Smart thermostats have always been lauded for their ability to save you money while also keeping you comfortable. There are now a lot of smart thermostats in the market, and two of these are the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Honeywell Wi-Fi 9000 7-Day Programmable Thermostat.
Main Differences Between Honeywell 9000 and Nest Thermostat
The main differences between the Honeywell 9000 and Nest Thermostat are:
- The Honeywell 9000 offers a five-year warranty, while the Nest Thermostat only offers two-years
- Nest is continually growing its list of device integration, however, the Honeywell 9000 significantly outpaces Nest in this area
- While the Honeywell 9000 looks like a great programmable thermostat, it doesn’t come anywhere near the features and capabilities that the Nest offers. The Nest simply outshines Honeywell when it comes to learning your preferences.
- If your home has more than one zone, the Nest is the better option. The Honeywell 900o simply does not support multiple zones. For several zones, you’ll need to add more thermostats.
- Only one email address at a time will work with the Honeywell 9000. That is not the case with the Nest as you can register multiple addresses and give them access to the thermostat.
- You have to have the C-wire when it comes to using the Honeywell 9000. It has to have the constant power supplied by the C-wire or it won’t work at all. On the other hand, the Nest comes with a lithium-ion battery that you can recharge while the thermostat is in use.
Nest Learning Thermostat
Now in its third generation, the Nest Learning Thermostat broke grounds when it allowed users to do away with programming. Instead, the device remembers the temperatures that you like and then creates its own schedule according to your behavior. Nest has been credited more than 22 billion kilowatt-hours of energy since it was first launched in 2011.
Behind all of these is Nest Sense. This technology learns about your home, the weather outside, and even your HVAC system. All of these factors are considered by the algorithm to make sure that you are comfortable without thinking too much about it.
Nest further makes it easier for you to save on energy costs. It gives you a visual confirmation that you are indeed saving energy by displaying a green leaf. If you ever wondered how much energy you have been using, you can check out the Energy History section of the mobile app to see nifty graphics of your energy use.
Nest connects to your Wi-Fi network so that you could use the companion mobile app to operate your Nest. Yes, that simply means that you do not even have to be home to save on energy costs! The mobile app also sends you safety alerts, notifying you if your home gets too warm or too cold so that you can do something about it. Nest can also tell you if there might be issues with your furnace, or when it is time to change the filters.
One of the technologies that Nest offers is farsight. Whenever you walk into the room, Nest would sense it and instantly light up, making it easier for you to see the time, temperature and even the weather even from afar. You do not have to walk up to it and wake it up, it just lights up when it “sees” you.
Soon, Nest would be able to deliver the perfect temperature in every room in your house with the Nest Temperature Sensor. You can put a sensor in every room in your house to make sure that every room is at the right temperature. No more worrying about your baby’s nursery being too cold or your living room being too warm.
Aside from the energy savings you get, the Nest Learning Thermostat is also a sight to behold. Made of premium materials, you can choose from copper, black, stainless steel, and white. So whether you have a modern design theme or a classic one for your home, there is a Nest for you.
The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat is being sold on the company’s online store.
However, if you think that this is too much to pay for a smart thermostat, no sweat! Nest also offers the Nest Thermostat E. What’s the difference? Well, the great news is that there is not much difference between these two, except for the materials used for Nest E and its lack of farsight capabilities. The Nest Thermostat E is made of hard plastic and has a muted frosted display. Indeed, if the Nest Learning Thermostat was designed to stand out, the Nest Thermostat E is intended to disappear with the background. You also have to make sure that the cheaper Nest E is compatible with your current cooling and heating systems because it does not have the same compatibility as the more expensive learning version.
Nest Pros
Saves on Energy
Once the Nest learns your routines and behaviors, it will suggest temperature settings to help you save on energy. You’ll know you’ve found the perfect balance of efficiency and energy when you see a green leaf on the thermostat.
The Nest also saves energy by turning off when it does not see any movement for two hours. Additionally, you receive a monthly report indicating how many hours your home was efficient and how you compare with other Nest users.
Learning Capabilities
Where other thermostats can turn on and off when they’ve been programmed to do so, the Nest can learn. Nest tracks your routines and behaviors and then determines the best times to turn off and on based on the information it gathers. It does this through its motion sensor, which it uses to determine if you change your routine.
