7 Best Honeywell Smart Thermostats to Buy in 2026

The Honeywell Home T9 isn’t just a thermostat—it’s a climate command center with room-by-room intelligence that redefines home comfort. What sets it apart is its inclusion of a battery-powered Smart Room Sensor right out of the box, delivering up to 200 feet of wireless range thanks to proprietary Honeywell Home signal tech. This means you can finally banish cold bedrooms and overheated living rooms by letting the system focus heating and cooling exactly where people are, solving the age-old HVAC imbalance that plagues most homes. For families tired of thermostat wars, the T9 offers peace through precision.

In real-world testing, the T9 shines when managing multi-room environments—especially larger homes with uneven temperature distribution. The touchscreen interface is responsive, and Auto Home/Away geofencing works reliably, adjusting temperatures based on smartphone location. During winter nights, placing the sensor in the master bedroom ensured consistent warmth without overheating unused spaces. However, homes without a C-wire may need the included power adapter, and while setup is DIY-friendly, users with complex HVAC systems might hit snags during compatibility checks. It struggles slightly in homes with poor Wi-Fi coverage at the thermostat location, though the mesh-friendly signal helps.

Compared to the budget-friendly X2S or even the solid T5, the T9 stands tall as the most complete smart comfort package in Honeywell’s lineup. It outperforms the T9 model without a sensor (B07N83WK9T) by eliminating the need for an extra purchase, giving you out-of-the-box room targeting. While the RTH9585WF1004 offers better smart home visuals, it lacks native sensor integration. The T9 is ideal for homeowners who want whole-home comfort automation without hiring a pro—and if you value adaptive room sensing over flashy colors, it delivers superior value despite a higher entry cost.

Don’t let the modest price tag fool you—the Honeywell X2S is a stealth powerhouse of efficiency and smart home compatibility wrapped in an unassuming frame. As Honeywell’s most affordable Wi-Fi model, it punches above its weight with Matter certification, ensuring seamless integration with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, and future-proof smart ecosystems. It tackles the #1 pain point for budget buyers: “Will it actually work with my system and save me money?” The answer is yes—thanks to auto-away detection, flexible scheduling, and demand response readiness that helps lower energy bills without lifestyle changes.

Real-world use reveals the X2S excels in smaller homes or rentals where advanced features aren’t needed but remote control is essential. The 5-1-1 and 7-day programming options let you fine-tune heating and cooling around work schedules, while the humidify reminder and filter alerts add unexpected value at this price. It connects reliably via Wi-Fi, though the app experience is more functional than flashy. The thermostat won’t control multiple zones or read room sensors, and lacks a color display or geofencing, making it less ideal for larger or tech-heavy homes. Still, for straightforward climate control with smart home chops, it’s impressively capable.

When stacked against the T5 or RTH6580WF, the X2S undercuts them on price while adding Matter support—a rare perk in budget thermostats. It sacrifices touchscreen polish and energy reports but keeps core functionality intact. It’s the go-to choice for renters, second homes, or anyone upgrading from a manual thermostat who wants voice control, app access, and energy savings without overspending. While it can’t match the T9’s room-by-room intelligence, it offers the best bang-for-buck smart integration in the Honeywell catalog.

The Honeywell T5 is the sweet spot of intelligence and simplicity, engineered for homeowners who want real energy savings without complexity. Its geofencing technology uses your phone’s location to trigger auto Home/Away modes, eliminating wasted energy when no one’s home—ideal for families with unpredictable schedules. Paired with ENERGY STAR certification and utility demand response compatibility, it’s built to cut heating and cooling costs by up to 16%, a figure backed by real customer data across thousands of homes. This isn’t just theory—it’s proven performance for those tired of guessing what’s efficient.

In testing, the T5 proved reliable and responsive, with a clean touchscreen interface and solid Wi-Fi connectivity even in basements with spotty signals. The 7-day flexible scheduling adapts to rotating workweeks, and the monthly energy reports offer actionable insights—like adjusting night setbacks or optimizing fan run times. However, it doesn’t support room sensors or multi-stage heating setups, limiting use in larger or zoned homes. The lack of a C-wire adapter in-box (sold separately) can frustrate DIYers, and no color display makes it feel less premium than the RTH9585WF.

Against the RTH6580WF, the T5 adds geofencing and richer energy tracking, justifying its mid-tier price. Compared to the X2S, it offers smarter automation and better feedback, though without Matter support. It’s perfect for homeowners with standard HVAC systems seeking automated savings and remote control, especially those enrolled in utility rebate programs. While it doesn’t dazzle with visuals like the color-screen RTH9585WF, it delivers more practical intelligence at a better price-to-performance ratio.

Step into the future of home climate with the Honeywell RTH9585WF, where a vibrant full-color touchscreen transforms thermostat interaction from chore to delight. This model is built for smart home fanatics, offering deep integration with Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, and IFTTT, allowing seamless voice commands and automation workflows. The customizable display shows indoor/outdoor humidity, weather forecasts, and system status—making it feel like a mini smart hub mounted on your wall. If your priority is visual feedback and ecosystem compatibility, this thermostat stands alone in Honeywell’s lineup.

