ecobee review
Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Our verdict
ecobee suits homeowners who want heating handled properly and security added on the side, rather than a full alarm shop. Entry pricing starts at $139.99, close to the site entry median, and the thermostat warranty runs 3 years, with sales limited to US and CA.
Key facts
- Best for
- Heating-led homes in US and CA that add a camera, video doorbell or alarm sensor to the same brand.
- Price from
- $139.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Hub required
- No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Energy reporting
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Subscription per month
- $5 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Warranty
- 3 years (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Markets
- US, CA (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- ecobee Technologies ULC (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Canada (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2007 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Device types
- Thermostat, Sensor
- Ecosystems
- Alexa, Google, Homekit, Smartthings
- Official website
- ecobee.com
Home security
- Price
- $99.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Monitoring per month
- $5 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Minimum contract
- 0 months (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- Alarm, Camera, Video-doorbell (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Professional monitoring
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Money-back period
- 30 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Cloud plan per month
- $5 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Free features
- Free Core plan with security devices: motion and person detection, door or window open/close alerts (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Recording retention
- 30 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Two-factor sign-in
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Installation required
- No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Monitoring countries
- United States, Canada (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- ecobee Technologies ULC (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Canada (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2007 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Diy, Monitored
- Power source
- Wired
- Ecosystems
- Alexa, Google, Homekit, Smartthings
Pros and cons
Pros
- Entry pricing from $139.99 sits close to the site entry median of €127.49, so heating control is not a premium bet.
- No hub is required, so there is no extra box to buy, and energy reporting comes with the smart thermostats.
- The thermostat warranty runs 3 years, with a 30 day money back period behind the purchase.
- The thermostats and sensors work with alexa, google and homekit, so voice assistants, HomeKit and SmartThings homes are all covered.
- The security plan carries no minimum term, with a contract length of 0 months, and professional monitoring is offered on top.
Cons
- The security side is a running cost: the paid plan is $5 a month, and professional monitoring only sits on that tier.
- The video doorbell is wired, so it needs a cable run at the front door rather than a battery you swap yourself.
- Recorded video is kept for 30 days, a short window for reviewing anything older.
- The range is narrow next to Aqara, whose device list covers hub, sensor and lighting against ecobee's thermostat and sensor.
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a thermostat as the anchor and a camera, video doorbell or alarm sensor added to the same brand later.
- Homes that already run alexa, google and homekit and want heating data in the same place as everything else.
- People who want professional monitoring without a long agreement, since the contract length is 0 months.
Who should look elsewhere
- Full home device shoppers, since Aqara's range covers hub, sensor and lighting while ecobee's device types are thermostat and sensor.
- Buyers chasing lighting and blinds control as the main event: Lutron's device list runs lighting, blinds and thermostat, well beyond a heating brand.
- Budget builders who want a hub, heating valve and blinds under one roof, which is what SONOFF lists in thermostat, trv and lighting.
Core features
No hub is required, so the hardware runs on its own and there is no bridge to buy or pair before you start. Energy reporting comes with the smart thermostats, so household energy use shows up in the software rather than staying on the meter. The thermostat warranty runs 3 years. That is the shape of the offer: comfort and energy data, not a wide device catalogue.
Plans and prices
Hardware starts at $139.99, close to the site's entry median of €127.49, so the thermostat side is priced like the rest of the field. The security side works differently, because the paid plan runs $5 a month and that monthly figure is what brings professional monitoring and recorded video. Buyers who only want heating pay the hardware price upfront and stop there. Buyers who want a camera, doorbell and sensors on a plan are signing up for a running cost from the outset.
The company behind it
The company behind the brand is ecobee Technologies ULC, headquartered in Canada and founded 2007, so it has a long record in connected home hardware. Support runs on phone and help centre, which is phone and help centre. That is the whole support model, and it suits buyers who would rather call than chat.
