Smart Thermostats / Google Nest Thermostat (2020) vs Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)
Google Nest Thermostat (2020) 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 1.8 points
Quick Verdict
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) takes this by a clear 1.8 points. The only one that really learns your schedule, and it usually needs no C wire. The Google Nest Thermostat (2020) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Google Nest Thermostat (2020) and Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) are both closely matched smart Thermostat models, and the Google Nest Thermostat (2020) is $110 cheaper than the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) ($129.99 vs $239.99). On Multi-Room Sensing, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads (7.5 vs 1.5/10) — remote sensors: included or extra, how many pair, and whether they read occupancy or only temperature. On HVAC Coverage, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads (9.5 vs 5.5/10) — stages of heating and cooling, heat pump and auxiliary heat handling, and humidifier / dehumidifier / ventilator terminals. On Scheduling & Learning, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads (9.5 vs 6.5/10) — learning, geofencing, away detection and how much of it works without babysitting the app. Overall, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores 8.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.6/10 for the Google Nest Thermostat (2020). 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 Thermostat (2020) | Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.99 | $239.99 |
| Release Year | 2020 | 2024 |
| System Voltage | Low voltage 24V only — furnaces, air conditioners, boilers and heat pumps. Not for 120/240V line-voltage heat | 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 | Not in most homes, but Google's own store page states heating-only, cooling-only, zone-controlled and heat pump systems need the Nest Power Connector or a C wire | 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 — Nest Power Connector is a separate $24.99 accessory | No — the Nest Power Connector is a separate $24.99 accessory, not in the box |
| Heating & Cooling Stages | Google's tech-spec page lists conventional single-stage systems and heat pumps with auxiliary or emergency heat. Unlike the Learning Thermostat, it does not publish multi-stage conventional support | Up to 3 stages of heating and cooling, plus fan speed control |
| Heat Pump & Aux Heat | Yes, with auxiliary and emergency heat | Yes, including auxiliary and emergency heat |
| Humidifier / Ventilator Terminals | Not published for this model. Google lists humidifier, dehumidifier and ventilator support only on the Learning Thermostat | Humidifier, dehumidifier and ventilation (HRV/ERV) systems all supported — the widest accessory coverage of the Nest line |
| Remote Sensors | None. Google states explicitly that the Nest Thermostat is not compatible with the Nest Temperature Sensor | One Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) included; up to 6 more. Google states all generations of the sensor work with this model |
| Occupancy Detection | Built-in motion sensor at the thermostat plus phone-location Home/Away. No remote occupancy sensing of any kind | 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 | Matter-certified — works with Google Home, Alexa and Apple Home | 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 | Google Home app (required), Amazon Alexa, Apple Home via Matter | Google Home app (required for setup and control — the standalone Nest app is retired), Amazon Alexa, Apple Home via Matter |
| Utility Rebates & Demand Response | Rush Hour Rewards and Nest Renew. Google's help page also notes Seasonal Savings currently supports the Nest Thermostat (2020) and Thermostat E, nudging setpoints up to 2°F over three weeks | 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 a Google account and the Google Home app are required | 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 | Snow, Charcoal, Sand, Fog | Polished Silver, Polished Obsidian, Polished Gold |
Category Scores
C-Wire Freedom
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-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 Thermostat (2020) does not close the gap elsewhere.
HVAC Coverage
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 5.5 — a 4.0-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 Google Nest Thermostat (2020) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Multi-Room Sensing
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 1.5 — a 6.0-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 Thermostat (2020) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Integration
The Google Nest Thermostat (2020) and Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) are level here, at 8.5/10 each. matter, Apple Home, Alexa and Google support — and how much each one actually exposes is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Scheduling & Learning
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.5 — a 3.0-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 Google Nest Thermostat (2020) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Display & On-Device Control
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-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 Google Nest Thermostat (2020) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Installation
The Google Nest Thermostat (2020) 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 Thermostat (2020) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-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 Google Nest Thermostat (2020) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Google Nest Thermostat (2020) scores 8.0/10 here (what the money buys once accessories, adapters and sensors are added in).
- • You want to spend less — it's $110 cheaper.
Choose the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) if…
- • 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).
- • 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).
- • 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).
- • 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).
- • Your main use case is multi-room.
Pros & Cons
Google Nest Thermostat (2020)
Pros
- +Matter certification at $129.99 puts it in Apple Home, which no ecobee, Sensi or Amazon model here manages
- +Same Power Sharing wiring trick as the Learning Thermostat, so it usually installs without a C wire
- +Battery backup on two AAA cells — the Amazon, X2S and Sensi Touch 2 all go dark if 24V power drops
- +Cheapest way into the Google ecosystem with a real touch UI, at less than half the Learning Thermostat's list price
Cons
- −No remote sensor support at all — Google says outright it is not compatible with the Nest Temperature Sensor, so this is a one-room thermostat
- −It does not learn. Google gives it guided schedule setup instead, which is the single feature people think they are buying when they buy 'a Nest'
- −Google's spec page only claims single-stage conventional support; two-stage furnace owners should check compatibility before buying
- −No published humidifier, dehumidifier or ventilator terminals
- −1-year warranty, against 2 on the Learning Thermostat and 3 on every ecobee here
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 Google Nest Thermostat (2020) 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 Multi-Room Sensing, the Google Nest Thermostat (2020) or the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on Multi-Room Sensing (7.5/10 vs 1.5/10) — remote sensors: included or extra, how many pair, and whether they read occupancy or only temperature.
Which is better for HVAC Coverage, the Google Nest Thermostat (2020) or the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on HVAC Coverage (9.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — stages of heating and cooling, heat pump and auxiliary heat handling, and humidifier / dehumidifier / ventilator terminals.
Which is better for Scheduling & Learning, the Google Nest Thermostat (2020) or the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) scores higher on Scheduling & Learning (9.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — learning, geofencing, away detection and how much of it works without babysitting the app.
Which is better for Display & On-Device Control, the Google Nest Thermostat (2020) 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 6.5/10) — screen quality and how much you can do at the wall instead of in the phone app.
Is the Google Nest Thermostat (2020) worth the price difference over the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Thermostat (2020) is the cheaper option at $129.99 versus $239.99. 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 Thermostat (2020) is the better fit if you mainly care about heat-pump or matter. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is the better fit for multi-room.
What's the warranty on the Google Nest Thermostat (2020) vs the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)?+
The Google Nest Thermostat (2020) 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
Amazon Smart Thermostat — $79.99
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.