Quick answer
There's no single winner between Nest and Hive — it depends on what you value.
Choose the Nest Learning Thermostat (made by Google) for the smartest, most hands-off experience, as it builds a heating schedule for you automatically.
Choose Hive (owned by Centrica, the parent of British Gas) for strong multi-zone control with its own radiator valves and sensors, or if you want a tidy British Gas bundle. Both work with most UK combi, system and heat-only boilers and offer geolocation; for most single-zone homes either will do the job, so pick on price, looks and ecosystem.
A smart thermostat won't slash your heating bills on its own, but used well it can shave money off by heating your home only when you actually need it. The two best-known names in the UK are Google Nest and Hive.
Both let you control your heating from your phone, set schedules and react to whether anyone is home. They differ in how they're owned, how clever the automation is, how they're powered, how far the warranty stretches, and how much you'll pay up front.
Here's a plain-English comparison to help you decide which suits your home, plus how it fits alongside your boiler and any cover you hold.
Key takeaways
- Smartest automation: the Nest Learning Thermostat builds your schedule for you; Hive (and the standard Nest) use manual schedules.
- Power: Nest is mains-wired (no batteries); the Hive thermostat runs on AA batteries that typically last around two years.
- Warranty: Nest gives two years as standard (extendable to up to five with a Nest Pro install); Hive gives one year as standard.
- Zoning: Nest can manage up to ~20 zones across multiple units; Hive tops out at around three zones but has its own smart radiator valves (TRVs) and room sensors.
- Savings: the Energy Saving Trust estimates a full set of heating controls saves around £110 a year in Great Britain — useful, but the hardware still takes time to pay back.
- Freshness note: Google has stopped launching new Nest thermostats in Europe (see below); existing units still work, but it's a factor for long-term buyers.
Who owns what?
It's worth getting the ownership facts straight, because they're often muddled.
- Nest is made by Google. The brand started as an independent company (Nest Labs), was bought by Google in 2014, and the products now sit within Google's wider smart-home range.
- Hive is owned by Centrica, the parent company of British Gas. That British Gas link is why you'll often see Hive bundled with British Gas boiler installs and service plans, though anyone can buy and use Hive regardless of their energy supplier.
Neither ties you to a particular gas or electricity supplier, and both work with most standard UK central heating systems.
The current models
Pricing moves around with sales and bundles, so treat these as indicative 2026 figures rather than fixed prices.
- Nest Learning Thermostat — the premium option, with a polished metal dial. Its headline trick is learning: over the first week or two it watches how you adjust the temperature and builds a schedule for you automatically. Indicative price around £200–£220.
- Nest Thermostat (standard) — a cheaper, lighter version without the auto-learning. You build the schedule yourself in the app. Indicative price around £100–£120.
- Hive Thermostat — Hive's mainstream product, controlled via the Hive app, with manual scheduling, geolocation and optional multi-zone control. Indicative price around £130–£200 depending on bundle and whether you add professional installation.
Heads up on installation. A thermostat swap usually involves mains wiring at the receiver/boiler end. If you're at all unsure, use a qualified electrician or heating engineer rather than guessing — and never touch the inside of your boiler casing or any gas component yourself. Wiring into a gas appliance is work for a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Is Nest being discontinued?
This is the question reshaping the choice in 2026, so it's worth being clear about. In 2025 Google announced it would stop launching new Nest thermostats in Europe, saying European heating systems are too varied to keep building dedicated hardware for.
The existing models (the 3rd-generation Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E) continued to be sold while supplies lasted, rather than being pulled overnight.
At the same time, Google ended software support for its oldest units — the 1st and 2nd-generation Nest Learning Thermostats — from 25 October 2025. Those very early models can still be controlled manually at the dial, but lost remote app and Google Assistant control.
What does this mean if you're buying now? In short:
- Existing Nest thermostats keep working — this is not a recall, and current-generation units still receive support.
- Stock is finite in the UK/Europe, so availability of new Nest units may tighten over time and prices can be volatile.
- Long-term updates are the open question. Google has form for retiring older hardware, so if you want a brand with a clear ongoing UK commitment, Hive — backed by Centrica/British Gas and still actively sold and developed here — is the safer bet for future-proofing.
