Nest vs Hive vs Tado: Which Is Better?
Choosing the best smart thermostat for your home can be a tough decision, especially with top contenders like Nest, Hive, and Tado on the market.
These thermostats not only add a touch of convenience to your daily life, but can help reduce your energy consumption and save you on heating bills.
With each thermostat offering unique features and capabilities, how do you know which one is the best fit for your needs?
We’ve compared Nest, Hive, and Tado to help you make a more informed decision.
We’ll weigh their pros and cons, discuss their compatibility with various heating systems, and explore how they integrate with smart home ecosystems, like Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Apple HomePod.
Let’s help you find the right smart thermostat for your home.
Comparing Nest, Hive, and Tado
When it comes to making your home smarter and more energy-efficient, having a smart thermostat is an essential piece of the puzzle.
Three big players in this market are Google Nest, Hive Active Heating, and Tado Smart Thermostats.
But which of these is the best fit for you? Here’s an overview of each brand and its offerings.
Google Nest
Last update on 2025-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Google Nest offers the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, which learns your schedule and preferences over time, adjusting heating and cooling settings to suit your comfort levels.
It also has:
- A stylish design and comes in various finishes
- Energy-saving features to help you save on your bills
- Integration with Google Home and other smart devices
Some drawbacks of the Nest Learning Thermostat are its higher price compared to competitors and its limited compatibility with some heating systems.
Hive Active Heating
Last update on 2025-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Hive Active Heating provides smart thermostat solutions that allow you to control your heating and hot water from your smartphone, with key features like:
- A user-friendly mobile app
- Integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Geolocation, which adjusts temperatures based on your location
Although Hive Active Heating is a robust choice for a smart thermostat, it doesn’t learn or adapt to your schedule like Google Nest, requiring more hands-on adjustments.
Tado Smart Thermostats
Last update on 2025-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tado is a forerunner in smart thermostats, offering control of your heating through their mobile app.
Major features of the Tado smart thermostat include:
- Wired and wireless options
- A wireless booster for improved device performance
- Compatibility with a wide range of heating systems
While Tado is a strong competitor, it may lack some of the additional features offered by Google Nest and Hive Active Heating, such as integration with smart home devices beyond heating.
Smart Thermostat Features Comparison
Design Comparison
When it comes to design, Nest, Hive, and Tado all offer sleek and modern designs for their smart thermostats.
The Nest Learning Thermostat has a round shape with a stainless steel body, while Hive sports a square shape with rounded corners and a minimalist design.
Tado takes a different approach with a slim rectangular design that blends easily into your home interior.
Functionality
Each of these devices has its strengths when it comes to functionality.
Nest is well-known for its learning abilities, as it can automatically adjust the temperature based on your daily habits.
Hive provides a multi-zone control feature, allowing you to separately control heating in different areas of your home.
Tado is praised for its geofencing capabilities, adjusting the heating in your home based on your location.
Device Control
All three smart thermostats offer remote control through their respective mobile apps.
You can adjust the temperature, create schedules, and control other functions directly from your smartphone.
Integration with voice assistants, like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, is also available for seamless voice control of your thermostat.
Energy Usage Monitoring
Monitoring your energy usage is an essential aspect of these smart devices.
Nest, Hive, and Tado all offer insights into your energy consumption, helping you learn how to optimize your heating schedules and usage for lower energy bills.
The apps provide detailed reports on your energy usage, giving you a clear understanding of how your heating habits affect your overall energy consumption.
Compatibility With Smart Home Systems
In today’s world of smart homes, compatibility is key.
Here’s how Nest, Hive, and Tado thermostats interact with major smart home ecosystems, like Amazon, Google, and Apple.
Amazon Ecosystem
Amazon’s line of Echo devices, featuring Alexa, work well with all three thermostat systems.
- Nest: Alexa can control the temperature, set schedules, and more.
- Hive: Integrating Hive with Alexa is simple, granting easy voice control over your heating.
- Tado: Tado seamlessly interacts with Amazon Echo, allowing you to adjust settings with voice commands.
