Space heating isn’t a “small leak” in your budget—it’s the big one. In the U.S., space heating accounted for 42% of residential energy consumption in 2020, and households spent $519 on average just to heat their homes. (That’s an average, not your personal bill—yours can be way higher.) Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), RECS

So if you’re watching spending closely, thermostat control is one of the few “boring” changes that can actually move the needle—without ripping out windows or replacing your furnace.

How smart thermostat apps cut your heating costs (without freezing you)

A smart thermostat app saves money in one main way: it reduces heating run-time when you don’t need it, and gets the timing right when you do.

In practice, these apps combine a few tactics:

  • Setbacks (schedule-based): You heat less overnight and while you’re out, then recover before you wake up or get home.
  • Geofencing / presence: The app uses your phone’s location (or sensors) to switch between “Home” and “Away.”
  • Adaptive start / learning: It learns how fast your place warms up so it starts earlier only when needed.
  • Energy reports: You get feedback (run-time, trends, comparisons) so you can spot waste and tighten settings.

A simple, proven baseline is still thermostat setbacks. The U.S. Department of Energy puts it plainly:

“Setting back your thermostat for at least 8 hours per day can save you as much as 10% per year on heating and cooling costs.”
Source: DOE Energy Saver tip (Feb 2, 2024)

And if you’re thinking, “Sure, but do smart thermostats actually save?”—ENERGY STAR’s field-data-based program estimates about 8% of heating and cooling bills (around $50/year on average) for ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats. Source: ENERGY STAR Smart Thermostat FAQ

The “make it work” checklist (what I set up first)

Before I compare apps, here’s what mattered most in my testing—because the app can only save money if the settings are sane:

  • Pick comfort ranges, not single perfect temps. A tight “must be exactly 72°F” mindset usually costs real money.
  • Make “Away” actually happen. If geofencing/presence is flaky, use schedules as your backbone and treat geofencing as a bonus.
  • Check the recovery behavior. A good setup heats less overall, not “saves all day then blasts for hours.”

1) Google Home (for Google Nest Thermostats)

If you’re already in the Nest ecosystem, Google Home is the center of gravity in 2026—especially as features continue migrating into the Home app (including scheduling improvements for older models). Source: The Verge on Google Home scheduling update (Aug 2025)

How it helped me save (practically):

  • I used Eco-style temperature ranges for “away-ish” times, then a tighter comfort window when I’m home.
  • The Home app’s cleaner schedule handling made it easier to tweak without overthinking.

Pros

  • Clean, familiar app if you already use Google Home
  • Good for households already running Google automations/routines
  • Strong ecosystem integrations

Cons

  • Ecosystem risk: Google ended support for 1st/2nd gen Nest Learning Thermostats on Oct 25, 2025, which is a reminder to factor product lifecycles into “savings.” Source: TechRadar (May 2025)
  • Some features and behavior can depend on which thermostat generation you own (and app rollout timing)

2) ecobee (ecobee app)

ecobee’s app felt the most “numbers-forward” in day-to-day use—great if you like seeing why the system ran.

How it helped me save (practically):

  • I leaned on its reporting to find two waste patterns: overheating the morning ramp-up, and “tiny comfort nudges” that quietly add hours of run-time over a month.
  • The reports made it obvious when my schedule was too optimistic for my real routine.

Pros

  • Strong in-app reporting and system visibility (it’s easier to manage what you can see)
  • Good for households that want comfort and accountability
  • Solid platform reputation in smart thermostat energy programs (including ENERGY STAR involvement) Source: ENERGY STAR on ecobee

Cons

  • If you hate dashboards and graphs, you might ignore the best part
  • Some advanced savings features can feel “hands-off,” which can be annoying if you prefer total manual control

(If you want a peek at how ecobee frames its in-app reports experience, here’s their overview: ecobee on Home Energy Reports in-app.)

3) Resideo App (formerly Honeywell Home)

If you want “set it up, don’t obsess,” Resideo is surprisingly practical—especially for schedule + geofence basics.