None of this makes Nest a bad buy today; the learning automation is still excellent. It simply tilts the decision towards Hive for anyone who values long-term UK support over the cleverest schedule.
Features compared
Scheduling and learning
This is the clearest difference.
The Nest Learning Thermostat builds a heating schedule for you by watching your behaviour, which suits people who don't want to fiddle with settings. Hive (and the standard Nest Thermostat) use manual scheduling — you tell the app when you want heat and at what temperature.
Manual scheduling is arguably more predictable, and some people prefer the control.
Geolocation and presence sensing
Both brands offer geolocation (sometimes called "home/away"), which uses your phone's location to turn the heating down when everyone has left and warm things back up as you head home. It works well in single-person or couple households; in a busy family with several phones it can be less reliable, so check how each app handles multiple users.
Nest adds a hardware trick here: Farsight with a built-in motion sensor.
When the Nest detects you walking into the room, the display lights up to show the time, temperature or weather, and the same motion sensing feeds Nest's "Home/Away Assist" so it can adjust heating based on whether the room is actually being used — not just where your phone is.
Hive relies more on app-based geolocation and its optional room sensors rather than on motion sensing in the thermostat itself.
Zoning and multi-room control
This is one of the biggest practical differences between the two, so it's worth the detail.
- Nest scales further on paper: you can add multiple Nest thermostats to one home and control up to roughly 20 zones from a single account, with several users sharing access. That suits larger or more divided homes — provided your heating system is wired for separate zones in the first place.
- Hive caps multi-zone heating at around three zones, but backs it up with its own ecosystem of smart thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and room/motion sensors. The TRVs let you set a target temperature radiator-by-radiator, which is often more useful in a typical UK house than true wired zoning — you can keep bedrooms cool and the living room warm without re-plumbing anything.
Important caveat: the zone count is only achievable if your central heating is physically wired and valved for it.
Most UK homes run a single heating zone (plus hot water on systems with a cylinder), so for the majority of households the headline zone numbers matter less than the radiator-level control Hive's TRVs give you.
For genuine multi-zone wiring, have a heating engineer confirm what your system supports before you buy.
Apps, smart-home links and protocols
Nest slots naturally into the Google Home app and works smoothly with Google Assistant. Hive has its own well-regarded app and a broader ecosystem of smart plugs, bulbs, lights and sensors that talk to each other over Zigbee via the Hive hub. Both work with Amazon Alexa, so voice control via Alexa isn't a deciding factor for most people.
Apple HomeKit and Siri are where it gets fiddly. Hive supports Apple HomeKit, so iPhone users can control heating from Apple's Home app and via Siri.
On the Nest side, only newer models (the 2020 Nest Thermostat and the latest Learning Thermostat) gained Apple Home and Siri control via Matter; the older 3rd-generation Learning Thermostat still on sale in the UK does not work natively with HomeKit and needs a third-party bridge.
If you're an Apple household, Hive is the more straightforward pick.
OpenTherm and modulating boilers
If your boiler supports OpenTherm (a standard that lets the thermostat modulate the flame rather than just switching the boiler fully on and off), it can run more efficiently and hold temperature more steadily.
The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen) supports OpenTherm and modulating control, which can be a real efficiency win on a compatible boiler. Hive's standard heating control is more of a simple on/off (relay) control.
Whether you'll benefit depends entirely on your boiler — check your boiler's manual or ask a heating engineer whether it's OpenTherm-capable before paying extra for the feature.
Power supply
How each unit is powered affects both installation and upkeep.
- Nest is mains-wired — it draws power from your heating wiring (and on some setups uses a small built-in rechargeable cell topped up from the system), so there are no batteries to change. That keeps it maintenance-free but means the wall unit is fixed in place.
- Hive's wireless thermostat is battery-powered (AA batteries), which lets you pick it up and move it around the house or sit it on a stand. The trade-off is occasional battery changes — Hive's batteries typically last around two years before the unit warns you they're low.
Warranty
Warranty length is an easy thing to overlook and a genuine point of difference.