If you want the learning functionality to be effective, you’ll want to install your Nest in a place where there’s plenty of traffic. Additionally, if you need to override the current temperature, you can do so in the mobile app or on manually on the thermostat itself.
Sleek and Stylish Design
Even though the Honeywell 9000 gives you plenty of options on its touchscreen to match your home, the Nest is simply more stylish. Its circular design has a sleekness to it that makes it look right at home no matter what type of decor you have. Plus, there are several colors from which you can choose, and it illuminates upon detecting motion.
Nest Cons
Dependent on Location
Since the Nest has a motion sensor built-in, it must be in a location with a lot of traffic for it to be most efficient. If it’s in an area that doesn’t see much movement, then you run the risk of your thermostat going into standby mode, even if you’re at home.
Of course, you can overcome this issue by purchasing additional sensors to place throughout your home. However, that means you’re going to spend more money on your Nest system. For some, this isn’t a problem, while others might want a more cost-effective device for their heating and cooling needs.
Honeywell Wi-Fi 9000 7-Day Programmable Thermostat
The Honeywell Wi-Fi 9000 7-Day Programmable Thermostat has a beautiful interface that makes use of a touch display. No matter what color your walls are, it should not be a problem because you can change the color of the device’s screen to any hue you choose.
What’s more, the thermostat gives you total freedom and total control on top of the energy savings you get. You can use the Total Control mobile app to change the settings, turn up the heat, and even check your thermostat from anywhere in the world.
With the mobile app or right on the control panel itself, you can control your heating and cooling system’s fan, change the modes (heat, cool, off, or auto), and then change the preset schedule according to your preferences.
The present schedules make it easier for you to save money. These schedules work on whether somebody’s home or not. Aside from the preset daily schedules, there is also the customizable vacation mode. The beauty of this mode is that you only need to set it once and, when your vacation ends, the thermostat would go back to using the daily schedules.
What you would love about the Honeywell 9000 is that it is continuously being improved. Over the air, updates happen rather regularly and new features are introduced.
If you want more ways to save, check out the mobile app’s Marketplace. The Marketplace would let you know about different deals that have something to do with your cooling and heating, including information about your provider’s promotions, research, or savings programs. Some electricity providers offer rebates, discounts, and credits or pay you cash to gain access to your thermostat. There are also offers on filters, home security products, and other features.
Integrations. The Honeywell Wi-Fi 9000 works well with other smart devices. It boasts of an extensive list of compatible devices, including Apple Homekit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung Smart Things, Logitech Harmony, IFTTT, Wink, Simple Control, and others.
The Honeywell 9000 is being sold on Amazon.
Honeywell 9000 Pros
Saves on Energy
There are pre-installed programs available on the Honeywell 9000 that claim energy efficiency. However, if you discover that these schedules don’t make sense for you, it’s easy to customize them to fit your needs. With its Smart Response System, the thermostat can determine the amount of time it takes for your home to heat up or cool down.
As a result, your system saves on energy since it doesn’t pop on until absolutely necessary. Additionally, the Honeywell 9000 has a setting for when you’re away on vacation. This setting lets you set the minimum and maximum temps in your home while you’re away.
Control Freedom
Even though the Honeywell 9000 offers pre-set schedules and programs, you still have control over your own settings. With the Total Control app, you can change programs, check the temperature in your home, and adjust settings no matter where you happen to be. Additionally, the Honeywell 9000 has a touchscreen interface which lets you change settings right on the thermostat itself.
Smart Device Compatibility
When it comes to compatibility with other smart devices, the Honeywell 9000 has an impressive list. These devices include Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Wink, Apple Homekit, Logitech Harmony, and Smart Things. No matter what you have in your home, there’s a good chance the Honeywell 9000 will work with it.
Honeywell 9000 Cons
Confusing to Setup
Setting up your Honeywell 9000 isn’t overly complicated, however, it does take longer to get going than other smart thermostats. For example, the Nest only needs a wifi connection and a mobile app to get going. The Honeywell 9000, on the other hand, needs connectivity, then requires its users to register before accessing the thermostat.
