When it comes to controlling the HVAC systems in my home, I needed a smart thermostat with Alexa. That’s part of the reason I got a Nest Learning Thermostat. I absolutely love it, but there are so many more smart thermostat options these days than there were when I bought my Nest.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is sleek, it’s smart, and it definitely helps me save money on my energy bills. It’s also so awesome to be able to control the temperature in my home with my iPhone or even with simple voice commands. Thanks to the integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, it’ll work with any smart home system.
That said, the Nest Learning Thermostat is pretty pricey at $250, and it’s still a little too expensive for some budgets even while it’s discounted. Sure, it’ll pay for itself over time in savings on your energy bills thanks to all the smart features. But the less money you spend on a smart thermostat with Alexa, the less time it takes to recoup your investment.
While it’s definitely true that I love my Nest, I might have made a different choice if I was in the market for a new smart thermostat now instead of 7+ years ago.
Any decent model will pay for itself over time, as I mentioned. But why not spend less upfront so you make your money back as fast as possible? There are some fantastic options out there these days, like the Vine TJ-560 touchscreen thermostat, which is currently on sale for just $79.19.
Here, we’ll tell you about this slick model that you should definitely check out. Plus, we’ll give you a few more options that all cost way less than you might think.
Top pick with Alexa: Vine TJ-560 Smart Thermostat
Vine’s sleek smart thermostat has so many great features at such an affordable price. It might not have the “Learning” mode that made Nest famous, but not everyone uses it anyway. That’s especially true for people who now work from home because of the pandemic. You’re almost always around your house during the day now.
With that in mind, you always want the temperature in your home to be comfortable instead. If you’re not home all day, you want to give your HVAC system a rest while you’re out and about.
The updated Vine TJ-560 Smart Thermostat packs plenty of smart features into a nice modern design. You can set up flexible schedules and then change things on the fly from anywhere.
Also, you can control it using the Vine app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. And best of all, you can control your smart thermostat with your voice using simple Alexa or Google Assistant commands.
This model retails for $110, but it’s down to $79.19 when you clip the coupon on the listing.
Four more great options
If that Vine model isn’t to your liking but you still want a smart thermostat that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, I’ve rounded up four more good options that you can check out below.
First up, you also obviously can’t go wrong with the newest Nest Thermostat. It’s probably the most popular smart thermostat out there with support for Alexa and Google.
This model retails for $129, which is much more reasonable than the Nest Learning Thermostat. Right now, however, it’s on sale for just $99.99.
In addition to the TJ-560, people love another Vine model: the Vine TJ-550. It has a great design and a compact display. Thanks to a double discount, this model is available for just $55.84.
You can also pick up the stunning WYZE Smart WiFi Thermostat on sale for only $69.99. Or, the sleek Saswell Wi-Fi smart thermostat is available for $83.99.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these awesome smart thermostats. You’ll spend $100 or less no matter which model you choose, and you’ll save money on your energy bills each month.
Here are all five models that I mentioned in this roundup: