Sensi Smart Thermostat Review: Is It Worth It?

Sensi thermostats cost less than most ecobee and Nest models, fit where your old thermostat was, and keep everything in one simple app. This Sensi thermostat review covers the whole current lineup (the Sensi Lite, the Sensi smart thermostat and the Sensi Touch 2), what each one does well, where they fall short, and how Sensi compares with ecobee.

The short answer: a Sensi is worth it if you use Alexa, Google Home or SmartThings and want a simple thermostat with a good app, solid scheduling and no learning features to fight with. It isn’t the right choice if you use Apple Home, want Matter, or want a thermostat that adjusts itself based on your habits. If Alexa is your main platform, our guide to the best Alexa thermostats compares the Sensi Touch 2 with ecobee, Amazon and Matter options.

Sensi Thermostats at a Glance

Sensi is made by Copeland (the brand used to belong to Emerson), which makes HVAC compressors and controls. The current lineup has three thermostats:

	Sensi Smart Thermostat	Sensi Touch 2	Sensi Lite
Price	~$130	~$189	~$80
Display	LED display	4.3-inch color touchscreen	2.25-inch LED display
C wire	Not needed on most systems	Required on every system	Not needed on most systems
Systems	Up to 2 heat/2 cool; heat pump up to 4 heat/2 cool	Up to 2 heat/2 cool; heat pump up to 4 heat/2 cool	2 heat/1 cool or 1 heat/2 cool; heat pump up to 2 heat/1 cool
Wi-Fi	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz and 5 GHz	2.4 GHz
Room sensors	No	Yes, up to 15	No
Humidifier/dehumidifier control	Yes	Yes	No
Works with	Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings	Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings	Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings
Warranty	3 years	3 years	3 years

For most homes, the Sensi smart thermostat is the one to look at first: it works on more systems than the Lite and doesn’t need a C wire on most of them. The Sensi Touch 2 is the upgrade for a touchscreen and room sensors, and the Lite is the budget option for a simple system.

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What Sensi Does Well

The app is simple, and setup is too. The Sensi app walks you through the install, including a wiring check and help identifying your wires, and then handles schedules, remote control and settings. Reviewed called the Touch 2’s menus intuitive and its setup smooth. Every Sensi thermostat also fits the footprint of a traditional thermostat, so you usually don’t have to patch or paint the wall.

The Sensi smart and the Lite don’t need a C wire on most systems. On a conventional furnace with air conditioning, both can run without a C wire, with two AA batteries as backup. Sensi says heat-only, cool-only and heat pump systems do need a C wire. If you don’t have one, our C-wire adapter guide explains the options.

The Sensi smart thermostat works with more systems than its price suggests. It handles up to two stages of heat and two of cooling on a conventional system, and up to four heat stages and two cooling stages on a heat pump (two compressor stages plus two stages of auxiliary heat). The Touch 2 matches it. That covers most two-stage furnaces and heat pumps with backup heat. For more on what heat pump owners need, see our guide to the best thermostats for heat pumps.

It can control a humidifier or dehumidifier. The Sensi smart thermostat and the Touch 2 both support humidifier and dehumidifier control, a feature ecobee keeps for its more expensive models. Our guide to thermostats with humidity control explains how the wiring works.

The alerts and reports are useful. Sensi sends email and app alerts when the temperature or humidity goes out of the range you set, or when your heating or cooling stops working. The app shows daily, weekly and monthly runtime for heating, cooling and the fan, and you get a monthly usage report by email. Keypad lockout, geofencing and a schedule for each day of the week are on every model. Our thermostat lock box guide covers keypad lockout and the other ways to stop people changing the settings.

Sensi takes a clear position on privacy. Sensi says it doesn’t sell your personal data and doesn’t use your thermostat activity for targeting or advertising. Utility programs that need more data are optional.

The warranty is long. Every current Sensi thermostat, and the Room Sensor, comes with a three-year warranty, the same as ecobee and longer than the one year on the Nest Thermostat. All three thermostats are ENERGY STAR certified, and Sensi says they save about 23% on HVAC energy, which depends on how you use them. Our article on whether smart thermostats save money explains what to expect.

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Where Sensi Falls Short

It doesn’t work with Apple Home. Sensi says the Sensi smart thermostat, the Sensi Touch 2 and the Sensi Lite aren’t HomeKit compatible, and it can’t add HomeKit through a firmware update. Only the older Sensi Touch (ST75) and some older Sensi smart thermostat units worked with HomeKit, and Sensi’s HomeKit compatibility page explains how to check an older unit. If you use Apple Home, our guide to the best HomeKit thermostats lists the ones that work today.

Sensi doesn’t list Matter support. None of the three current models support Matter, so you can’t use Matter to bring one into Apple Home or another platform.

There’s no learning feature. Sensi runs on your schedule and on geofencing, which uses your phone’s location to adjust the temperature when you leave and come back. It doesn’t learn your habits like a Nest, and it doesn’t detect occupancy like an ecobee. Some people prefer this, because the thermostat only does what you set. For other schedule-first models, from ecobee and Nest to a no-Wi-Fi Honeywell, see our guide to the best programmable thermostats.

The Touch 2 needs a C wire. Unlike the other two models, the Sensi Touch 2 needs a C wire on every system. Sensi sells a C-Wire Kit for homes without one.

Two models are 2.4 GHz only. The Sensi smart thermostat and the Lite only connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The Touch 2 works on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks.

Smaller limits worth knowing:

• Only the Touch 2 works with Sensi’s Room Sensors.
• The Lite can’t control a humidifier or dehumidifier, and its heat pump support stops at one compressor stage plus one stage of backup heat.
• The Sensi smart thermostat and the Lite don’t have touchscreens, so you do most of the setup in the app.

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Sensi vs ecobee

The closest ecobee to a Sensi is the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential, ecobee’s entry model. Here’s how it compares with the Sensi smart thermostat and the Sensi Touch 2.

	Sensi Smart Thermostat	Sensi Touch 2	ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential
Price	~$130	~$189	~$140
Works with	Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings	Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings	Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home
Display	LED display	Color touchscreen	Color touchscreen
C wire	Not needed on most systems	Required	Power Extender Kit (sold separately) if you don’t have one
Room sensors	No	Sensi Room Sensors, temperature and humidity	ecobee SmartSensors, temperature and occupancy
Humidifier/dehumidifier control	Yes	Yes	No
Warranty	3 years	3 years	3 years

The Sensi vs ecobee choice mostly comes down to Apple Home. The ecobee Essential works with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home, so it suits a home where someone uses an iPhone and Siri. Its SmartSensors also detect whether anyone is in the room, which a Sensi Room Sensor doesn’t do.

Sensi wins on wiring and HVAC features. The Sensi smart thermostat runs without a C wire on most systems and controls a humidifier or dehumidifier, which the Essential can’t. It also costs a little less. For the rest of the ecobee lineup, see our ecobee Essential vs Enhanced vs Premium comparison.

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Who Should Buy a Sensi

If you’re still deciding after this Sensi thermostat review, here’s the short version.

Buy a Sensi thermostat if:

• Your home uses Alexa, Google Home or SmartThings
• You want a simple app and a schedule you control, without learning features
• You have a two-stage system, a heat pump with backup heat, or a humidifier you want to control
• You don’t have a C wire and have a conventional furnace with air conditioning (Sensi smart or Lite)

Skip it if:

• Anyone in your home uses Apple Home
• You want Matter, occupancy sensing or a thermostat that learns your habits
• You want room sensors but don’t have a C wire (the Touch 2 needs one)

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The Sensi Thermostats and an Alternative

Sensi Smart Thermostat — Best for Most Homes

The Sensi to buy for most homes: it works with more systems than the Lite and doesn’t need a C wire on a conventional furnace and air conditioner.

Best for: Alexa and Google Home users with a conventional or heat pump system who want a simple, reliable thermostat.

What stands out in real use

This is Sensi’s universal model. It handles two-stage furnaces and air conditioners, heat pumps with up to two stages of backup heat, and humidifiers or dehumidifiers, all at a lower price than the Touch 2. It has a traditional thermostat look, so it covers the outline of most old thermostats. Amazon’s listing is sold by third-party sellers right now, so this button goes to Sensi’s own product page, which lists the retailers that sell it.

Key specs

• Works with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings
• LED display; schedules, geofencing and keypad lockout
• Up to 2 heat/2 cool, or 4 heat/2 cool on a heat pump
• Humidifier and dehumidifier control
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, three-year warranty

Pros

• No C wire needed on most conventional systems
• Supports multi-stage systems and heat pumps with backup heat
• Humidifier and dehumidifier control
• Three-year warranty

Cons

• No Apple Home or Matter
• No touchscreen
• Doesn’t work with Sensi Room Sensors

Installation and compatibility notes

Heat-only, cool-only and heat pump systems need a C wire. Turn off power to the HVAC system at the breaker before you start, and use the Sensi app’s compatibility check first. Our smart thermostat installation guide covers the basics if you haven’t done it before.

Price: ~$130

Sensi Touch 2 — Best With Room Sensors

Sensi’s top model, with a color touchscreen and support for room sensors.

Best for: Homes with hot or cold rooms that already have a C wire.

