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Best Smart Thermostat for a Heat Pump: 5 Picks That Handle Aux Heat Right
A heat pump is not a furnace, and a thermostat built for a gas furnace can cost a homeowner real money in wasted auxiliary heat. This guide covers five smart thermostats that explicitly support heat pump systems, from a budget DIY install to a premium voice-control model. Budget-minded DIYers, tech-forward households and anyone replacing an older programmable unit will each find a fit below. The overview table shows the key spec and best use for every pick, and each review covers who the unit suits and where it falls short.
The Picks at a Glance
| Product | Key Spec | Best Use | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 | 7-day programmable color touchscreen | Whole-home scheduling with Alexa | Mid-range |
| Sensi Smart Thermostat ST55 | DIY Wi-Fi install, Energy Star | First-time smart thermostat buyers | Budget |
| Honeywell Home X2S (Gray) | Conventional/heat pump compatibility | Simple heat pump replacement | Budget |
| Honeywell Home X2S (White) | Conventional/heat pump compatibility | Matching white wall plates | Budget |
| ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential | Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant | Voice-first households | Mid-range |
1. Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat
Type: Wi-Fi smart color thermostat
Programming: 7-day programmable
Control: Touch screen
Certification: Energy Star
Voice Control: Alexa ready
Finish: Gray
Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat
The RTH9585WF1004 is the most feature-dense unit in this group, built around a full-color touchscreen that shows weather, scheduling and system status at a glance. Seven-day programming lets a household set a different schedule for every day of the week, which matters for shift workers and homes with irregular routines. Energy Star certification signals that the scheduling logic is designed to trim run time rather than just add connectivity. Alexa readiness means voice adjustments work without a separate hub.
This pick earns its place for buyers who want granular control and do not mind paying mid-range money for a display-forward design. It suits households with a single-zone heat pump that want a familiar brand name and a screen the whole family can read from across the room.
Trade-off: A color touchscreen adds cost and a glass surface that shows fingerprints, and the unit’s feature depth means a longer setup session than a stripped-down model requires.
2. Sensi Smart Thermostat ST55
Type: Wi-Fi smart thermostat
Install: DIY
Voice Control: Alexa
Certification: Energy Star
Model: ST55
Sensi Smart Thermostat, Wi-Fi, DIY, Alexa, Energy Star Certified, ST55
The Sensi ST55 is aimed squarely at the homeowner replacing an old thermostat without hiring a pro. The DIY positioning and straightforward Wi-Fi setup make it the least intimidating entry point in this roundup, and Energy Star certification keeps efficiency credentials intact. Alexa support covers the common voice commands without requiring a smart-home ecosystem.
It suits first-time smart thermostat buyers, rental property owners and anyone who wants app control and scheduling without a large touchscreen. The popularity figures suggest it moves in volume, which is consistent with a value-priced, easy-install design.
Trade-off: The simple interface that makes setup painless also means fewer on-device controls and less scheduling flexibility than a seven-day programmable unit offers.
3. Honeywell Home X2S Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat, Gray
Type: Smart Wi-Fi thermostat
System Compatibility: Conventional and heat pump
Finish: Gray
Brand: Honeywell Home
Model: X2S
The X2S is the budget workhorse of the group, and its name leads with the one feature heat pump owners care about: explicit conventional and heat pump compatibility. That clarity removes the guesswork that trips up buyers shopping by brand alone. Wi-Fi connectivity brings app control and remote adjustment to a price point well below the touchscreen models.
This pick fits cost-conscious households, second homes and anyone replacing a failed unit who wants smart features without a premium outlay. The gray finish blends with most wall colors and equipment closets.
Trade-off: At this price tier, expect a basic display and a shorter feature list, so buyers wanting room-by-room sensors or detailed energy reporting should look higher in the range.
4. Honeywell Home X2S Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat, White
Type: Smart Wi-Fi thermostat
System Compatibility: Conventional and heat pump
Finish: White
Brand: Honeywell Home
Model: X2S
This is the same X2S platform as the gray version, offered in white for rooms where a lighter faceplate matches the trim or paint. Compatibility with conventional and heat pump systems is stated up front, and Wi-Fi control covers the essentials: scheduling, remote setpoint changes and status checks from a phone.
It suits the same budget-minded buyer as its gray twin, plus anyone who has already picked the X2S and wants the finish to disappear into a white wall. Two colorways at the same price tier make it easy to match an existing installation.
Trade-off: The white faceplate shows dust and smudges more readily than a darker finish, and the feature set is identical to the gray model, so the choice comes down to appearance alone.
5. ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
Type: Programmable Wi-Fi thermostat
Voice Assistants: Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant
Certification: Energy Star
Brand: ecobee
Model: Smart Thermostat Essential
The ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is the only unit here that names all three major voice platforms, which makes it the natural pick for a household split between Apple, Amazon and Google devices. Energy Star certification and programmable scheduling round out an efficiency-focused package. The ecobee name carries weight with buyers who associate the brand with occupancy sensing and smart scheduling.
It suits voice-first homes, multi-platform households and buyers who want a recognizable smart-home brand without stepping up to the top of the ecobee range.
Trade-off: The Essential badge signals a trimmed feature set relative to ecobee’s flagship models, so buyers expecting room sensors or advanced occupancy features out of the box may be disappointed.
Before You Buy
- Compatibility: Confirm the thermostat lists heat pump support explicitly; a conventional-only unit can leave aux heat stages miswired or unused.
- Aux heat control: Look for settings that govern when auxiliary or emergency heat engages, since that setting drives winter running costs.
- Wiring: Check the existing low-voltage wire count before ordering, because some smart units need a C-wire that older installations lack.
- Stages: Match the thermostat to the number of heating and cooling stages the heat pump actually uses.
- Voice ecosystem: Pick a unit that speaks the assistant already present in the home rather than adding a new hub.
- Finish: Colorways are cosmetic but permanent; match the faceplate to the wall before install.
- Price tier: Budget units cover scheduling and app control; premium money buys displays, sensors and broader assistant support.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Does a smart thermostat need to be heat-pump rated?
Yes. Heat pump systems reverse the refrigerant cycle for cooling and need thermostat logic that handles reversing valves and auxiliary heat, which conventional-only models may not support. -
What is auxiliary heat and why does it matter?
Auxiliary heat is the backup heating stage that kicks in when the heat pump cannot keep up. A thermostat that engages it too readily raises energy bills, so control over that setting matters. -
Can a DIY installer handle these units?
The Sensi ST55 is explicitly positioned for DIY installation, and the Honeywell and ecobee models are commonly installed by homeowners following the included wiring guide. Complex multi-stage systems are better left to a technician. -
Is a C-wire required?
Many smart thermostats need a common wire to draw power continuously. Older heat pump installations sometimes lack one, so the wire count should be checked before purchase. -
Do these thermostats work with Alexa, Siri and Google?
The Honeywell RTH9585WF1004 and Sensi ST55 list Alexa support, while the ecobee Essential names Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. The X2S models focus on Wi-Fi app control. -
Which pick is best for a tight budget?
The Honeywell Home X2S in either finish sits at the lowest price tier while still stating heat pump compatibility, making it the value pick for a straightforward replacement.
Bottom Line
For most heat pump households, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is the strongest all-round choice: it covers all three major voice platforms, carries Energy Star certification and sits at a sensible mid-range price. Budget buyers replacing a failed unit should start with the Honeywell Home X2S, which states heat pump compatibility plainly and keeps costs down. Check current prices on Amazon before ordering, since thermostat pricing shifts with the season.