Amazon Smart Thermostat Review: Best Budget Option?
At $80 (often on sale for $60), Amazon’s smart thermostat is the cheapest from a major brand. Is it worth it?
For complete comparisons, see our guide to Best Smart Thermostats That
Save Money.
Quick Specs
| Specification | Amazon Smart Thermostat |
|---|---|
| Price | $80 (often $60) |
| C-Wire Required | Yes |
| Smart Home | Alexa only |
| Learning | No (schedule-based) |
| Room Sensors | No |
| ENERGY STAR | Yes |
What You Get For $80
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is made by Resideo (Honeywell’s spin-off). It’s essentially a rebranded Honeywell with
Amazon’s Alexa integration.
- App control (Alexa app)
- Voice control (“Alexa, set thermostat to 72”)
- 7-day scheduling
- Geofencing
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Simple, clean design
Pros
- Cheapest smart thermostat from major brand
- Excellent Alexa integration
- Made by Honeywell/Resideo (reliable)
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Simple to use
Cons
- Alexa only (no Google, no HomeKit)
- C-Wire required (no adapter included)
- No learning capability
- No room sensors
- Basic display (no color, no touch)
Who It’s For
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is ideal if:
- You’re all-in on Alexa/Amazon ecosystem
- You have a C-Wire
- You want basic smart features at lowest price
- You don’t need auto-learning or room sensors
Who Should Skip It
- Google Home users: No Google Assistant support
- Apple users: No HomeKit support
- No C-Wire: Won’t work without it (get Nest E or Sensi instead)
- Want learning: Get Nest Learning Thermostat
- Want room sensors: Get Ecobee
Amazon vs Competition
| Feature | Amazon ($80) | Nest E ($130) | Sensi ($130) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 | $130 | $130 |
| C-Wire | Required | Not needed | Not needed |
| Learning | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Alexa | ✅ Best | ✅ | ✅ |
| ❌ | ✅ Best | ✅ | |
| HomeKit | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Installation
Installation is standard:
- Check C-Wire (required!)
- Turn off HVAC
- Remove old thermostat
- Mount Amazon thermostat
- Connect wires
- Restore power
- Set up in Alexa app
Note: No C-Wire adapter is included. If you don’t have a C-Wire, this thermostat won’t work.
Alexa Integration
The Amazon thermostat has the best Alexa integration of any thermostat:
- “Alexa, set the thermostat to 72”
- “Alexa, what’s the temperature inside?”
- “Alexa, set thermostat to away mode”
- Alexa Hunches can auto-adjust when you’re away
- Works with Alexa Routines
Savings Claims
Amazon claims ~$50/year in savings based on ENERGY STAR certification. This is conservative—actual savings depend on
your habits and whether you use scheduling/geofencing.
Verdict
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is the best choice for budget Alexa homes. At $60-80, it delivers
reliable smart control at the lowest price from a major brand.
But if you don’t have a C-Wire, you’ll need the Nest E or Sensi instead. And if you want learning or room sensors,
spend more on Nest Learning or Ecobee.
For complete comparisons, see: Best Smart Thermostats That Save
Money.