Smart Thermostats / Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) vs ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
$239.99
VSecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)
$259.99
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) vs ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)
Best sensors and deepest heat-pump staging here — and still no Matter in 2026.
Wins overall by 0.2 points
Quick Verdict
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) wins by 0.2 points, which is not enough to settle it. The only one that really learns your schedule, and it usually needs no C wire. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) and ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) are both closely matched smart Thermostat models, and the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is $20 cheaper than the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) ($239.99 vs $259.99). On Multi-Room Sensing, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — remote sensors: included or extra, how many pair, and whether they read occupancy or only temperature. On C-Wire Freedom, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) leads (9.5 vs 8.5/10) — 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 7.5/10) — matter, Apple Home, Alexa and Google support — and how much each one actually exposes. Overall, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 8.4/10 for the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen), 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
| Spec | Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) | ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.99 | $259.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2022 |
| System Voltage | Low voltage 24V only — gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump and radiant. Will not run 120/240V baseboard or radiant electric heat | Low voltage 24VAC — furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, PTAC and fan coil units. Not for 120/240V line-voltage heat |
| 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 | Not in practice. ecobee ships the Power Extender Kit in the box, which synthesises a common wire from R, W, Y and G at the furnace. Direct wiring uses C and Rc if you do have five wires |
| Adapter / Power Kit Included | No — the Nest Power Connector is a separate $24.99 accessory, not in the box | Yes — Power Extender Kit included. The same kit is a $24.99 extra on the Essential |
| Heating & Cooling Stages | Up to 3 stages of heating and cooling, plus fan speed control | 2H/2C conventional; boilers, PTAC and fan coil units with up to 3 fan speeds |
| Heat Pump & Aux Heat | Yes, including auxiliary and emergency heat | Yes — heat pump 2H/2C plus 2 stages of auxiliary heat, the deepest heat-pump staging in this set |
| Humidifier / Ventilator Terminals | Humidifier, dehumidifier and ventilation (HRV/ERV) systems all supported — the widest accessory coverage of the Nest line | One 1-wire or one 2-wire accessory on the ACC+/ACC− terminals: humidifier, dehumidifier or HRV/ERV ventilator |
| Remote Sensors | One Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) included; up to 6 more. Google states all generations of the sensor work with this model | One SmartSensor in the box; up to 32 pair, over a 915MHz radio at up to 60 ft. Extra sensors are $99.99 for a 2-pack |
| Occupancy Detection | 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 | Radar occupancy and proximity in the thermostat, and every SmartSensor also detects occupancy over a 140° x 100° field to about 20 ft |
| Matter Support | Matter-certified, so it appears in any Matter app including Apple Home. Google does not publish a Thread radio for this model | Not shipping on this model. ecobee's own spec page lists HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings and IFTTT and never mentions Matter; third-party write-ups describe a phased rollout, so treat Matter as unconfirmed here |
| Voice & Smart Home Platforms | Google Home app (required for setup and control — the standalone Nest app is retired), Amazon Alexa, Apple Home via Matter | Apple HomeKit with Siri, Alexa built in (speaker and microphone), Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT |
| Utility Rebates & Demand Response | 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 | eco+ Community Energy Savings with 150+ North American utilities. ecobee states events move your temperature 1-4°F for no more than a few hours, a handful of times a year, and you can opt out of any event from the app; some programs pay an enrolment rebate up to $125 |
| Account or Subscription Needed | No subscription. Learning, Savings Finder and Eco when Away are free, but a Google account and the Google Home app are mandatory | No subscription for eco+, energy reports, remote sensors or scheduling. ecobee Smart Security — the intrusion-monitoring layer on the same hardware — is the paid tier |
| Warranty | 24 months | 36 months |
| Colors | Polished Silver, Polished Obsidian, Polished Gold | Black |
Category Scores
C-Wire Freedom
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.5 — a 1.0-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 Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
HVAC Coverage
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) and ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) are level here, at 9.5/10 each. stages of heating and cooling, heat pump and auxiliary heat handling, and humidifier / dehumidifier / ventilator terminals is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Multi-Room Sensing
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-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 Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Integration
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-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 ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Scheduling & Learning
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.5 — a 1.0-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 ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Display & On-Device Control
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) and ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) are level here, at 9.0/10 each. screen quality and how much you can do at the wall instead of in the phone app is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Installation
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-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 Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) and ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) are level here, at 6.5/10 each. what the money buys once accessories, adapters and sensors are added in is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) if…
- • 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).
- • Scheduling & Learning matters most to you — the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores 9.5/10 here (learning, geofencing, away detection and how much of it works without babysitting the app).
- • You want to spend less — it's $20 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is matter.
Choose the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) if…
- • Multi-Room Sensing matters most to you — the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) scores 9.5/10 here (remote sensors: included or extra, how many pair, and whether they read occupancy or only temperature).
- • C-Wire Freedom matters most to you — the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) scores 9.5/10 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.).
- • Installation matters most to you — the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) scores 8.5/10 here (wiring complexity, guided setup, and how likely a DIY install is to end in a service call).
Pros & Cons
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
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)
Pros
- +The Power Extender Kit is in the box, so the C-wire problem is solved at purchase rather than at $25 extra or a $200 electrician call
- +Heat pump 2H/2C plus two auxiliary stages beats every other thermostat here on staging depth
- +SmartSensors detect occupancy as well as temperature — Google's, Honeywell's cheaper models' and Sensi's sensors mostly do not
- +Built-in speaker and mic make it a working Alexa device, and it doubles as an ecobee Smart Security hub
- +3-year warranty, a year longer than Google and Resideo
Cons
- −No Matter. ecobee's own spec sheet lists HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and IFTTT and nothing else, which is a strange gap on a $260 flagship in 2026
- −$259.99 is the second-highest price here and it went up — ecobee has quietly raised list prices across the range
- −The air-quality monitor produces a score and advice, not a calibrated PM2.5 or VOC reading you can act on
- −Alexa built in means an always-listening mic on your hallway wall, with no hardware mute switch of the kind Echo speakers have
- −Only one accessory circuit — a humidifier and an ERV cannot both be wired at once
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) or ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) 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 Multi-Room Sensing, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) or the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)?+
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) scores higher on Multi-Room Sensing (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — remote sensors: included or extra, how many pair, and whether they read occupancy or only temperature.
Which is better for C-Wire Freedom, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) or the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)?+
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) scores higher on C-Wire Freedom (9.5/10 vs 8.5/10) — 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 Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) or the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on Smart Home Integration (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — matter, Apple Home, Alexa and Google support — and how much each one actually exposes.
Which is better for Scheduling & Learning, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) or the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on Scheduling & Learning (9.5/10 vs 8.5/10) — learning, geofencing, away detection and how much of it works without babysitting the app.
Is the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) worth the price difference over the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is the cheaper option at $239.99 versus $259.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Multi-Room Sensing.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about matter. The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) is the better fit for heat-pump or multi-room.
What's the warranty on the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) vs the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) ships with a 24-month warranty; the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium (EB-STATE6-01) 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
Honeywell Home X8S (X8VMC8B/U) — $219.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.