Best Smart Thermostats for Heat Pumps (2026)

Heat pumps are wonderfully efficient — until the temperature drops and your backup heat takes over. The thermostat you choose has an outsized effect on how much that expensive backup runs, which makes the right smart thermostat one of the best efficiency upgrades a heat-pump home can make. But not every thermostat handles heat pumps well, so this guide focuses only on models that do auxiliary and emergency heat properly. For the broader category, see our complete smart thermostat buyer's guide.

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Why heat pumps need a special thermostat

A standard furnace just makes heat. A heat pump is more nuanced: it moves heat efficiently in mild weather, then leans on auxiliary heat (usually electric resistance strips) when it's too cold to keep up, and emergency heat if the compressor fails. Those backup modes are far more expensive to run, so a good heat-pump thermostat does two things a basic one can't:

• Manages the switchover between the heat pump and its backup intelligently.
• Lets you set an auxiliary-heat lockout — a temperature below which backup heat is allowed, so it doesn't fire prematurely on a merely cool day.

Auxiliary heat turns on automatically to assist the heat pump when it's cold; emergency heat is a manual setting you use only if the compressor actually breaks. A thermostat that controls these well can meaningfully cut your winter bills.

Heat-pump picks compared

| Pick | Best for | Aux heat lockout | Price (live) | |------|----------|------------------|--------------| | ecobee SmartThermostat | Overall / control | ✅ By outdoor temp | $229.00 | | Nest Learning | Hands-off | ✅ Automatic | $242.00 | | Honeywell Home X7S | Value | ✅ (up to 3H/2C + backup) | $179.99 | | Sensi Touch 2 | Touchscreen value | ✅ | $190.97 |

Prices are pulled live from Amazon and change often.

Best overall: ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control

For heat-pump owners who want control, the ecobee is the one to beat. It supports multi-stage heat pumps with auxiliary heat and — crucially — lets you set an auxiliary-heat maximum outdoor temperature, so the costly backup strips only engage when it's genuinely cold enough to need them. That single setting can save real money over a winter.

You also get everything that makes ecobee our overall category favorite: a room sensor in the box for whole-home balancing, built-in Alexa, Apple HomeKit support, and the Power Extender Kit for C-wire-free installs. If you like dialing things in, nothing here matches it. See how it compares to its rival in Nest vs. ecobee.

Best hands-off: Nest Learning Thermostat

If tuning lockout thresholds sounds like a chore, the Nest Learning Thermostat is the antidote. It supports heat pumps with auxiliary and emergency heat and, once configured, manages the switchover for you — then learns your schedule so the whole system mostly runs itself. It's the best-looking option and includes HVAC monitoring to flag trouble early.

One honest caveat: complex multi-stage heat-pump configurations sometimes need careful setup, and occasionally a Nest Pro installer, to get the switchover behaving perfectly. For "I just want the house warm without thinking about it," though, it's ideal. Our full Nest Learning Thermostat review goes deeper.

Best value: Honeywell Home X7S

The Honeywell Home X7S is the value standout because it explicitly supports up to 3 heat / 2 cool heat-pump systems with electric backup — enough for the vast majority of residential heat pumps — at a mid-range price. On top of that you get a big 4.3-inch touchscreen, humidity monitoring, occupancy sensing, and Matter certification, so it works smoothly with Alexa, Google, and Apple Home. If you lack a C-wire, Honeywell includes a voucher for a free adapter by mail.

The one thing to verify: the X7S does not support electric baseboard (120–240V) heat. For standard heat pumps, though, it's a lot of capability for the money.

Best touchscreen value: Sensi Touch 2

The Sensi Touch 2 rounds out the list with a clean color touchscreen, dependable heat-pump support including auxiliary heat, and a bundled room sensor for balancing temperatures across the house. It's ENERGY STAR certified, supports flexible scheduling and remote access, and Emerson's privacy policy means your data won't be sold.

Unlike the battery-powered Sensi ST55, the Touch 2 requires a C-wire to power its always-on display — so confirm you have one (or are willing to add an adapter) before choosing it over a battery model.

Setting up auxiliary heat the right way

Buying the right thermostat is half the battle; configuring it well is the other half. Two settings matter most on a heat pump:

• Auxiliary-heat lockout (outdoor temperature). Set the temperature above which backup heat is never allowed. A common starting point is around 35°F — above that, the heat pump alone is usually the more efficient option. ecobee exposes this setting directly; Nest handles it more automatically.
• Avoid large temperature setbacks. With a heat pump, cranking the temperature up quickly after a deep overnight setback can trigger the expensive backup heat. Smaller, gradual schedule changes keep the efficient compressor doing the work.

Get these two right and a smart thermostat's savings on a heat pump can comfortably exceed the ENERGY STAR average. Our savings guide breaks down the economics.

Heat-pump thermostat mistakes to avoid

• Using "emergency heat" as a shortcut for warmth. It bypasses the efficient compressor entirely — reserve it for when the compressor actually fails.
• Ignoring your system's stages. A single-stage thermostat on a multi-stage heat pump leaves efficiency on the table; match the thermostat to your equipment.
• Skipping the compatibility check. Not every smart thermostat supports heat-pump backup, so confirm before you buy (see our compatibility guide).

How to choose for your heat pump

• Want the most control over backup heat? ecobee, for its outdoor-temperature aux lockout.
• Want it fully automatic? Nest Learning.
• Want the best value with wide compatibility? Honeywell X7S.
• Want a touchscreen and a room sensor in the box? Sensi Touch 2.

Whatever you pick, confirm your exact system type first — single- vs multi-stage, and whether you have electric backup. Our HVAC compatibility guide walks through identifying it, and C-wire explained covers the wiring.

Frequently asked questions

Do all smart thermostats work with heat pumps? No. Many basic models don't properly handle auxiliary or emergency heat. Every thermostat in this guide does — that's why it's a curated list rather than the whole category.

What is auxiliary heat lockout, and why does it matter? It's a temperature threshold below which your backup heat is allowed to run. Setting it well stops expensive electric backup from firing on mildly cool days, which is where most heat-pump savings come from. ecobee's outdoor-temperature lockout is the most flexible here.

Will a smart thermostat lower my heat-pump bills? Yes — typically the ENERGY STAR average of around 8% / $50 a year, and potentially more if your old thermostat was running backup heat unnecessarily. See do smart thermostats save money?

Do I need a professional to install one on a heat pump? Usually not for single-stage systems — they're DIY-friendly with app guidance. Complex multi-stage heat pumps (especially with Nest) can benefit from professional setup. Our installation guide helps you decide.

The bottom line

For most heat-pump homes, the ecobee SmartThermostat is the best choice thanks to its outdoor-temperature auxiliary-heat lockout and all-around capability. Prefer automatic over adjustable? The Nest Learning Thermostat handles the switchover for you. Watching the budget? The Honeywell X7S covers nearly every heat pump with backup at a lower price. Start by confirming your system's stages and backup type — then head back to our complete smart thermostat buyer's guide to see how these stack up against the wider field.