Owners like the Google Nest Thermostat's mirror look, low price, and app-based scheduling that can trim energy bills, but the experience is dragged down by a heavy stream of Wi-Fi reliability complaints, with many units disconnecting from the network or refusing to reconnect, frequently within the first year or two. Add in missing room-sensor and Home/Away features compared to the Learning model, common HVAC and C-wire compatibility headaches, and frustrating support, and a large share of owners would not buy it again.
What 375 owners say
1,642 comments reviewed · scored on the 375 clearest verdicts
37%
Recommend
137 owners
15%
Neutral
58 owners
48%
Don't recommend
180 owners
5 owners report specific problemsin troubleshooting threads (setup, firmware, or hardware faults). These are capped in the score above so a problem-report thread can't dominate it — read them under the Doesn't recommend filter below.
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
37%
375
What owners like
Remote temperature control and scheduling through the app is genuinely convenient when it works · 44 · 12%
Real energy and bill savings reported by owners who set up schedules and eco/away behavior · 38 · 10%
Sleek, minimal mirror finish that owners find attractive on the wall, at a budget-friendly price · 31 · 8%
Simple DIY installation for many systems, often with no C-wire required · 27 · 7%
Integrates with Google Home, voice assistants, and (via Matter) other smart-home ecosystems · 22 · 6%
What owners flag
Wi-Fi and connectivity failures are the dominant complaint, with many units losing or refusing connection, often within the first year or two and sometimes just outside warranty · 58 · 15%
HVAC compatibility and C-wire problems, including misdetected wiring, battery drain, and incompatibility with multi-stage, zoned, hybrid, or heat-pump systems · 41 · 11%
Erratic HVAC behavior such as short-cycling, unwanted eco-mode switching, wrong temperature readings, and self-adjusting the schedule · 36 · 10%
Missing features versus the pricier Learning model, including no room/temperature sensor support and weak Home/Away presence detection · 33 · 9%
Clunky Google Home app, lost Nest-app features, and poor, slow customer support · 30 · 8%
Top quotes, sourced
1,642 reviewed · 346 shown
Sentiment
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Reddit▲ recommend
“I just switched out my Honeywell for a Google nest thermostat that the electric company was offering for free and it works great.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“I moved into a house with google nest thermostats and now googles changing my temperature and it drives me crazy. I almost ripped the damn thing off the wall”
Reddit— neutral
“I have a Google Nest thermostat and a relatively modern home (1980s but upgraded since) and I see virtually no savings at all after a few months. I expected this and only purchased the Nest for voice and remote control.”
Reddit— neutral
“I got the Google Nest thermostat (2020, mirrored finish, the "cheap" one) sent to by Ohm. I needed to add a C wire as my wall heater wasn't able to provide the 24v needed.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“There were only two options, and if you pick the wrong one, you'll blow hot air instead of cold (and vice versa).”
Reddit▲ recommend
“Google nest thermostat is SUPER useful for energy savings. Actually have the super minimalist cheap version, very aesthetic”
Reddit▲ recommend
“Got a free Nest just for signing up and linking PGE account (surprisingly easy to install and use)”
Reddit— neutral
“Google Nest thermostats are very longwinded to set up and you’d need the residents username/passwords to fully configure them.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Having a Google nest thermostat is like having a passive aggressive roommate who turns the thermostat up because “you weren’t home!””
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Got a google nest thermostat and the app is junk, changing settings is awful, the touch sensitivity on the thermostat itself is so unusable, I’m tossing it as soon as I can get a Wyze one”
Reddit▲ recommend
“My Google Nest Thermostat has been installed and it's pretty slick looking.”
Reddit— neutral
“Google Nest thermostat switches between the heat pump and gas furnace based on the custom temp setting”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“It'll let temps drift out of range until I walk by, then it lights up and suddenly turns on the heat or a/c to get back into range.”
Reddit— neutral
“google nest thermostat seems to work fine.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“have notified that it’s significantly more accurate and not causing the furnace to kick on and off as much, it replaced a 10 year old Honeywell digital thermostat.”
Reddit— neutral
“I have a Google Nest thermostat linked to my Alexa, I named it ‘Temperature’ and can set by saying “Set Temperature to x degrees” and have morning and night routines.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“bought a Google Nest Thermostat. I don't plan on hooking it up to the net (not real interested in IoTs), but I really like the interface.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Google Nest thermostat will not save you money, and has only one feature that is even uncommon among "smart" thermostats - it auto-detects equipment based on your wiring and simplifies the setup and programming process.”
Reddit— neutral
“my Google nest thermostat was clearly on my network. It was not talking to the Google home servers so I just powercycled it and magically it worked again”
Reddit▲ recommend
“Holy cow is it nice to not have to walk downstairs in the middle of the night to change the thermostat because you're sweating through your pajamas. With the simple adjustment from the app on your phone you can raise or lower it to whatever you like.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“While they were pretty easy to install, the downstairs will not hook up to my phone. And to get tech help is pretty much non existent.”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Nest thermostats and cameras are very well known to have connectivity issues; especially with Netgear routers.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“Definitely would recommend it to others and if I had another house I’d put them on again.”
Reddit— neutral
“J'ai essayé de mettre un Google nest thermostat, très semblable au ecobee, et mon système électrique n'était pas compatible (voltage trop haut).”
