TCRThe Comparison Report

Humidifiers / Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier vs Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)

Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier vs Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)

Best Overall (Close Call)

Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier

Warm mist that never boils: 86°F is comfort, not sterilisation.

Wins overall by 0.0 points

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Quick Verdict

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier wins by 0.0 points, which is not enough to settle it. A fifteen-year-old evaporative workhorse with UV — and no humidistat at all. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier and Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) are both closely matched humidifier models, and they're priced almost identically ($89.99 vs $89.95). On Freedom From White Dust, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads (9.5 vs 2.5/10) — the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.. On Humidity Control, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads (8.5 vs 3.0/10) — whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it. On Runtime & Refill Interval, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads (8.0 vs 5.5/10) — how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is. Overall, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores 6.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.8/10 for the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.

Side-by-Side Comparison

SpecDreo HM713S 6L Smart HumidifierHoneywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
Price$89.99$89.95
Release Year20232009
Humidification TechnologyUltrasonic, sold as "cool and warm mist". The warm mode pre-heats the water before the piezo disc atomises it — it does not boil itEvaporative wick with a UV chamber in the water tray — a fan pulls air through the wet HAC-504AW filter
White Dust & Mineral AerosolYes, in both modes. Warming the water does not change the mechanism: a piezo disc still aerosolises everything dissolved in it. the EPA's "Use and Care of Home Humidifiers" states that ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers "are very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air" and that they "can disperse materials, such as microorganisms and minerals, from their water tanks into indoor air". Dreo fits a mineral-absorption pad and sells no first-party replacement, so the aftermarket pads on Amazon are third-party and unverifiedNone. The mineral load stays in the wick, which is why Honeywell's manual explains that brown or rust-coloured "mineral deposit" staining on the filter is normal and does not affect performance. Tap water is fine
Tank Capacity6 L / 1.58 gal, top-fill1.1 gal / 4.2 L
Rated Output per DayPublished, unusually: 300 mL/hr in cool mist, 500 mL/hr in warm mist — 7.2 L/day and 12 L/day respectively if run continuously. Both exceed the 6 L tank, so the 60-hour runtime cannot be a high-output figure"2 US gallons (7.6 liters) output per day" per Honeywell's own manual — which is nearly twice the tank. Meeting the rated output means filling the 1.1 gal tank roughly twice a day, not once
Quoted Runtime (and at which setting)"Up to 60 hours" — arithmetic settles this one. 6 L at the published 300 mL/hr cool-mist rate is 20 hours, and at 500 mL/hr warm it is 12. The 60-hour claim implies about 100 mL/hr, i.e. the lowest setting only"Up to 24 hours" — on the LOW of three settings. That is 1.1 gal in 24 h, which is barely half the rated 2 gal/day output; the two headline numbers describe two different settings
Rated Room CoverageNot published by Dreo on the product page — the only sizing language is the retail headline "for Large Room". Dreo publishes output instead, which is arguably the more useful numberSources conflict: Honeywell's own product page says only "medium room" with no square footage, while FiltersFast's listing for the same model states 500-800 ft²
HumidistatReal closed-loop humidistat. Dreo rates the sensor at ±5% precision with a 30-90% RH adjustable target, plus manual, auto and sleep modes and 30 days of app-side historyNone. Three fixed output speeds on a mechanical dial, no humidity sensor, no auto mode and no auto shut-off when the tank runs dry — you are the humidistat
Noise28 dB claimed by Dreo — a manufacturer figure with no independent measurement published, and comparable ultrasonics measure several dB higher in third-party testingNot published as a decibel figure by Honeywell; the product page says only "quiet operation". It is a 60W fan drawing air through a wet wick, so the top speed is clearly audible
Filters & Cartridges (Annual Cost)A mineral-absorption pad sits in the tank. Dreo does not sell a first-party replacement pack; the only replacements listed are third-party multi-packs, so budget is unclear and the pad does not eliminate white dust regardlessTwo separate consumables. The HAC-504 "Filter A" wick is $32.95 for a Honeywell 3-pack (a compatible FiltersFast 3-pack is $22.99) and Honeywell says replace it every 30-60 days. On top of that the Protec antimicrobial cartridge is a 30-day item. A full heating season is realistically $40-70
Cleaning Burden & Dishwasher-Safe PartsTop-fill opening takes a hand and the aroma tray lifts out, but the warm-mist heater adds a scale surface an ordinary cool-mist ultrasonic does not have. Nothing is dishwasher-safe. Dreo ships a cleaning guide and brush in the box, which is more than mostAmong the best here. The tank and tray go on the dishwasher's top rack, the tank opening takes a hand, and the manual's disinfection routine is one teaspoon of bleach per gallon. Honeywell says only that it "requires regular cleaning" without naming an interval; the EPA says every third day
UV / Antimicrobial ClaimNone claimed. No UV lamp, no antimicrobial coating. The warm mode is not hot enough to sterilise anythingTwo claims, both qualified. The UV chamber is rated "Up to 99.9% Germ Free*", where the asterisk in Honeywell's own manual ties it to independent testing of microbial reduction after two hours of UV exposure — a water-tray claim, not an air claim. The wick itself is separately treated as a Protec antimicrobial filter
Mist Temperature & Burn RiskThis is the trap. Dreo's own spec says warm mode "reaches 86°F in 5 minutes" — 30°C, barely above body temperature. That is comfort, not sterilisation: a genuine warm-mist unit boils at 212°F. It also means the 280W warm mode buys you no hygiene benefit at all, and the mist is not sterileCool, invisible vapour at room temperature — no burn risk at all, which is why this is the standard nursery recommendation
Warranty12 months36 months
ColorsSilver, BlueWhite, Black