- Nest comes with a two-year limited warranty as standard in the UK. If you have it fitted by a Google/Nest Pro installer, the warranty is extended — adding three more years for a total of up to five years.
- Hive comes with a one-year standard warranty against manufacturing defects, with longer extended cover available to buy.
On paper Nest is the stronger cover, especially if you use a Pro installer. (These warranty terms are indicative and last checked in 2026 — always confirm the current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.)
Installation: cost and time
Both are designed to replace a conventional wall thermostat or wireless receiver, and the physical job is similar for either brand. A straightforward swap usually takes around one to two hours for a competent electrician or heating engineer.
As a rough guide, professional fitting labour runs in the region of £80–£150 on top of the device itself (indicative, last checked 2026 — quotes vary by region and by how much rewiring is involved).
Some retailers and British Gas bundle Hive with installation, and Google's Nest Pro network offers fitting that also unlocks the extended warranty above.
DIY is possible for confident, electrically-competent homeowners on simple setups, but it always involves mains wiring at the receiver or boiler end — and if anything is unclear, the cost of an engineer is small next to the risk of getting live wiring wrong.
Boiler compatibility
Both Nest and Hive are designed for typical UK systems — combi, system and heat-only (conventional) boilers — and both can control heating and hot water on systems that have a separate cylinder. Combi boilers heat water on demand, so there's no hot-water schedule to set.
A few systems with unusual or very old controls need an adapter or extra wiring, and some setups benefit from professional installation rather than DIY. If your home has a heat pump or a more complex multi-zone arrangement, confirm compatibility before you buy.
Whatever you fit, it won't change the fundamentals of how your boiler works — and it won't fix an underlying boiler fault. If your heating is unreliable, a smart thermostat is the wrong tool; you want an engineer.
If you're weighing up a service plan, our guide to what boiler cover is explains what's typically included.
How much could a smart thermostat actually save?
Be wary of any headline number — savings depend heavily on how you live and how poorly (or well) your heating was controlled before.
For a credible benchmark, the Energy Saving Trust estimates that fitting a full set of heating controls (a programmer, a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves) saves around £110 a year in a typical Great Britain home, with installing those controls from scratch costing roughly £550.
A smart thermostat's saving comes from the same principle — heating only the rooms you use, only when you need them — often quoted as indicative efficiency gains of around 15–20% on the heating element of a bill where homes move from poor control to tight, occupancy-aware control.
Two honest caveats apply to every smart thermostat:
- Savings vary hugely. If you already control your heating carefully, a smart thermostat may save you little; the biggest gains go to homes that previously over-heated or left the heating on when out.
- The hardware takes time to pay back. Between the device (often £100–£220) and any fitting, you may be a couple of years in before the savings clear the outlay. Treat it as a convenience-and-comfort upgrade that also trims waste, not a guaranteed money-maker.
The bigger lever is usually the boiler and insulation, not the dial. No thermostat can make a failing or badly-sized boiler efficient. If your heating is unreliable or your bills jumped suddenly, get the boiler checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer first — that's where the real fault (and cost) usually sits.
Feature comparison: Nest vs Hive
The table below pulls the key specs together. Prices, warranty terms and figures are indicative and last checked in 2026; always confirm current details with the manufacturer before buying.
| Feature | Nest | Hive |
|---|---|---|
| Owned by | Centrica (British Gas) | |
| Auto-learning schedule | Yes (Learning model) | No (manual scheduling) |
| Geolocation / presence | Yes, plus Farsight motion sensing | Yes (app-based), optional room sensors |
| Power supply | Mains-wired (no batteries) | Battery (AA), ~2-year battery life |
| Warranty | 2 yrs standard (up to 5 with Pro install) | 1 yr standard (extended cover available) |
| Zones | Up to ~20 across multiple units | Up to ~3, plus smart TRVs per radiator |
| Smart radiator valves (TRVs) | Not part of the range | Yes (Hive TRVs & room sensors) |
| OpenTherm / modulating | Yes (Learning 3rd gen) | On/off relay control |
| Voice & ecosystem | Google Home/Assistant, Alexa; HomeKit on newer models via Matter | Hive app (Zigbee hub), Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit |
| Design | Premium metal dial (Learning model) | Functional, understated; portable unit |
| Typical entry price | From ~£100 (standard model) | From ~£130 |
| Best for | Set-and-forget convenience & efficiency | Radiator-level zoning, Apple homes & long-term UK support |
The verdict: which is best for whom?
