9 Best Digital Programmable Thermostats to Buy in 2025

The Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 isn’t just a thermostat—it’s a command center for home comfort, delivering a bold, full-color touchscreen that transforms how you interact with your HVAC system. With dual humidity sensing—indoor and outdoor—it gives you real-time insights most competitors ignore, making it ideal for climates where moisture control is as critical as temperature. Its adaptive recovery feature learns your home’s thermal behavior and kicks on early to hit your target temp exactly when scheduled, eliminating the guesswork of when your system should start.

In real-world use, this thermostat shines in both precision and connectivity. Whether adjusting the heat from bed via the Honeywell Home app or using voice commands with Alexa, Google Assistant, or SmartThings, responsiveness is snappy, and the interface remains fluid even during firmware updates. The 802.11n Wi-Fi support ensures strong signal retention, and ENERGY STAR certification means it’s optimized for low-energy background operation. However, like most high-end models, it requires a C-wire—a potential snag for older HVAC setups without one.

Positioned as the best overall digital programmable thermostat, the RTH9585WF outclasses budget models in intelligence and display quality while offering broader smart home compatibility than the Sensi or Amazon alternatives. It’s perfect for tech-savvy homeowners who want one device to manage comfort, efficiency, and automation without sacrificing usability. Compared to the T5, it offers richer data visualization and more robust third-party integration, making it a smarter long-term investment despite a higher entry cost.

Step into the future of climate control with the Honeywell T5, a thermostat that doesn’t just respond to your commands—it anticipates your life. Its standout feature? Geofencing technology that uses your smartphone’s location to switch between Home and Away modes automatically, ensuring you’re never heating or cooling an empty house. Backed by ENERGY STAR certification and proven energy savings of up to 16%, this thermostat is engineered for households serious about reducing energy waste without manual intervention.

During testing, the 7-day flexible scheduling proved incredibly adaptable, especially for irregular routines. When paired with a utility’s demand response program, it can temporarily adjust settings during peak load times—earning you rebates while helping the grid. The monthly energy reports offer actionable insights, like how long your system runs daily, helping identify inefficiencies. However, its reliance on a C-wire is non-negotiable, and users without one may face added installation complexity or cost.

When stacked against the RTH9585WF, the T5 trades some display flair for smarter location-based automation, making it the best choice for hands-off efficiency. It’s ideal for families with dynamic schedules or anyone who forgets to adjust settings when traveling. While it lacks the full-color screen of its pricier sibling, it delivers better behavioral automation at a lower price point, offering a sharper balance between smart features and value.

The Honeywell RTH7600D redefines simplicity with a crisp, responsive touchscreen that makes programming feel intuitive—not intimidating. Designed for users who want smart functionality without app dependency, it delivers Smart Response Technology that learns how long your furnace or AC takes to reach set temps, then starts early to meet your schedule precisely. Its backlit display shows both current and target temperatures side-by-side, eliminating guesswork at a glance.

In practice, this thermostat excels in reliability and broad compatibility, supporting everything from heat pumps to steam boilers—rare versatility at this price. Installation is DIY-friendly, and the no-app-required design appeals to those wary of cloud-connected devices. While it lacks Wi-Fi, that also means zero connectivity issues or firmware bugs. However, without remote access or alerts, you’ll need to manually check filter change reminders or adjust settings when away.

Compared to the Wi-Fi-enabled RTH6580WF, the RTH7600D wins on ease of use and system compatibility but loses on remote control. It’s the best touchscreen display for non-smart homes, perfect for users upgrading from dial thermostats who value clarity and tactile feedback over app integration. It delivers Honeywell’s signature intelligence without the digital clutter, making it a top pick for straightforward, high-performance climate control.

The Honeywell RTH6580WF punches well above its weight, offering full Wi-Fi control at a budget-friendly price, making it the best value for connected homes on a tight budget. With the Honeywell Home app, you can adjust the temperature from anywhere, receive filter change alerts, and even let it learn your HVAC cycle times via Smart Response Technology—so your house hits the perfect temp when you walk in. ENERGY STAR certification confirms it’s built for efficiency, not just convenience.

Real-world testing shows solid app performance, though it occasionally lags behind premium models in responsiveness. The big backlit display is easy to read, and installation is straightforward for DIYers—though, like many Wi-Fi models, it requires a C-wire. It supports utility demand response programs, which can earn you rebates, but lacks geofencing or voice control beyond Alexa and Google Assistant. On older systems without a C-wire, this could be a dealbreaker.

When compared to the Sensi ST55, the RTH6580WF offers similar app control but less flexibility in power options, since Sensi often works without a C-wire. Still, for those with compatible systems, this thermostat delivers core smart features without the premium price, making it ideal for renters or secondary homes. It’s not the most advanced, but it’s the most capable budget Wi-Fi thermostat from a trusted brand.

In an era of data leaks, the Sensi ST55 stands out as the most privacy-conscious smart thermostat, proudly declaring it won’t sell your data to third parties—a rare promise in the connected home space. Beyond ethics, it’s a highly efficient performer, ENERGY STAR certified and capable of saving up to 23% on HVAC energy through smart scheduling and remote access. Its no-C-wire design in most setups makes it a go-to for older homes, and the simple button-based interface ensures it blends into any decor without looking outdated.

