroughly. Hopefully this guide will help you make an informed decision on which smart thermostat system is best for you.
Tado: The Energy Efficiency Expert
Installation:
The Tado system is well thought-out for fresh installations, and also for upgrading from existing systems. I had originally installed the Hive system, having had it recommended to me by our plumber, but it fell short in a few ways which were important to me (more on this further down) so we ended up removing it and putting the Tado system in its place. The guys at Tado have worked through most equipment scenarios and offer detailed step-by-step guides for upgrading to Tado from almost any system on the market. The guide of removing Hive and replacing it with Tado was intuitive and could be done by anyone capable of using a screwdriver and following simple step-by-step instructions.
Wireless Starter kits start at around £100
Wireless Smart Thermostat Starter Kit V3+ with Hot Water Control
Pros:
Tado stands out for its precise control over energy use, thanks to features like geolocation, which detects when household members leave or return, and open-window detection that shuts off heating if it senses a draft. For zoned heating, Tado excels with the addition of Smart TRVs (the controls on your radiator), users can control individual rooms, offering customizable room-by-room zoning control. The app and it’s programming is on a par with Nest, and works well, which does negate most use of the thermostat controller (I rarely go to the controller and just use the app 95% of the time). The scheduler which is the bit that most people fear the most is really simple to update and edit. Price at the time of writing is also the most cost-effective option available.
Cons:
Tado’s physical controller consists of a fairly minimalist design and while it’s perfectly functional it’s slightly less intuitive compared to some of its competitors especially for households including young children (who don’t have the app). Some of its more advanced features come with a paid subscription. The TRV’s which offer excellent control of individual rooms which is especially useful when the house is not fully occupied (home working etc) do have a slightly limited range, so need to be close enough to the hub in order to work correctly. This can be tricky in a large house.
Nest: Stylish and simple
Pros:
Nest’s sleek design and intuitive colour display make it an attractive choice, and its machine-learning capability automatically adjusts heating based on users’ habits, theoretically making it increasingly efficient over time. It integrates seamlessly with Google Home and doesn’t require a subscription for core features, which is a plus for users invested in the Google ecosystem. It’s simple to use and by far the most appealing thermostat controller on the market in terms of ease of use and aesthetics.
Cons:
However, Nest has limited compatibility with TRVs, making it less suitable for those seeking room-by-room control. You need to buy an additional smart thermometer to enable zoning and it’s not as flexible as having controls on each radiator. The controller while it has a battery, does require being plugged in to fully function, which can impact flexibility on room placement. I also found it to be the most fussy to place to get the optimal house temperature right. The magic it has when installed does lose its sparkle eventually, as I found the smart scheduling wasn’t saving energy, rather using more, so I ended up reverting back to a set schedule and disabled the adapting features. With the futuristic smart features turned off, it became a rather indulgent system which looked lovely on the wall, but was really no more feature rich than the basic Honeywell system it replaced.
Prices vary, but you can get deals from time to time starting from around £140
https://store.google.com/gb/product/nest_learning_thermostat_3rd_gen?hl=en-GB
As with all of the Thermostats tested, deals come and go. If you buy direct it’s around £180 which is a lot comparatively to the Tado system.
https://www.hivehome.com/shop/smart-heating/hive-thermostat
Hive: Classic features with Flexible Zoning
Pros:
Hive is perhaps the most like a traditional controller, which is why it appeals to traditionalists and those who want a simple thermostatic controlled akin to a wired thermostat. It’s compatible with Hive TRVs for controlling the heating of individual rooms, giving it an edge over Nest in terms of flexibility for zoning.
Cons:
Its design is more traditional, which may appeal less to style-conscious buyers. The app which has evolved a bit since I had the system installed was by far the most basic and clunky to use, and the physical controller felt plastic and cheap compared to the others. It was also overly complicated, trying to do too much via the controller rather than rely on the app like Tado does.
Verdict
- Test Winner Tado is ideal for users who want precise control and zoning with TRVs, though a subscription may be needed for more advanced features.
- Nest is best for those who prioritize design and are looking for a thermostat that “learns” their habits but don’t need extensive zoning.
- Hive provides traditional control and flexible zoning, but with less finesse than the other two, so would be my third choice in this selection. It just didn’t do it for me and was the first time I’ve ever replaced a heating control system before the warranty ran out.
Each thermostat brings distinct strengths, so the choice will ultimately depend on your priorities — from advanced zoning with Tado to the Nest’s sleek design, or Hive’s classic features. It’s also worth noting that my setup was specific to my needs, a large old house with an oil boiler and poor thermal efficiency. If you have a different heating system your needs may differ, and you may benefit from other features that I don’t need or benefit from.