There's no single winner — it depends on what you value.
- Choose the Nest Learning Thermostat if you want the smartest, most hands-off experience and don't mind paying a premium for the design and auto-learning. Great for households that won't bother building a schedule manually.
- Choose the standard Nest Thermostat if you like the Google ecosystem and want smart control on a tighter budget, and you're happy to set your own schedule.
- Choose Hive if you want radiator-level control with its smart TRVs and room sensors, you're an Apple/HomeKit household, you value a longer-term UK commitment (it's still actively sold and developed here), or you're already a British Gas customer and want a tidy bundle. The shorter one-year warranty and the AA batteries are the main trade-offs.
For most single-zone UK homes, both will do the job and pay back their cost over time through smarter heating.
Pick on the things that actually differ for your home — power (mains vs battery), warranty, Apple compatibility, radiator-level zoning and long-term UK support — rather than agonising over features that look impressive on paper but won't apply to a typical single-zone system.
Remember that a thermostat manages your heating — it doesn't protect you against a breakdown. If you want financial cover when the boiler itself fails, that's a separate decision; our piece on whether boiler cover is worth it walks through the trade-offs.
Will a smart thermostat actually save me money?
It can, but the savings come from heating your home more efficiently — only when occupied, and to sensible temperatures. The hardware cost takes time to recoup, and savings vary hugely between households. It's a convenience and efficiency tool, not a guaranteed bill-cutter.
Can I fit a Nest or Hive myself?
Some confident DIYers do, but installation involves mains wiring at the boiler or receiver end. If you're unsure, use a qualified electrician or heating engineer. Never open your boiler casing or touch gas components — that's work for a Gas Safe registered engineer only.
Do I have to be a British Gas customer to use Hive?
No. Hive is owned by Centrica (British Gas's parent), but anyone can buy and use it regardless of their energy supplier. The same applies to Nest and Google.
Will a smart thermostat fix a boiler that keeps cutting out?
No. A thermostat can't repair a faulty boiler. If your heating keeps losing pressure, locking out or cutting out, book a Gas Safe registered engineer to diagnose the underlying problem.
Are Nest and Hive compatible with my boiler?
Both work with most UK combi, system and heat-only boilers, and can control hot water on systems with a cylinder. A few unusual or older setups need an adapter or professional install — and heat pumps or complex multi-zone systems should be checked before buying.
Is Nest being discontinued in the UK?
Google announced in 2025 that it would stop launching new Nest thermostats in Europe, and it ended software support for the 1st and 2nd-generation Nest Learning Thermostats from 25 October 2025.
This isn't a recall — existing and current-generation units keep working and are still supported — but UK stock of new Nest thermostats is finite and long-term updates are less certain. If future-proofing matters most, Hive (still actively sold and developed in the UK) is the safer bet.
How long is the warranty on Nest vs Hive?
Nest comes with a two-year limited warranty as standard, extendable to up to five years if fitted by a Nest Pro installer. Hive comes with a one-year standard warranty, with extended cover available to buy. Terms are indicative for 2026 — check the manufacturer's current terms before purchasing.
Are Nest and Hive battery or mains powered?
The Nest thermostat is mains-wired, so there are no batteries to replace. The Hive wireless thermostat runs on AA batteries that typically last around two years, which is the trade-off for being able to move the unit around the home.
Use our tool to see how boiler cover plans compare and find a plan that fits your boiler and your budget.
Cover the boiler, not just the schedule
A smart thermostat is handy, but it won't pay for a repair when the boiler breaks. Compare boiler cover from our selected panel of providers in minutes.
Compare boiler coverBoiler Cover UK is an independent comparison site and may earn a commission from providers. We compare a selected panel of providers, not the whole market. This article is general information, not financial or installation advice. Product names and prices are indicative for 2026 and subject to change.