During daily use, the mobile app is responsive and intuitive, offering usage reports, maintenance alerts, and geofencing that adjusts temps based on your phone’s location. Installation is a breeze, thanks to on-screen leveling and step-by-step guidance. While the display isn’t a touchscreen, the physical buttons provide satisfying feedback. However, the lack of a color screen or advanced automation like adaptive recovery keeps it from matching Honeywell’s top-tier models.

Pitted against the Amazon Smart Thermostat, the Sensi offers better privacy and broader compatibility, especially for homes lacking a C-wire. It’s the best choice for privacy-focused users who still want remote control and energy savings. Though it doesn’t integrate with as many platforms as Honeywell’s flagship, it delivers essential smart features with peace of mind, making it a standout for cautious adopters.

Powered by Honeywell’s proven hardware and Amazon’s AI, the Amazon Smart Thermostat is a voice-first climate controller built for Alexa households. Its seamless integration means you can adjust the temperature with a simple voice command or use Echo devices as remote sensors to create comfort zones—cooling the living room only when someone’s there. ENERGY STAR certified, it claims to save $50 annually, and the Alexa app guides installation with remarkable clarity, making it one of the easiest smart thermostats to set up.

In real use, the automatic Home/Away detection works reliably, and the sleep mode adjusts temps overnight without input. The ring-shaped design with a subtle LED glow fits modern interiors, but the screen is smaller than Honeywell’s models, and customization options are limited. It requires a C-wire, and unlike the Sensi, it offers no C-wire-free fallback. While it supports basic scheduling, it lacks the granular programming of Honeywell’s 7-day models.

Compared to the Sensi ST55, the Amazon thermostat trades privacy and HVAC flexibility for deeper Alexa integration and presence detection. It’s the best Alexa integration in the category, ideal for users already invested in Amazon’s ecosystem. If you want your thermostat to feel like an extension of Alexa, this is the one—though it’s less ideal for complex HVAC systems or privacy-first users.

The Honeywell RTH8560D earns its title as the best thermostat for humidity display, featuring a bright blue backlit screen that shows indoor humidity levels in real time—a game-changer for health-conscious households or those battling dry air in winter. Paired with Smart Response Learning, it anticipates when to start heating or cooling so your home hits the right temperature exactly on schedule. The crystal-clear display is both stylish and functional, making it easy to read from across the room.

In practice, the humidity readout proves invaluable, especially when paired with a humidifier or dehumidifier you manually control. The 7-day programmable schedule adapts to weekday and weekend routines, and the filter change reminder pops up clearly on screen. It can run on batteries or be hardwired, offering flexibility for homes without a C-wire. However, it lacks Wi-Fi, so no remote access or app-based control—limiting it to local-only operation.

When compared to the RTH7600D, it offers similar touchscreen quality and learning features, but with the added benefit of humidity monitoring. It’s perfect for users who want advanced comfort metrics without smart home complexity. While not as connected as Wi-Fi models, it delivers better environmental awareness than most non-smart thermostats, making it a top pick for health-focused, tech-savvy users.

The Honeywell RTH6360D strikes a perfect balance between cost and capability, making it the best mid-range value for homes that want programming smarts without overspending. Its 5-2 day schedule lets you set weekday and weekend routines separately, ideal for 9-to-5 workers, while Smart Response Technology ensures your system starts early enough to meet your comfort needs. The backlit LCD displays both current and set temps clearly, and the UWP mounting system makes installation a snap.

In real use, it’s reliable and low-maintenance, with filter and low-battery alerts that prevent system strain. The auto-changeover between heat and cool eliminates manual switching, and the power outage memory keeps your schedule intact. It’s compatible with most forced-air and heat pump systems, though it won’t work with electric baseboard heating. Without Wi-Fi or touchscreen, it’s not a smart thermostat, but it delivers core programmable benefits with Honeywell’s trusted engineering.

Compared to the RTH2300B, it offers better scheduling flexibility and a more modern interface, while costing only slightly more. It’s ideal for homeowners upgrading from basic models who want energy savings and automation without smart home complexity. It doesn’t dazzle, but it performs every essential task flawlessly, making it the most sensible mid-tier pick.

The Honeywell RTH2300B is the ultimate budget thermostat, delivering core programmable features for under $25—a steal for cost-conscious homeowners. With a 5-2 day schedule and four daily periods (Wake, Leave, Arrive, Sleep), it helps cut energy waste by automatically adjusting temps when you’re away. The backlit digital display is simple but effective, and the one-touch temperature adjustment keeps operation intuitive, even for guests or seniors.

In testing, it proved remarkably reliable, retaining settings through power outages and delivering consistent performance across gas, oil, and electric systems. The built-in reminders for filter and battery changes help maintain HVAC health, and installation is straightforward for DIYers. However, it’s limited to basic systems—no support for heat pumps with backup heat or multistage setups—so it’s not for complex HVAC configurations.

Pitted against the RTH6360D, it offers similar scheduling at a lower price but lacks a modern mounting system and advanced learning. It’s the best budget-friendly option for simple heating/cooling systems, especially in rentals or secondary homes. While barebones, it does the job without frills, making it the most economical way to gain programmable control.