This means you’ll have to wait for a verification email to arrive, which includes your device codes for activation. It’s an extra step you have to take to get your Honeywell 9000 setup. While it doesn’t take a long time, it can be a source of frustration for some people.
Cannot Learn
One of the most significant drawbacks to the Honeywell 9000 is that it’s basically a traditional thermostat. The difference is that you can control it with your mobile device from anywhere you have internet connectivity. While it does come with preset schedules, it doesn’t have the ability to learn as the Nest does.
Single Zone Limitation
You can only connect the Honeywell 9000 to one single heating zone. Therefore, if you have more than one in our home, you’ll have to purchase additional thermostats. In the same vein, the Honeywell 9000 can only connect to one email address at a time, so if you have multiple users, you’ll have to give the email address and password to everyone.
Comparing Honeywell 9000 with the Nest Learning Thermostat
One area where Honeywell 9000 wins is in the integrations. While the list of devices that works with Nest is growing, it still does not outpace Honeywell’s list of compatible devices. It also has a longer warranty at five years. Nest only offers a two-year warranty.
However, Honeywell 9000 is really just a digital version of a traditional programmable thermostat. The only difference is that you can control it from anywhere. It even looks like your old thermostat, but with a color screen. And while the preset schedule is a great help to lessen the amount of input you need to make, it still does not hold a candle to Nest’s learning algorithms. Remember, a wrongly programmed thermostat could make you end up paying much more instead of saving.
Another problem with Honeywell 9000 is that it does not support multiple zones. If you have more than one heating or cooling zones in your house, you would need to add another thermostat for each of these additional zones. Furthermore, you can only register your Honeywell 9000 to one e-mail address. If you do not live alone, everyone in the house would need to use the same e-mail address and login to access the app and the website. This also means that unless you give other people the same e-mail and password, there is no way for you to give guest access to other people so that they could control your thermostat.
Then there is the issue of the C-wire, which delivers constant power to your thermostat. Honeywell 9000 needs the common wire or it simply would not work. Meanwhile, you can get away not connecting a C-wire with the Nest Learning Thermostat. Nest has a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged safely while the device is in use. Therefore, unless you experience problems like the thermostat not acting the way it should, or if it turns itself on or off unexpectedly, you should not care about not having a C-wire with Nest.
Nest Learning Thermostat has been the dominant player in the smart thermostat space because of its learning capabilities, its features that make it easier to use, its ability to help you save money, and the fact that it works without a C-wire. The Honeywell 9000 fails in all these regards, but it can still help you save money and it still works with other smart devices better than Nest. Plus, it is more affordable than the Nest.
Side-by-side comparison of features for both Honeywell 9000 and Nest Learning Thermostat
| Model | Nest Learning Thermostat | Honeywell 9000 |
| Price | (Check out the latest rates here!) | (Check out the latest rates here!) |
| Dimensions (inches, l x w x d) | 3.3 x 3.3 x 1.2 | 4.5 x 3.5 x 0.9 |
| Colors available | (4) Stainless steel, copper, white and black | White |
| Color touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Screen size (square inches) | 2.4 | 8.0 |
| Temperature sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Humidity sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Near-field activity sensor | Yes | No |
| Farsight | Yes | No |
| C-wire is necessary | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 Years | 2 Years |
| Additional Sensors Available | No | Yes |
| C-Wire Needed | Yes | No |
Final Thoughts
Most users might prefer the Nest Learning thermostat since it offers a smaller interface, learning capabilities, and the option to add more sensors. It’s also nice that the thermostat doesn’t have to have a C-wire connected for power.
However, there are some people who want to have integration with an already existing system, and for that, they’ll want to select the Honeywell 9000. For instance, if you have an Amazon Alexa device, you can control your thermostat via voice controls (although this capability works with the Nest if you have a Google Home). But if you want more than one integration option, the Honeywell 9000 is the way to go.
We prefer the more advanced device, so between the two, we’re going with the Nest Learning Thermostat. It has more color options, which means it’ll match the interior of your home. Additionally, it’ll work without a C-wire and has a sophisticated interface and sleek design. You can’t go wrong with either thermostat, but we really like the Nest.
Leave a Reply