SMART thermostats like the Google Nest and Hive are a great way to save a few extra quid on your energy bills.
So we’ve decided to compare the specs, prices and features of two of the most well-known products, the Google Nest and Hive, to help you decide which one’s right for your home.
- Google Nest (3rd generation),
£219.99£189.99 – buy from Amazon - Hive, £149.99 – buy from Amazon
- Hive Thermostat Mini, £59 – buy from Amazon
The cost of living crisis has likely put a strain on most of our pockets, especially when it comes to things we can’t live without, like heating in winter time.
Who wouldn’t want to improve their home’s electricity consumption?Thermostats are responsible for around 60% of the cost, so upgrading is definitely worth it in the long run.
If saving money wherever you can sounds like a great idea to you, read on: we’ve compared the two biggest thermostats on the market, the Google Nest and Hive.
There are numerous options to make your home smarter, and if you want to keep upgrading your home, check out tech deals writer Tom Tyers’s Blink vs Ring explainer to see which smart doorbell is best for you.
Google Nest vs Hive: at a glance
At a glance, both devices appear fairly similar, and in essence, they do the exact same thing: control the heating of your home, so you can’t be blamed for assuming they have the same functions.
However, the thermostats become a lot more distinct when you look at the types of smart functions they have on offer.
The Nest Learning thermostat monitors your regular usage and creates a personalised schedule so that after a while of usage, it knows to automatically set the heating depending on the time.
That’s handy if you want a warm home to come back to and you’ve forgotten to set it on the app.
The Hive Thermostat has a few smart functions that could possibly save you money outside of just heating, as you can activate frost protection so it heats just enough to stop pipes from bursting during the extremely chilly months.
- Google Nest (3rd generation),
£219.99£189.99 – buy from Amazon - Hive, £149.99 – buy from Amazon
- Hive Thermostat Mini, £59 – buy from Amazon
Google Nest vs Hive: Price
The Google Nest and Hive Thermostats have fairly similar prices, so this likely won’t be the deciding factor on which one you purchase.
But the Hive does come in slightly cheaper on Amazon at £149.99, whereas the Google Nest is slightly more costly at £189.99
- Google Nest (3rd generation),
£219.99£189.99 – buy from Amazon - Hive, £149.99 – buy from Amazon
- Hive Thermostat Mini, £59 – buy from Amazon
Google Nest vs Hive: Design
Both devices have simplistic designs that aim to blend seamlessly into your home decor.
While neither of them is unsightly, I believe that the Google Nest is a clear standout.
The circular design of the Nest isn’t just for show: it’s also how you set the temperature.
By spinning the dial, you can turn it up or down just by spinning it left or right.
Additionally, once installed, it’s not going to be an obvious addition the whole time as it goes dark when not in use and will only light up when it detects someone walking past or when the device is in use.
The Hive, on the other hand, is a simplistic square with a dial on the front, so while it’s still not going to draw unwanted attention regardless of where you set it up, the design isn’t as elegant as the Nest.
Google Nest vs Hive: Features
All thermostats will have the same fundamental function, and that’s the control of your central heating system.
However, smart thermostats aim to save you money on your spending by automating your home temperature control along with a few other things to help your life become just a tad easier.
Firstly, the Hive. If you’re an Alexa fan, you’ll be happy to know that it’s compatible with your pre-existing system, and if you don’t have one, maybe it’s worth picking up an Echo Pop.
You can ask Amazon Alexa to boost your heating or just use the Hive app.
Come wintertime, when pipes are at risk of bursting or freezing if the temperature drops below 7 degrees, Hive will automatically turn on the heating to keep the water in your pipes flowing and keep that expensive plumber bill at bay.
If you tend to escape the harsh British winters by flying out, you’ll likely be making use of the holiday mode, where you can create a dedicated schedule to save money and even make sure the heating and hot water are ready for when you return.
Hive offers a Hive Plus subscription for anyone interested. It cuts 10% off of all Hive products and home repairs Mini and allows you to set up a monthly budget via the app as well as receive predictions based on usage of what your monthly bill will be.
One of the best aspects of Hive Plus is that you get 24/7 heating monitoring, so if anything is out of the ordinary, you’re notified and can get it fixed as soon as possible.
The Nest is also packed with a bunch of useful features but misses out on 24/7 monitoring and budget setting.
That said, you’re still getting a learning thermostat that’s saved over 4 billion kWh of energy for its customers in millions of homes worldwide.
The Nest Learning Thermostat learns your habits and gets to know the temperature that you like while you’re at home, so you don’t have to worry about the kids fiddling with the settings – it does come with parental controls should they still be unable to leave it alone.
Once it’s familiar with your routine, it turns down when you’re away and if your home suffers from draught, it even figures out the best way to heat your home so it only uses the energy that’s necessary.
Making use of the app is important with both devices and when it comes to the Nest, it uses your phone’s location to figure out what time you leave for work and uses your phone’s location to ensure you’re away before turning the temp down.
You can also use the app to see how much money you’ve saved and see the real difference your purchase has made on your overall bills.
Google Nest vs Hive: Compatibility
Both the Google Nest and Hive are compatible with all conventional boilers as well as combi-boilers, so you really shouldn’t have an issue regardless of which one you pick.
But there are still a few exceptions. Hive has an in-depth list of 10 boilers that aren’t compatible with the device, which you can find here, but if your boiler isn’t a Worcester Bosch, you’re absolutely fine.
The Google Nest compatibility list isn’t as easy to get through and to, and you’ll have to select which type of heating system and boiler you are checking to see if it’s compatible with your home – you can find the compatibility checker here.
Google Nest vs Hive: Installation
The Hive and Nest Smart Thermostats come with the option to purchase without expert installation and provide guides on how to install them.
However, the safest bet is probably to have them send a professional out, and unfortunately, that isn’t free.
If you go with Nest, you’ll have to pay £120 per thermostat, and Hive charges slightly less at £109.
- Google Nest (3rd generation),
£219.99£189.99 – buy from Amazon - Hive, £149.99 – buy from Amazon
- Hive Thermostat Mini, £59 – buy from Amazon
Google Nest vs Hive: Verdict
Choose Google Nest if…
- You want a system that learns your habits
- You want a thermostat that can also control your hot water
- Your home has rooms that are difficult to heat
Choose Hive if…
- You want cheaper installation
- You want to set monthly budgets for your electricity bills
- You have pipes that are at risk
If you’re after more ways to keep your home warm during winter, we tested the best electrical heaters, some of which cost less than running your central heating.
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Winter also brings with it unsavoury conditions that allow dampness and mould to prosper, so if you don’t want uninvited guests in your home, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best dehumidifiers that’ll help keep your home safe.
Saving money where you can is always a bonus, so we’ve got all the latest and best ways over on our energy bills hub.