A smart thermostat with Alexa built inside? Do you really need that?

Instead of purchasing a separate Amazon Echo to ask Alexa questions, you can easily talk back and forth with your Ecobee4 or Ecobee SmartThermostat. But those two will cost you more than the Ecobee3 (and there are other differences to consider).

Let’s compare all three Ecobees to find the key differences. We will help you decide which Ecobee is worth your money through this in-depth comparison.

 

Ecobee3 left, Ecobee4 middle, Ecobee SmartThermostat right.

Ecobee3 vs Ecobee4 vs Ecobee SmartThermostat

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A few years ago, Ecobee3 changed the game for smart thermostats.

That’s because they included a remote sensor for monitoring the temperature of other rooms.

This prevents uneven temperatures by keeping an eye on cold or warm rooms in the home, and adjusting Ecobee as needed.

This is one of the most popular features of Ecobee3, and the good news is that Ecobee4 and Ecobee SmartThermostat both include room sensors as well.

Ecobee sells some of the best smart thermostats available, but figuring out which one to buy can be confusing. There are several similarities between the Ecobee thermostats, but there are also major differences to know about.

We’ll go over the upgrades for the Ecobee4 and Ecobee SmartThermostat before diving into the similarities of all three.

Ecobee SmartThermostat’s upgrades

The newer Ecobee SmartThermostat is similar to the Ecobee4, but with a few upgrades. These are not available on Ecobee4 or Ecobee3.

Ecobee4’s upgrades

When comparing these thermostats, these are the upgrades you can expect with the Ecobee4. These are not available on Ecobee3 or Ecobee3 Lite, but they are included in the Ecobee SmartThermostat.

However, the Ecobee4 has some Alexa skills that are incompatible. It can’t play music, connect to Spotify (or other third-party apps), shop on Amazon, or call other Alexa devices. These are all possible on the SmartThermostat. You also cannot change the wake word on it: you’re stuck with “Alexa” as the word for voice control on Ecobee4.

The fact that Alexa can hear you from far away is important, since many people have thermostats located in a hallway or somewhere they may not spend a lot of time. If your thermostat is near your bedroom, you may be able to tell Alexa to adjust the thermostat from bed because the microphones can still hear from far away.

Features of all 3 Ecobee Thermostats

As mentioned, when comparing Ecobee4 vs Ecobee3 vs Ecobee SmartThermostat, the three have quite a few features in common. These are the specs that you expect on each thermostat.

Hardware features

1 room sensor included. While the SmartThermostat includes the updated SmartSensor, each thermostat has one room sensor of some kind included. These sensors monitor the temperature remotely throughout your home to prevent one room from getting drafty or sweltering. You can also purchase extra sensors separately. The sensors work together: Ecobee takes the average temperature of all of the sensors and adjusts your home based on that.

Software features

Ecobee’s tracking is more advanced than other smart thermostats that can only sense if you walk directly in front of them. With data from your activity around the home using its remote sensors, Ecobee adjusts itself to reduce your energy usage. You’ll see how much you saved in the monthly energy reports.

While only Ecobee4 and Ecobee SmartThermostat have Alexa built in, all devices have a compatible Alexa skill so you can control the thermostat with your voice.

Since Ecobee3 doesn’t have Alexa inside, you’ll have to use an Echo Dot for voice control.

Is Ecobee SmartThermostat worth it?

When comparing Ecobee3, Ecobee4, and Ecobee SmartThermostat you’ll notice that the upgrades for the SmartThermostat are mostly focused on the Alexa integration.

If you will use Alexa, then Ecobee SmartThermostat is worth the extra cost.

Instead of purchasing another Echo Dot or similar Alexa device, which just adds to your cost, Alexa is already built into your SmartThermostat.

Those who use is can simply ask the forecast when going past their thermostat each morning. Plus you can make calls and play music, which are upgrades over Ecobee4. The SmartThermostat can be very convenient as an all-in-one solution.

Ecobee3 doesn’t offer Alexa at all, while Ecobee4 is an outdated version of the SmartThermostat at a slightly lower price.

Potential Problems with Alexa

Far-field voice recognition is supposed to prevent false alarms. But having Alexa devices in an open area like a hallway can still cause multiple Alexas to hear and respond to you at once.

Depending on the set up of your home and where the Alexa devices are installed, Ecobee4 or SmartThermostat could be more of an annoyance than a feature.

If you won’t use Alexa or find the feature annoying, then Ecobee3 or Ecobee3 Lite may be the way to go.

Other Ecobee Options

While the SmartThermostat is the latest Ecobee option, there are reasons you may want to choose older, less expensive versions.

When to choose Ecobee3

Other than Alexa, Ecobee3 has all of the same Ecobee features that you love: motion sensors, remote controlling, a nice LCD touchscreen, and more.

Plus, you can always buy an Ecobee3 and Echo Dot.

The Dot has better sound, connects to Bluetooth, and has full use of Alexa skills. Installing it near your Ecobee3 thermostat gives the full functionality that comes with the SmartThermostat.

If you already own a Dot, then Ecobee3 could be a better option because you won’t have to worry about both Alexa devices hearing and responding to you at once.

Of course, it’s looking like Ecobee is retiring the Ecobee3 since it’s not even on their website’s header menu. For that reason, the Ecobee3 Lite is also worth considering.

Ecobee3 Lite & Others

Note that the Ecobee3 Lite is also an option, and is typically offered at a lower price tag because it doesn’t come with a sensor and is missing a built-in occupancy sensor. Otherwise, it looks and works the same as Ecobee3.

Find out more in our comparison of Ecobee3 vs Ecobee3 Lite.

Of course, the other big player in the mix is Nest, which is the best-selling smart thermostat available. Nest has its own pros and cons when stacked up against Ecobee devices.

We compare Nest with Ecobee4 and Ecobee3 in other articles if you’re looking to really dive deep into research. You also want to check out Nest vs Nest E if you’re thinking of going that route.

That being said, there’s no other smart thermostat on the market with Alexa directly built in. SmartThermostat and Ecobee4 are kind of a league of their own for that reason.

Another Ecobee Device with Alexa

Ecobee wants to be more than just a smart thermostat company. Their goal is to bring voice control throughout the home using devices like the Ecobee Switch+.

We set up and tested the Ecobee Switch+ in this video. It’s an interesting concept and similar to the Ecobee4 in several ways, since it makes a home for Alexa in your walls.

Creepy or cool? You decide.

The Switch+ also has Alexa built in, with a small speaker and status light similar to Ecobee4. And yes, it even has the same red light that shines nonstop if you disable your device.

Switch+ can track when someone enters the room, in addition to the temperature. It works similarly to the brand’s remote sensors.

Ecobee says that eventually you will be able to fully use these switches as remote temperature sensors with your Ecobee thermostats, but users have been waiting awhile on that update, so who knows.

Ecobee envisions Alexa in every room of your home, and they are making that seem like a possibility thanks to the Switch+ and SmartThermostat. Now it’s up to you to decide whether or not you want her all over your home.

SmartThermostat’s features set it far above the competition as the most advanced thermostat on the market.

Which is your pick between Ecobee4 vs Ecobee3 vs SmartThermostat? Would you spend the extra cash for the SmartThermostat? Comment below and let me know!