Smart Thermostats / Amazon Smart Thermostat vs Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
Amazon Smart Thermostat vs Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
The only one that really learns your schedule, and it usually needs no C wire.
Wins overall by 3.9 points
Quick Verdict
A 3.9-point gap makes the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) the straightforward choice here. The only one that really learns your schedule, and it usually needs no C wire.
The Amazon Smart Thermostat and Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) are both closely matched smart Thermostat models, and the Amazon Smart Thermostat is $160 cheaper than the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) ($79.99 vs $239.99). On C-Wire Freedom, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads (8.5 vs 1.5/10) — how likely this thermostat is to run on the wiring you already have — whether it needs a common wire, and whether the workaround is in the box, sold separately, or an electrician's visit. The single biggest cause of returns in this category.. On Smart Home Integration, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads (8.5 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Apple Home, Alexa and Google support — and how much each one actually exposes. On Display & On-Device Control, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads (9.0 vs 3.5/10) — screen quality and how much you can do at the wall instead of in the phone app. Overall, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores 8.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 4.5/10 for the Amazon Smart Thermostat. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Amazon Smart Thermostat | Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $239.99 |
| Release Year | 2021 | 2024 |
| System Voltage | Low voltage 24V — Amazon lists conventional forced air, heat pump and radiant boiler. It does not work with 110-240V systems | Low voltage 24V only — gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump and radiant. Will not run 120/240V baseboard or radiant electric heat |
| C-Wire Required | Yes, hard requirement. Every Amazon, Best Buy and utility-store listing is titled 'C-wire required' | Not in most homes. Google's patented Power Sharing borrows power from the other wires, and the store page claims roughly 85% system compatibility — but it also states heating-only, cooling-only, zone-controlled and heat pump systems need a Nest Power Connector or a C wire |
| Adapter / Power Kit Included | No — the C-Wire Power Adapter is a separate purchase, or you buy the bundle SKU instead of this one | No — the Nest Power Connector is a separate $24.99 accessory, not in the box |
| Heating & Cooling Stages | Not published by Amazon. The listings say only 'most 24V heating and cooling systems (conventional forced air, heat pump, radiant boiler)' with no stage count anywhere — run Amazon's compatibility checker before buying | Up to 3 stages of heating and cooling, plus fan speed control |
| Heat Pump & Aux Heat | Listed as compatible with heat pumps. Amazon does not publish how it handles auxiliary or emergency heat | Yes, including auxiliary and emergency heat |
| Humidifier / Ventilator Terminals | None published, and no humidifier, dehumidifier or ventilator control is advertised anywhere in the listing | Humidifier, dehumidifier and ventilation (HRV/ERV) systems all supported — the widest accessory coverage of the Nest line |
| Remote Sensors | No dedicated remote sensor exists for this thermostat. Best Buy's listing states comfort zones can use select Echo devices or the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor as temperature inputs instead | One Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) included; up to 6 more. Google states all generations of the sensor work with this model |
| Occupancy Detection | None at the thermostat. Away behaviour comes entirely from Alexa Hunches | Soli radar senses presence and proximity at the thermostat itself, plus phone-location Home/Away. The Nest Temperature Sensor reads temperature only — it does not detect occupancy |
| Matter Support | No | Matter-certified, so it appears in any Matter app including Apple Home. Google does not publish a Thread radio for this model |
| Voice & Smart Home Platforms | Amazon Alexa only. No Google Home, no Apple Home, no HomeKit, no SmartThings. The Alexa app is mandatory and most settings are not reachable on the thermostat screen at all | Google Home app (required for setup and control — the standalone Nest app is retired), Amazon Alexa, Apple Home via Matter |
| Utility Rebates & Demand Response | ENERGY STAR certified and one of the most heavily rebated thermostats in US utility marketplaces; several utilities bundle it into demand-response enrolment | Rush Hour Rewards, run by Renew Home with your energy provider, plus Nest Renew Energy Shift. Google's own help page says Rush Hour Rewards makes adjustments 'typically up to 4°F' for 3-4 hours during demand events; enrolment is through the Google Home app |
| Account or Subscription Needed | No subscription, but an Amazon account and the Alexa app are required and there is no web dashboard | No subscription. Learning, Savings Finder and Eco when Away are free, but a Google account and the Google Home app are mandatory |
| Warranty | 12 months | 24 months |
| Colors | White | Polished Silver, Polished Obsidian, Polished Gold |
Category Scores
C-Wire Freedom
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 1.5 — a 7.0-point margin on how likely this thermostat is to run on the wiring you already have — whether it needs a common wire, and whether the workaround is in the box, sold separately, or an electrician's visit. The single biggest cause of returns in this category.. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Smart Thermostat does not close the gap elsewhere.
HVAC Coverage
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 4.5 — a 5.0-point margin on stages of heating and cooling, heat pump and auxiliary heat handling, and humidifier / dehumidifier / ventilator terminals. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Smart Thermostat does not close the gap elsewhere.
Multi-Room Sensing
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 2.5 — a 5.0-point margin on remote sensors: included or extra, how many pair, and whether they read occupancy or only temperature. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Smart Thermostat does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Integration
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 3.0 — a 5.5-point margin on matter, Apple Home, Alexa and Google support — and how much each one actually exposes. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Smart Thermostat does not close the gap elsewhere.
