A quick tip from a smart‑home editor: although I now use the well‑reviewed Ecobee Premium priced at $260, I spent eight years with an Ecobee3 Lite and was just as satisfied. The Lite provides everything a smart thermostat should, without extra features that most users never need, such as occupancy detection or a built‑in speaker for streaming podcasts—unless you enjoy listening to Uncanny Valley on your thermostat, in which case, you do you.
The Ecobee3 Lite includes a touchscreen, app control and works with Ecobee sensors if you want to balance temperature across different floors. Many owners simply want remote on/off control and the ability to set schedules, and the Lite handles those tasks well.
Although the model has been rebranded as the Essential and now retails for $140, the original Lite is still sold refurbished directly by Ecobee. During the company’s fall promotion it is offered for $120 with free shipping and carries the same three‑year warranty as a brand‑new unit. If you missed Prime Day and don’t want to wait for Black Friday, this sale—ending on Wednesday, October 21—might be worth checking out.
Refurbished versions of the Enhanced model at $170 and the Premium model at $220 are also available, as are bundles that include Ecobee security accessories. I have tested most of the brand’s add‑ons and found the Ecobee ecosystem to be somewhat buggy as a security platform; it isn’t the best, but it isn’t the worst either. The thermostat on its own, however, earns my strong recommendation.
Current Ecobee owners can also pick up a set of non‑refurbished security sensors for $50, or the Ecobee video doorbell for $130, which lets you see and speak to visitors through your phone—or even through the thermostat.
Shop Ecobee’s fall sale before it ends on October 21.