Smart thermostat: Nest vs Hive

Two Names Always at the Top: Nest and Hive

If you're scratching your head wondering which one to buy, you've landed in the right spot. Smart thermostats aren't some mysterious gadget anymore, but if you're new to them, you might get bamboozled by some of the brand hype. Let me break it down for you—functions, costs, real-life use—so you don't waste your cash before clicking "buy".

From the comparison, it might look like there's not much difference between the two, but hold up, there's more to it. Let's dig into what sets them apart:

1. Hub
With Hive, if you want all the features we've been chatting above, you've got to get their hub. Sure, the hub plus Hive thermostat costs the same as Nest, but you'll need extra space to stash it, plus a power socket and an internet cable. So, you're stuck plonking it somewhere fixed.

Now, you might be thinking, "What if I don't need smartphone control—can I skip the hub?" Nope, sorry mate. No hub means you're limited to turning the heating on or off via the thermostat. None of the good stuff like weekly scheduling (which, let's be honest, is the best bit).

Nest, on the other hand? It runs on Wi-Fi, so no hub is needed.

2. Power
Nest uses a 12V DC power supply, so you're putting it near a plug socket or fixing it to a wall. If you go the wall route, you’ll need to sort out some extra wiring.

Hive and Hive Mini are way more chill. They run on batteries, so you can pop them wherever you like. Only catch? The table stand costs extra—£29. Yep, you heard me right—even after shelling out £189, they'll nick another 29 quid off you. (Hive: "I’m really good at making money!") Or you can wall-mount it for free, no extra bits needed.

3. OpenTherm
Nest is OpenTherm supported, no worries there.

Hive? It seems that they didn't support it—no OpenTherm ports on their receivers. But their website now says they do, so double-check with them before you buy.

4. Subscription Fees
Want all of Hive's smart tricks? That'll be £3.99 a month - Is the thermostat really designed to save money?

Nest doesn't hit you with extra fees, but there's been chatter about them pulling out of the UK market. Google hasn't said boo to clear it up either. Will they keep supporting Nest with updates and service down the line? Who knows.

5. Multi-Zone Heating
If you're serious about saving energy, multi-zone temp control is the way to go—heat the rooms you need, not the empty ones. Thermostats manage this by controlling zone valves. Say you open the valve for Zone 1 only—that's the only spot getting toasty.

Got four zones at home (hot water tank plus three heating zones)? You'll need 3 thermostats + 3 receivers, each receiver handling a valve. (Hive and Nest receivers handle hot water too, so no extra kit for the tank.)

How much are we talking? £189? Nah, mate, it's £567. (Hive & Nest: "We're here to save you money… after you give us £567!")

At least with Hive, you only need one hub no matter how many zones—saves you a bit there.

Do Smart Thermostats Have to Be This Pricey?

If you've done a bit of digging, you'll notice smart thermostats like Hive and Nest start at £130 and up. Honestly, their features are pretty similar. The big difference? Looks—design and materials. Hive and Nest have cracking industrial design, and that's part of what you're paying for. Fair enough if you're into that—go for it.

But if you love slick design and want to keep your wallet happy, check out this Repenic thermostat. (Oops, there's my sneaky ad popping out—yep, I'm selling it!)

What's different about it?

1.No hub needed.
2.Runs on 2 AA batteries, lasting at least year, same as Hive with 4 AAs.
3.Supports OpenTherm.
4.No subscription fees—none of that nonsense.
5.Multi-zone heating that won’t break the bank. Our receiver has 4 channels built-in, so for a 4-zone house, you're looking at 3 thermostats + 1 receiver. That's two fewer receivers than Hive or Nest.

How much will you spend?
Nest: £586 (3 x thermostats, 3 x receivers)
Hive: £427 (3 x thermostats, 1 x 2-zone receiver, 2 x 1-zone receivers)
Repenic: £222 (3 x thermostats, 1 x receiver,white)

A week in Spain costs what? We've just saved you the air tickets!

"Hold on, it's so cheap—is it rubbish?" Nah, mate, we've got a 5-year warranty. Nest is solid, sure—but their warranty? Two years.

Check our thermostat here.