Google Home Integration
Google Home and its Assistant are tailored to work with multiple smart thermostat options.
- Nest: Being a Google-owned product, Nest naturally excels in compatibility with Google Home. Temperature control and schedule adjustments are a breeze.
- Hive: Google Assistant can also control Hive thermostats, making it a solid choice for users in the Google ecosystem.
- Tado: Google Home integration is available with Tado, providing you control over your heating via voice commands.
Apple HomeKit Compatibility
Apple HomeKit integration is essential for many iOS users. Let’s see how these thermostats fare with HomeKit.
- Nest: Nest does not support Apple HomeKit. Sadly.
- Hive: Hive does not natively support HomeKit, although third-party workarounds exist for determined users.
- Tado: HomeKit compatibility is a strong point for Tado, easily integrating for a seamless experience.
Overall, compatibility with smart home systems varies among Nest, Hive, and Tado.
Choosing the one most suited to your ecosystem will help you get the best smart thermostat experience possible.
Product Range and Add-Ons
When comparing Nest, Hive, and Tado, it’s essential to consider their product range and available add-ons.
This will help you get the most out of your smart thermostat experience.
Let’s go through some additional devices and accessories that come with these thermostats.
Additional Devices
Nest offers a range of other devices to complement their thermostat, such as:
- Nest Protect (smoke and carbon monoxide alarm)
- Nest Cam (indoor and outdoor security cameras)
- Google Home (smart speaker)
Hive also provides a selection of additional devices, including:
- Hive Sensors (window and door sensors, motion sensors)
- Hive Plugs (smart plugs to control appliances)
- Hive Lights (smart LED bulbs, compatible with Philips Hue)
- Hive Hub (central hub to control all the Hive devices)
Tado has a more focused product range, mainly centered around heating and cooling. Their offerings include:
- Tado Smart Radiator Valves (control individual radiators)
- Tado Smart AC Control (smart air conditioning control)
Accessories
Besides the main devices offered by each brand, they also have several accessories to enhance your smart home experience.
Here are some accessories available for Nest and Hive.
- Nest Stand: A desk stand for the Nest Thermostat.
- Hive Hub: Required to control Hive devices, usually included in the Hive Active Heating Kit.
- Philips Hue: Hive Lights are compatible with Philips Hue, which allows you to customize your lighting and control smart LED bulbs throughout your home.
Now you have a better understanding of the product range and available add-ons for Nest, Hive, and Tado smart thermostats.
Keep this in mind while making your choice to ensure you get the best functionality and compatibility for your smart home.
Ease of Installation
When it comes to installing smart thermostats like Nest, Hive, and Tado, you have two main options: Professional Installation or DIY Set Up.
Let’s go through both to help you decide which one is the best fit for your home.
Professional Installation
If you’re not comfortable installing the thermostat yourself or you’re just too busy, hiring a professional is a solid choice.
Most of these smart thermostats offer professional installation as an option when purchasing.
Nest, for instance, has a network of certified installers called “Nest Pro” who are trained to properly set up their thermostats.
Hive, too, offers professional installation services. They even include installation in the price of their smart thermostat, making it easy for you to get up and running.
Similarly, Tado offers professional installation services by partnering with a network of trained professionals.
So with any of these brands, you can be sure that your new smart thermostat will be installed correctly and efficiently by a pro.
DIY Set Up
For those with a bit more confidence in your DIY skills, setting up these smart thermostats can be relatively simple.
Each brand provides clear instructions and resources to help guide you through the installation process.
- Nest: The Nest Learning Thermostat comes with a step-by-step guide that walks you through the process. There are also plenty of online resources, video tutorials, and support available on their website to assist you.
- Hive: Hive Active Heating’s installation guide is also easy to follow, and they provide an online support center with answers to frequently asked questions, as well as video guides.
- Tado: Tado’s smart thermostat includes an illustrated installation guide and their website is full of helpful information, including compatibility checks and video tutorials.
Ultimately, whether to install your smart thermostat yourself or hire a professional boils down to your personal preference, technical skills, and available time.