In daily use, the color interface enhances readability, especially for older users or in low-light hallways. The intelligent alerts—filter changes, temperature extremes, internet loss—arrive promptly via app, helping prevent HVAC damage before it happens. It handles 7-day programming with ease, and its demand response readiness makes it a favorite among utility rebate seekers. However, despite its advanced look, it lacks geofencing and room sensors, meaning it can’t auto-adjust based on your location or room occupancy. It also doesn’t support dual-fuel systems, limiting use in homes with backup heating.

Compared to the T9 or T5, the RTH9585WF trades adaptive comfort features for superior smart home connectivity and visual appeal. It outshines the T5 in integration breadth but falls short on automation intelligence. It’s best for tech-savvy users who want a thermostat that blends into a broader smart home ecosystem and appreciate at-a-glance environmental data. While the T9 offers better comfort control, this model delivers the richest interface and widest third-party compatibility, making it the top pick for smart home integration purists.

The Honeywell T9 (sensor-ready version) is a highly capable climate brain designed for homes ready to scale their comfort—but not all at once. Like its sibling with the included sensor, it offers multi-room temperature targeting, but here you’ll need to buy Smart Room Sensors separately, which can add significant cost over time. Still, its adaptive Smart Response technology learns your home’s heating and cooling cycles, delivering the right temperature at the right time without manual tweaks. For tech-forward homeowners, the geofencing and remote app control make it easy to manage comfort from anywhere.

During real-world testing, the T9 proved excellent at maintaining consistent comfort once sensors were added, especially in open-concept homes with temperature dead zones. The touchscreen is intuitive, and the monthly energy reports help identify usage spikes—a boon for cost-conscious users. However, install complexity increases with multiple sensors, and Wi-Fi reliability is crucial, as losing connection disables remote features. It also requires a C-wire or power adapter, which isn’t included in all kits, potentially complicating DIY installs. Without sensors, it performs similarly to the T5—but at nearly double the price.

Against the T9 with included sensor (B07N849J21), this model makes sense only if you’re adding sensors later or already own them. Compared to the RTH9585WF, it offers better room-level control but fewer smart home visuals. It’s ideal for future-focused homeowners who plan to expand sensor coverage gradually. While it delivers powerful automation, the need for additional purchases weakens its value proposition unless you’re committed to a full multi-room rollout.

Meet the Honeywell T6 Pro, the engineer’s choice for homes with complex HVAC setups—including dual-fuel, heat pumps, and multi-stage systems. With support for 3H/2C heat pump and 2H/2C conventional configurations, it handles advanced installations that stump most smart thermostats. This isn’t just about compatibility—it’s about precision control over ventilation and staging, ensuring your system runs at peak efficiency without short-cycling or overworking. For homeowners with high-end or hybrid heating systems, the T6 Pro eliminates the guesswork and compatibility fears.

In practice, the T6 Pro delivers rock-solid performance in homes with oil/gas combos or backup electric heat. The geofencing and flexible scheduling work seamlessly, and the UWP mounting system ensures compatibility with other T-Series thermostats—great for whole-home upgrades. It integrates with Apple HomeKit, allowing control within the Apple ecosystem, a rare perk. However, the interface is utilitarian, lacking the color screen or rich visuals of the RTH9585WF. It also doesn’t support room sensors, so you lose spatial awareness despite its technical prowess.

Compared to the T9, the T6 Pro trades room-by-room intelligence for deep HVAC compatibility. It’s a better fit than the T5 or X2S for homes with dual-fuel or extended systems, where most smart thermostats fail. It’s the only Honeywell model in this lineup built for 3-stage heat pumps, making it indispensable for certain setups. While it lacks the smart home flash of other models, it offers unmatched technical depth—perfect for HVAC-savvy users or homes with non-standard systems.

The Honeywell RTH6580WF is the no-nonsense gateway to smart climate control, built for users who want reliable Wi-Fi connectivity and energy savings without complexity. It nails the essentials: a backlit digital display, 7-day programming, and ENERGY STAR certification, all wrapped in a simple, DIY-friendly design. Its Smart Response technology learns your home’s heating and cooling patterns, helping deliver comfort faster by anticipating when to turn on the system—no manual pre-heating needed. For those upgrading from a basic programmable thermostat, it’s a seamless leap into the smart era.

In real use, the Honeywell Home app provides stable remote control, and voice assistant compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant adds hands-free convenience. The big buttons and intuitive layout make it accessible for all ages, and the utility program integration helps qualify for rebates—just like pricier models. However, it lacks geofencing, so it won’t auto-adjust when you leave or return. The display, while clear, isn’t touchscreen, feeling dated next to the T9 or RTH9585WF. It also doesn’t support room sensors or color feedback, limiting its smart capabilities.

Compared to the T5, it offers similar energy features but misses geofencing, making the T5 a better value for dynamic households. Against the X2S, it lacks Matter support but has a more established app. It’s ideal for budget-conscious homeowners with standard HVAC systems who want remote access and scheduling without frills. While it doesn’t compete with premium models on features, it delivers dependable performance and solid savings at a fair price, making it the best value for basic smart control.