How it helped me save (practically):

  • I set a simple weekly schedule, then used geofencing to catch the “oops, I left early” and “stayed out late” moments.
  • The geofence radius tuning matters more than you’d think; once it was dialed in, it stopped doing dumb flips.

Pros

Cons

  • UI is functional, not “fun”
  • Some features vary by thermostat model (so your neighbor’s screenshots might not match yours)

4) tado° (tado° app)

tado° is a strong pick if you want heating control that feels “situational”—especially in homes where opening windows, room-by-room behavior, or routine changes are common.

How it helped me save (practically):

  • Open-window detection reduced the classic “heat is on + window is cracked” waste.
  • Geofencing worked best when I treated it as a nudge (notifications) rather than trusting full automation immediately.

Pros

  • Open Window Detection that can switch heating off when it detects sudden temp/humidity changes Source: tado support
  • Clear breakdown of what’s free vs. what’s automated via subscription features Source: tado° app features page
  • Actively adding AI-style optimization features (depending on your device generation and region) Source: The Verge on tado AI Assist (2025)

Cons

  • Some features are tied to subscriptions or specific device lines (read the fine print before you assume it’s included)
  • If you dislike paid “Auto-Assist” style add-ons, you’ll want to keep things manual

5) Netatmo Energy (Netatmo Energy app / Home + Control)

Netatmo’s approach felt refreshingly “no drama”: schedule, away modes, remote control, and monthly reporting—done.

How it helped me save (practically):

  • The schedule builder is quick, and it’s easy to run a slightly cooler daytime plan while you’re out.
  • The monthly report style made it easier to stick with changes long enough to see impact.

Pros

  • Clear control model: schedule + special modes (Away / Frost-Guard / Off / Max) Source: Netatmo help center
  • Remote control via the Energy app (and web) with predictable “manual boost” behavior Source: Netatmo help center
  • Product highlights include Auto-Adapt (weather + insulation aware) and monthly Energy Savings Report framing Source: Netatmo Smart Thermostat page

Cons

  • Availability varies by country (Netatmo itself flags this on product pages) Source: Netatmo Smart Thermostat page
  • If you want deep smart-home automations, you may need to lean on your wider ecosystem rather than the app alone

What’s new (and what to watch) in 2026

A few trends changed how I judge thermostat apps now:

  • “Interoperability” matters more than brand loyalty. Matter is pushing the smart-home world toward cross-platform control, which reduces lock-in over time. (You can see this shift even in mainstream thermostat launches.) Example: Honeywell Home’s Matter-compatible thermostat coverage. Source: The Verge on Honeywell Home X2S + Matter (Jan 2025)
  • Support lifecycles are part of your ROI. A “cheap” thermostat isn’t cheap if app support disappears before you’ve recouped savings (see the Nest support cutoff). Source: TechRadar (May 2025)
  • AI is becoming packaging for better timing + better reports. The win isn’t magic—it’s fewer hours of unnecessary heating with fewer comfort complaints. (tado’s recent AI feature push is a good example of where the market is going.) Source: The Verge (2025)

Quick reality check: what savings usually look like

If you want a grounded expectation (not hype):

  • Heating is a major slice of home energy use: 42% of residential energy consumption (U.S., 2020). Source: EIA
  • Smart thermostats with verified field performance can save around 8% on heating/cooling bills (about $50/year average for ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats). Source: ENERGY STAR FAQ
  • Consistent setbacks can save up to 10% per year when you back off 7°–10°F for at least 8 hours/day. Source: DOE Energy Saver tip

In other words: the “win” is usually steady, boring savings, not a miracle bill cut in one month.

Conclusion

Smart thermostat apps cut heating costs by doing one thing well: they help you avoid heating your home at full comfort settings when you’re asleep, away, or don’t actually need it. Pick the app that matches your tolerance for automation, your need for energy reporting, and how much you care about long-term platform support.

References