Price and Value for Money
Initial Cost
Smart thermostats are more expensive than traditional thermostats.
Prices for the Nest, Hive, and Tado vary, but stay within roughly $100 of each other.
- Nest Thermostat can be bought for just under $200 online.
- Hive Active Heating Kit can be bought for right around £200 online. (It’s no longer available in the U.S.) Just keep in mind, you’ll need the Hive Smart Home Hub too, which will add right under £100.
- Tado Smart Thermostat Starter Kit has a price tag just under £200. (The thermostat is also not available in the U.S.)
Long-Term Savings
When it comes to comparing prices for smart thermostats, initial cost is just one, very small piece of the puzzle.
Let’s talk the long-term savings these smart thermostats can bring to your home:
- Nest claims that by adopting its learning system, you “might” save up to 10-12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills.
- Hive states that it can save you up to £130 per year on heating.
- Tado suggests you can lower your energy consumption by up to 31%, depending on your heating habits.
Keep in mind that these long-term savings are estimates by the companies and may vary based on your heating and cooling habits, the efficiency of your system, and other factors.
Advanced Features and Updates
When exploring the world of smart thermostats, you’ll find a wide range of advanced features that can make life a whole lot easier.
Let’s explore some standout features of Nest, Hive, and Tado’s offerings.
Geolocation and Geofencing: Both Tado and Hive follow your phone’s location to determine when you’re home or out, adjusting the heating accordingly. Nest uses a more advanced approach of learning your routine while also incorporating a room sensor for added control.
Eco Mode and Energy Reports: Each of these thermostats is designed to help you save energy and cut costs. They all provide energy-saving modes and features. Nest and Hive also display regular energy reports to give you insights into your consumption.
Frost Protection and Weather Responsive: All three smart thermostats offer frost protection to prevent your pipes from freezing during colder months. They also have weather-responsive controls, adjusting the heating based on external temperature fluctuations.
Boost, Room-by-Room Control, and Multi-Zones: You can rapidly increase the temperature in specific zones with the boost function available in Hive and Tado. These thermostats additionally enable room-by-room control, allowing you to create different zones within your home. Nest also supports multi-zone management, but it requires additional sensors.
Open Window Detection and Light Sensor: Tado features open window detection, which turns off the heating if it senses a sudden drop in temperature, indicating a window has been opened. This feature is not available in Nest and Hive.
Holiday/Vacation Mode and Scheduling: All three smart thermostats provide the option to set holiday/vacation modes, ensuring energy-efficient heating during your vacation. They also have customizable scheduling options so you can tailor your heating preferences as needed.
Hot Water Control: Nest and Hive offer hot water control directly through their smart thermostat systems. Tado requires an additional extension kit for this feature.
Warranty and Energy Supplier: Each thermostat comes with different warranty periods: Nest offers a 2-year warranty, while Hive and Tado provide a 1-year warranty. For Brits, Hive is also backed by British Gas, while Hive and Tado can be integrated with various energy suppliers.
Other Similar Products for Comparison
Besides Nest, Hive, and Tado, there are plenty of other smart thermostat options out there.
Let’s peek at some popular alternatives:
Wiser: This smart heating system comes with the Wiser app, allowing you to control individual radiators throughout your home. With its multi-zone capabilities, you can easily set different temperatures for various rooms. Just like other thermostats on the list, Wiser connects with IFTTT for seamless integration with other smart gadgets.
Honeywell Evohome: As another handy smart heating solution, Honeywell Evohome offers comprehensive control over your central heating. The Evohome system supports multizone heating, giving you the ability to customize temperatures across different areas in your home.
Nest Thermostat E: The budget-friendly version of the Nest Learning Thermostat, Nest Thermostat E offers similar key features while maintaining a sleek minimalist design. It may not have the same accuracy readings as its more expensive counterpart, but it still offers a solid, affordable option for upgrading your home heating system.
When it comes to deciding which thermostat is the best fit for your smart home setup, it might be helpful to know the market offers plenty of choices to cater to your preferences.
Just remember to carefully consider each system’s integration, style, and features before making your decision.