Scheduling & Learning
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.0 — a 3.5-point margin on learning, geofencing, away detection and how much of it works without babysitting the app. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Smart Thermostat does not close the gap elsewhere.
Display & On-Device Control
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 3.5 — a 5.5-point margin on screen quality and how much you can do at the wall instead of in the phone app. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Smart Thermostat does not close the gap elsewhere.
Installation
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on wiring complexity, guided setup, and how likely a DIY install is to end in a service call. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Smart Thermostat does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Amazon Smart Thermostat leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on what the money buys once accessories, adapters and sensors are added in. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Amazon Smart Thermostat if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $160 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
Choose the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) if…
- • C-Wire Freedom matters most to you — the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores 8.5/10 here (how likely this thermostat is to run on the wiring you already have — whether it needs a common wire, and whether the workaround is in the box, sold separately, or an electrician's visit. The single biggest cause of returns in this category.).
- • Smart Home Integration matters most to you — the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores 8.5/10 here (matter, Apple Home, Alexa and Google support — and how much each one actually exposes).
- • Display & On-Device Control matters most to you — the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores 9.0/10 here (screen quality and how much you can do at the wall instead of in the phone app).
- • HVAC Coverage matters most to you — the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores 9.5/10 here (stages of heating and cooling, heat pump and auxiliary heat handling, and humidifier / dehumidifier / ventilator terminals).
- • Multi-Room Sensing matters most to you — the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores 7.5/10 here (remote sensors: included or extra, how many pair, and whether they read occupancy or only temperature).
Pros & Cons
Amazon Smart Thermostat
Pros
- +$79.99 list, frequently discounted to $50-60, and rebated by more US utilities than almost anything else here
- +Honeywell Home hardware underneath, so the relay and wiring side is Resideo-grade rather than a no-name design
- +Alexa Hunches away-control works without you configuring a schedule at all
- +Trim plate included in the box, which Copeland charges extra for on the Sensi Touch 2
Cons
- −A C wire is a hard requirement and the adapter is not in the box — the real cost in a four-wire home is the thermostat plus an adapter
- −Alexa only. There is no Google Home, no Apple Home, no HomeKit and no Matter, so it is a dead end outside Amazon's ecosystem
- −Most settings are not on the thermostat itself; without a phone and the Alexa app you can barely configure it
- −No remote sensors of any kind — the Echo comfort-zone workaround is not the same as a real room sensor
- −Amazon publishes no stage count, no accessory terminals and no wiring detail, so multi-stage and heat-pump owners are buying blind
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
Pros
- +The only thermostat here that genuinely writes its own schedule — install it and you can never open the app again
- +Runs without a C wire in most homes, which no ecobee, Sensi Touch 2, Amazon or Honeywell X-series model here can claim
- +Three stages plus humidifier, dehumidifier and ventilator terminals — the broadest HVAC coverage in this set alongside the ecobee Premium
- +Bundles a temperature sensor at a price where the $199.99 ecobee Enhanced bundles none
Cons
- −'No C wire required' carries a long asterisk: Google's own page lists heating-only, cooling-only, zone-controlled and heat pump systems as needing the $24.99 Nest Power Connector, which covers a large share of US homes
- −The bundled Nest Temperature Sensor is temperature-only — it cannot tell whether a room is occupied, which every ecobee SmartSensor can
- −Setup and control are locked to a Google account and the Google Home app; the old Nest app and Works with Nest are gone
- −Rush Hour Rewards pays you to let the utility push your setpoint by up to about 4°F for three to four hours at a time
- −Highest list price here at $279.99, on a 2-year warranty that both ecobee and Mysa beat
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Amazon Smart Thermostat or Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) 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 C-Wire Freedom, the Amazon Smart Thermostat or the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on C-Wire Freedom (8.5/10 vs 1.5/10) — how likely this thermostat is to run on the wiring you already have — whether it needs a common wire, and whether the workaround is in the box, sold separately, or an electrician's visit. The single biggest cause of returns in this category..
Which is better for Smart Home Integration, the Amazon Smart Thermostat or the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on Smart Home Integration (8.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — matter, Apple Home, Alexa and Google support — and how much each one actually exposes.
Which is better for Display & On-Device Control, the Amazon Smart Thermostat or the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on Display & On-Device Control (9.0/10 vs 3.5/10) — screen quality and how much you can do at the wall instead of in the phone app.
Which is better for HVAC Coverage, the Amazon Smart Thermostat or the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on HVAC Coverage (9.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — stages of heating and cooling, heat pump and auxiliary heat handling, and humidifier / dehumidifier / ventilator terminals.
Is the Amazon Smart Thermostat worth the price difference over the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is the cheaper option at $79.99 versus $239.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in C-Wire Freedom.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is the better fit if you mainly care about budget. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is the better fit for multi-room or matter.
What's the warranty on the Amazon Smart Thermostat vs the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Amazon Smart Thermostat ships with a 12-month warranty; the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) ships with a 24-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
Sensi Lite (ST25) — $79.00
Premium Option
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) — $259.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.