What stands out in real use

The Sensi Touch 2 is the only Sensi that works with Room Sensors, up to 15 of them, which report the temperature and humidity in their rooms. You can average their readings to even out hot and cold spots. It’s also the only Sensi with 5 GHz Wi-Fi and the only one that works with Sensi’s Outdoor Sensor, which helps a heat pump manage when backup heat comes on. Reviewed gave it an Editors’ Choice and praised its touchscreen and temperature control.

Key specs

• 4.3-inch color touchscreen
• Works with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings
• Up to 15 Sensi Room Sensors; Outdoor Sensor support
• Up to 2 heat/2 cool, or 4 heat/2 cool on a heat pump
• 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, three-year warranty

Pros

• Room sensors for hot and cold spots
• Clear touchscreen
• Humidifier and dehumidifier control
• Works on 5 GHz Wi-Fi

Cons

• C wire required on every system
• Room sensors cost extra
• No Apple Home or Matter

Installation and compatibility notes

Check for a C wire before you buy. If you don’t have one, Sensi sells a C-Wire Kit for the Touch 2. Our guide to the best thermostats with remote sensors compares the Touch 2 with ecobee and others.

Price: ~$189

Sensi Lite — Best Budget Option

The least expensive Sensi, for a simple heating and cooling system.

Best for: Single-stage systems and budget upgrades from an old programmable thermostat.

What stands out in real use

The Lite has the same app, schedules, geofencing, alerts and usage reports as the other models, in a smaller body with a 2.25-inch LED display. It comes in black or white. However, it doesn’t control humidifiers or dehumidifiers, and Reviewed noted that many settings are only in the app.

Key specs

• 2.25-inch LED display, black or white
• Works with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings
• 2 heat/1 cool or 1 heat/2 cool, or 2 heat/1 cool on a heat pump
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, three-year warranty

Pros

• Lowest price in the Sensi lineup
• No C wire needed on most conventional systems
• Same app features as the more expensive models

Cons

• No humidifier or dehumidifier control
• Limited support for multi-stage systems
• No Apple Home or Matter

Installation and compatibility notes

Like the Sensi smart thermostat, it needs a C wire on heat-only, cool-only and heat pump systems. For other options at this price, see our guide to the best smart thermostats under $100.

Price: ~$80

Sensi Room Sensor — Best Add-On for the Touch 2

The room sensor for the Sensi Touch 2, for rooms that run warmer or cooler than the thermostat’s hallway.

Best for: Sensi Touch 2 owners with a bedroom or office that’s always too hot or too cold.

What stands out in real use

Each sensor reports its room’s temperature and humidity to the Touch 2, and you can average several readings or focus on the room that matters. It runs on two AAA batteries, which Sensi says last up to two years, and it mounts on a wall or sits on the included stand.

Key specs

• Temperature and humidity sensing
• Works only with the Sensi Touch 2
• Up to 15 per thermostat
• Two AAA batteries, three-year warranty

Pros

• Evens out hot and cold spots
• Wall mount or stand included
• Long battery life

Cons

• Doesn’t work with the Sensi smart thermostat or the Lite
• Doesn’t detect occupancy

Installation and compatibility notes

Pair it with the Touch 2 in the Sensi app, then mount it on a wall or set it on its stand in the room you want to track. It won’t do anything for the Sensi smart thermostat or the Lite, so check which model you have first.

Price: ~$46

ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential — Best for Apple Home

The better choice if anyone in your home uses Apple Home.

Best for: Homes that use Apple Home, or a mix of Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home.

What stands out in real use

The Essential works with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home, so nobody in the house is left out. It has a full-color touchscreen and works with ecobee SmartSensors, which detect occupancy as well as temperature. Amazon’s listing for it is sold by third-party sellers right now, so this button goes to ecobee’s own store.

Key specs

• Works with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home
• Full-color touchscreen
• Works with ecobee SmartSensors (sold separately)
• Three-year warranty

Pros

• Works with all three major platforms
• Occupancy sensing with SmartSensors
• Three-year warranty

Cons

• No humidifier or dehumidifier control
• The Power Extender Kit costs extra if you don’t have a C wire
• Doesn’t support Matter

Installation and compatibility notes

The Essential ships with just the thermostat. If you don’t have a C wire, ecobee sells the Power Extender Kit separately for $24.99. Use ecobee’s compatibility checker if you have a heat pump or a two-stage system.

Price: ~$140

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Is the Sensi Smart Thermostat Worth It?

Yes, for the right home. The result of this Sensi thermostat review is simple: if you use Alexa, Google Home or SmartThings and want a thermostat that does what you tell it, the Sensi smart thermostat is good value, with wide system support, humidity control, no C wire on most systems and a three-year warranty. Get the Sensi Touch 2 if you want room sensors and have a C wire, and the Lite if you have a simple system and want the lowest price. If anyone in your home uses Apple Home, the ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is the better buy. For more options, see our guide to the best smart thermostats.