Category Scores

Freedom From White DustThe thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
2.5
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
9.5
OutputActual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
7.5
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
7.5
Runtime & Refill IntervalHow long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
8.0
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
5.5
Cleaning & AccessWhether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
6.5
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
8.5
Running CostWicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
6.0
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
5.0
QuietnessNoise at the setting people actually run it overnight, weighted toward independently measured figures over manufacturer claims
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
7.5
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
6.0
Humidity ControlWhether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
8.5
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
3.0
Safety Around ChildrenBurn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier
7.5
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
9.5
Freedom From White DustOutputRuntime & Refill IntervalCleaning & AccessRunning CostQuietnessHumidity ControlSafety Around Children
Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)

Freedom From White Dust

The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 2.5 — a 7.0-point margin on the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.. If that is what you are buying for, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.

Output

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier and Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) are level here, at 7.5/10 each. actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.

Runtime & Refill Interval

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-point margin on how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Cleaning & Access

The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to. If that is what you are buying for, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.

Running Cost

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.0 — a 1.0-point margin on wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Quietness

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on noise at the setting people actually run it overnight, weighted toward independently measured figures over manufacturer claims. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Humidity Control

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier leads clearly here, 8.5 against 3.0 — a 5.5-point margin on whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Safety Around Children

The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery. If that is what you are buying for, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.

Best For

Choose the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier if…

  • Humidity Control matters most to you — the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores 8.5/10 here (whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it).
  • Runtime & Refill Interval matters most to you — the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores 8.0/10 here (how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is).
  • Your main use case is warm-mist.

Choose the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) if…

  • Freedom From White Dust matters most to you — the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores 9.5/10 here (the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.).
  • Cleaning & Access matters most to you — the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores 8.5/10 here (whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to).
  • Safety Around Children matters most to you — the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores 9.5/10 here (burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery).
  • Your main use case is no-white-dust.

Pros & Cons

Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier

Pros

  • +One of the very few humidifiers at any price that publishes a real output figure — 300 mL/hr cool, 500 mL/hr warm
  • +Genuine closed-loop humidistat rated ±5% with a 30-90% setpoint range and 30 days of app history
  • +6L top-fill tank plus app, Alexa and Google control for $89.99
  • +Because output is published, you can actually compute the refill interval instead of trusting a runtime claim

Cons

  • "Warm mist" tops out at 86°F by Dreo's own spec — warm water, not steam. It does not sterilise, and it costs 280W against 26W in cool mode
  • Ultrasonic in both modes, so it aerosolises minerals as white dust; the mineral-absorption pad reduces scale, it does not stop dust
  • The 60-hour runtime and the published 300-500 mL/hr output contradict each other — 6L at 300 mL/hr is 20 hours, so 60 hours is the lowest setting
  • Dreo sells no first-party replacement mineral pad; the only options are unverified third-party multi-packs
  • Twelve-month warranty and no published coverage figure or independent noise measurement

Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)

Pros

  • +Evaporative plus UV: no white dust, no distilled water, and a genuine (if narrowly worded) kill stage on the water
  • +Tank and tray are top-rack dishwasher safe, which almost nothing else in this category can say
  • +2 gal/day rated output is real humidification, not a desktop trickle
  • +Three-year warranty and a filter supply chain that has existed for fifteen years — parts are trivially available

Cons

  • No humidistat, no auto mode and no auto shut-off — it runs until you stop it, and the FiltersFast listing states the omission outright
  • The 2 gal/day output and the 24-hour runtime cannot both be true at once: the 1.1 gal tank means hitting rated output requires two fills a day
  • Two stacked consumables — a $23-33 three-pack of wicks every 30-60 days plus a 30-day Protec cartridge
  • Honeywell publishes no square footage and no decibel rating; retailers fill the gap with a 500-800 ft² figure Honeywell does not make
  • Honeywell's own store now marks the HCM350 discontinued and points buyers at the HEV320W, even though the model is still stocked and supported elsewhere

Shop by Need

FAQs

Is the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) better overall?+

Based on our 8-category scoring, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.

Which is better for Freedom From White Dust, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+

The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores higher on Freedom From White Dust (9.5/10 vs 2.5/10) — the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine..

Which is better for Humidity Control, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores higher on Humidity Control (8.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it.

Which is better for Runtime & Refill Interval, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier scores higher on Runtime & Refill Interval (8.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is.

Which is better for Cleaning & Access, the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+

The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores higher on Cleaning & Access (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to.

Is the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier worth the price difference over the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+

The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) is the cheaper option at $89.95 versus $89.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Freedom From White Dust.

Which is better suited to my use case?+

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier is the better fit if you mainly care about warm-mist. The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) is the better fit for no-white-dust.

What's the warranty on the Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier vs the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+

The Dreo HM713S 6L Smart Humidifier ships with a 12-month warranty; the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) ships with a 36-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.

Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+

If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.

Cheaper Option

Levoit Classic 300S (Classic300S) — $79.99

Premium Option

Carepod One Stainless Steel Humidifier (MS031S2) — $279.00

Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.

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