(checked 2026-10-10)25,562 ratings.
The cheapest pick ($79.99), made with Honeywell maker Resideo: Wirecutter's budget pick and the Alexa pick at PCMag and CNET. It's simple and works with many systems, but it needs a C wire (or a $24.99 adapter), works only with Alexa, and has no remote sensors. About 1 in 6 Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars, citing units dying within months.
Top complaints
- Units stop working; Wi-Fi drops
Amazon's review summary says reliability is a concern, with many reporting it stops working within two months, and connectivity problems are frequent, including failure to connect to Wi-Fi. Alexa compatibility feedback is mixed.
- Alexa only, no remote sensors
PCMag's cons: it doesn't work with Google Assistant, HomeKit or IFTTT, and lacks remote sensors. Wirecutter calls the controls spartan and the AI rudimentary, though 4th-gen and newer Echo speakers can act as temperature sensors.
Source: PCMag best picks, Wirecutter - C wire needed, fussy setup, privacy questions
PCMag says it requires a C wire; a Honeywell C-wire adapter costs $24.99. Wirecutter says the app forced a restart if setup paused too long, the relay clicks audibly, and the Alexa app asks for far more personal data than needed. CNET also flags Amazon's data privacy.
What owners love
- Very cheap
PCMag says it's the least expensive model it has tested, at $79.99. CNET says it's affordable at under $100.
Source: PCMag review, CNET - Simple, with learning suggestions
Wirecutter calls it dead simple and widely compatible. Alexa Hunches can learn your patterns and suggest settings. CNET says it has useful learning features for the price and explains energy settings.
Source: Wirecutter, CNET - Easy install with Alexa
Amazon owners find it easy to install and use with Alexa and like setting temperatures through the day.
- You use Google Home or Apple Home
- You have no C wire and don't want to fit an adapter
- You have uneven rooms that need sensors
- Alexa households
- Tight budgets
- People who want simple, no-frills control
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Budget pick: basic, but does what it does well. The flaws are an audible click, a setup that restarts if you pause, and data-hungry Alexa app permissions.
- PCMag: Best for Alexa Users, 4.0 Excellent. Doesn't work with Google Assistant, HomeKit or IFTTT, and lacks remote sensors.
- CNET: Best for Alexa integration: far better technology than most sub-$100 models, but a basic design and Amazon's privacy practices raise questions.