Nest vs Hive Thermostats: A Comprehensive Comparison Guide

Smart thermostats have become an essential component of modern homes, offering increased convenience, energy savings, and ease of use. Two of the leading contenders in this growing market are Nest and Hive. Both products boast an array of features and capabilities designed to streamline home heating and cooling systems while maximising energy-efficiency.

Nest, a part of Google's product lineup, has long been an industry leader with its Nest Learning Thermostat. On the other hand, Hive, developed by British Gas, has recently gained significant traction in the market with its versatile Hive Active Heating system. As homeowners consider integrating one of these smart thermostats into their daily lives, it is essential to understand the differences between them and make an informed decision.

This article will offer a comprehensive comparison of Nest and Hive, taking into account their design, ease of installation, energy savings potential, compatibility, and more. By examining and comparing their unique features and benefits, homeowners will be better equipped to decide which smart thermostat best suits their needs and preferences.

Overview of Nest Thermostats

Nest Thermostats, developed by Google, are among the well-known smart thermostats in the market. They offer enhanced energy efficiency and convenience in controlling the temperature of your home. In this section, we shall discuss the key features and the installation process of Nest Thermostats.

Key Features

• Learning capabilities: Nest Thermostats are equipped with learning algorithms, which adapt to your heating and cooling preferences over time, adjusting the temperature accordingly.
• Remote control: You can control and monitor your Nest Thermostat from anywhere using the Nest app on your smartphone.
• Energy saving: Nest Thermostats help optimise energy usage, providing monthly energy reports and displaying the Energy History on the app.
• Home/Away Assist: With motion sensors, the thermostat can detect if your home is empty and automatically adjust the temperature to save energy.
• Farsight: Nest Thermostat has a feature called Farsight, which lights up the display when you approach it, showing the current temperature or time.
• Smart home integration: Nest Thermostats are compatible with other smart home devices, such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and others.

Installation Process

1. Compatibility check: Before starting the installation process, ensure that your heating and cooling system is compatible with Nest Thermostat by checking the compatibility on the Nest website.
2. Turn off the power: Before you begin, switch off the power supply to your heating and cooling systems to ensure safety.
3. Remove your old thermostat: Carefully remove the old thermostat from your wall, taking note of the wiring arrangement for reference.
4. Install the Nest base: The Nest base should be attached to the wall using the provided screws and a screwdriver. Ensure that it's levelled properly, using the built-in bubble level as guidance.
5. Connect the wires: Following the wiring diagram generated during the compatibility check, insert the corresponding wires into the Nest base's terminals and secure them in place.
6. Attach the display: Line up the connectors on the display with the base and press until it clicks into place.
7. Switch on the power: Turn the power supply back on for your heating and cooling systems.
8. Configure your Nest Thermostat: Once the device is powered, follow the onscreen prompts to set up your Nest Thermostat by connecting it to your Wi-Fi network and completing the initial settings.
9. Install the Nest app: Download the Nest app on your smartphone, create an account, and add your Nest Thermostat to the app.

After completing the installation process, your Nest Thermostat is ready for use, allowing you to manage your home's temperature efficiently and conveniently.

Overview of Hive Thermostats

Key Features

Hive Active Heating is a smart thermostat system that allows users to control their home's heating and hot water remotely using a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. Some of the key features include:

• Scheduling: Set up to six daily time slots for heating and hot water, ensuring your home is warm when you want it to be.
• Geolocation: Hive uses your smartphone's location to determine when you're away from home and automatically adjusts your heating to save energy.
• Holiday mode: Notify your Hive thermostat when you're going away, and it will help maintain a safe temperature and protect against frozen pipes while you're gone.
• Smart home integration: Hive is compatible with a range of smart home devices such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, allowing for voice control and automation.

Installation Process

Hive Active Heating requires professional installation by a certified engineer. The process involves the following steps:

1. Confirm compatibility: Before purchasing a Hive thermostat, ensure it is compatible with your existing heating system. Hive works with most UK gas, LPG, and oil boilers, as well as some electric heating systems.
2. Choose your package: Select the Hive Active Heating package that best suits your needs, including the choice between a traditional or smart frost thermostat.
3. Book an installation appointment: Once you have purchased your Hive thermostat, an engineer from British Gas or a Hive-approved installer will contact you to schedule a convenient appointment.
4. Installation: The engineer will install the Hive Hub, which connects to your internet router and allows for remote heating control, as well as the wireless thermostat and receiver. Installation typically takes one to two hours.
5. Set up the app: The engineer will guide you through setting up the Hive smartphone app, helping you pair your devices and configure your heating and hot water schedules.

By following these steps, you can enjoy the comfort and energy-saving benefits of a Hive smart thermostat in your home. Remember to keep the system updated to ensure optimal performance and stay informed about new features and integrations.

Comparing Energy Efficiency

Nest and Hive are both renowned for their smart thermostats, and a key factor for consumers to consider when choosing between them is their energy efficiency. The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation) and Hive Active Heating aim to reduce energy wastage and help users save on their energy bills.

The Nest Learning Thermostat stands out for its intelligent technology. It learns users' schedules and preferences over time, adapting the heating system accordingly. This ensures that a comfortable temperature is maintained while minimizing energy use. Additionally, Nest has the True Radiant feature, which optimizes heating to warm the home quickly, without overheating. Moreover, the Airwave technology saves energy by cutting off the air conditioning a few minutes early while maintaining the desired temperature using the remaining cool air.

On the other hand, the Hive Active Heating thermostat enables users to set heating schedules from their smartphone. The smartphone app offers a simple, user-friendly interface for customising temperatures throughout the day. Besides this, the Geolocation feature is useful in identifying when the user is away from home and prompts them to turn off the heating system, thus avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. Hive also offers a Holiday Mode which allows users to lower their heating system while they're away and schedule it to be warm upon their return, thereby saving energy.

In summary, both thermostats contribute to energy efficiency through their respective features. The Nest Learning Thermostat excels in automation and self-adaptation, while the Hive Active Heating thermostat focuses on user control and convenience. The choice between the two would depend on users' preferences and priorities for energy management within their homes.