Nest Learning Thermostat Vs. Alarm.Com Smart Thermostat: Which Is Better?

Here’s what you need to know:

For overall home automation and long-term savings, we recommend the Alarm.com Smart Thermostat hands down.

But if you only need one thermostat in your home and you’re not interested in home automation or the smartest home system, a Nest Learning Thermostat may be best suited for your needs.

Let’s take a look at the details below:

Nest Learning Thermostat

What it’s all about

The Nest Learning Thermostat aims to cut down energy costs by learning your heating and cooling preferences. When you first install the thermostat, it will record each time you set the temperature for your home. So that after about a week it will start automatically adjusting the temperature of your home based on your heating and cooling habits.

The Nest Learning Thermostat has an embedded computer which connects to the Internet and can be controlled using a smartphone app, so you can adjust your home’s temperature on-the-go.

Pros

• Sleek design
• Easy to install and use
• Cuts energy costs (Nest reports it can save you $131 to $145 a year)

Cons

• Can’t work with other home automation components, though the company has added cameras and smoke detectors to the Nest product line.
• You’ll need multiple thermostats to control different HVAC zones in your home. The Nest only monitors its immediate surrounding area.

Visit www.nest.com for more information.

Alarm.com Smart Thermostat

What it’s all about

The Alarm.com Smart Thermostat’s purpose is to work with other energy-consuming appliances and fixtures in your home to help manage your home’s total energy consumption. It does this by syncing with other devices and sensors in your home and adjusting temperature accordingly.

For example, if you leave a door or window open for a long time, it can turn off the AC, so you don’t waste energy. When you arm your home’s alarm system and leave your home, the thermostat can automatically lower temperatures to save money.

You can also remotely control and adjust your home’s temperature, and, with Alarm.com’s Geo-Services feature, it can begin adjusting to the perfect temperature when it senses you’re close to home.

Pros

• Saves gas and electricity because it controls lights and other electrical appliances in addition to your home’s heating unit.
• Compatible with other home automation gadgets like cameras, garage doors, alarm systems, etc.
• Uses more data to make informed decisions on how to conserve energy because it has a temperature sensor, motion detectors, door/window sensors and security alarm sensors.

Cons

• It’s more expensive. The thermostat itself is cheaper than the Nest. However, to use it properly, you’ll have to buy a home automation system and the monthly service plan that goes with it. But if you were already looking for a home automation/security system, this isn’t an issue.

Visit www.alarm.com for more information.

Which thermostat is right for you?

If your living space is small in size, like a condo or an apartment, and you’re just looking to upgrade your thermostat, the Nest may be the best option for you. You won’t pay a lot of money upfront, and you’ll still save on your utility bill and cut down on energy waste.

However, if you live in a home and you’re looking to integrate your home’s alarm system, locks, garage door, thermostat, lights and video recorders into one system, go with Alarm.com’s Smart Thermostat. It’ll save you the most money in the long run while giving you more features than the Nest.

The choice is yours

If you decide to go with Alarm.com’s Smart Thermostat and need more info about home automation, contact us. We’d love to help.