How ecobee compares
- 8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 9.1- 8.8 vs 8.5
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 8.9
8.8 vs 9.0- 8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.4Arno
- 8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 8.7- 8.8 vs 9.2
- 8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 8.7BlazeVideo DE
Where ecobee is available
- Available
- Canada, United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get started with ecobee?+
Hardware starts at $139.99, which puts ecobee close to the site entry median of €127.49. That covers the equipment. Anything on the security side, monitoring included, is billed separately each month. A 30 day money back period covers the hardware purchase if the fit turns out wrong.
Do I have to pay a subscription to use the security devices?+
There is a free Core plan that covers motion and person detection along with door or window open and close alerts, so the basics cost nothing to run. Paying $5 a month moves you onto the plan that adds professional monitoring and stored video history. The choice is how much of the security side you want switched on.
Is there a minimum contract on the ecobee security plan?+
There is no minimum term here: the contract length on the security plans is 0 months, so you are not tied into a long agreement. You can stop the plan and keep the hardware. Professional monitoring is offered, and it runs in US and CA.
Which countries can I buy and use ecobee in?+
Devices are sold in US and CA, and professional monitoring covers US and CA, so hardware availability and monitoring reach line up. Buyers outside those markets get neither the devices nor the monitoring plan, which keeps this a North American choice. The security side covers diy and monitored setups, so self-installed and monitored both work.
Will ecobee work with my existing smart home setup?+
The thermostats and sensors work with alexa, google and homekit, covering the common voice assistants plus HomeKit and SmartThings. No hub is required for the thermostat side, so the kit does not need a bridge before it starts. Ecobee stays a focused range, so plan the security additions before you order.
Do I need an installer or extra wiring for the ecobee doorbell?+
Installation is not required, so the security kit is set up by the buyer rather than a fitter. The video doorbell is the exception on cabling: its power is listed as wired, so it needs a wired supply at the door. Sort that out before ordering if the front door has no existing cable.
How much video history is kept, and how is the account protected?+
Recorded video on the security plans is kept for 30 days, which is a short window for anyone who wants to go back and check an old delivery. That makes the stored copy a rolling buffer rather than long term storage. Account sign in also needs an extra verification step, so a stolen password is harder to use.
What do the warranty and returns look like?+
Thermostats carry a 3 year warranty, and there is a 30 day money back period on purchases. Claims run through the phone and help centre support routes, so a hardware problem is handled by phone or through the help centre rather than a long email chain.
Sources
- ecobee.com/en-us checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Money-back period, Monitoring countries, Price
“Return it for free within 30 days for a full refund.”
- ecobee.com/en-us/about checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Support channels, Two-factor sign-in
“In 2007, Stuart Lombard made a personal goal to reduce his environmental footprint.”
- ecobee.com/en-us/all-products checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Device types, Markets, Price from
“Find the perfect fit for your home with thermostats, cameras, and sensors that work better together.”
- ecobee.com/en-us/privacy-policy checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“ecobee Technologies ULC, ecobee Ltd., and our respective, subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, successors, and assignees”
- ecobee.com/en-us/smart-doorbell-camera-wired checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Power source
“Smart Doorbell Camera (wired) - built without batteries so it can handle extreme temperatures”
- ecobee.com/en-us/smart-home checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Ecosystems
“ecobee devices work in harmony with all of your favourite smart home platforms, so you can control your home, your way”
- ecobee.com/en-us/smart-security checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Installation required, Pricing model, Products, Subscription per month
“2. Set up in the app - Download the ecobee app on the App Store or Google Play.”
- ecobee.com/en-us/smart-security/professional-monitoring checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Monitoring per month, Professional monitoring
“No contracts - No hidden fees - Add-ons from $5/mo.”
- ecobee.com/en-us/smart-security/security-plans checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Cloud plan per month, Minimum contract, Free features, Recording retention
“Plus - $5/month or $50/year - 30-day event history for 1 camera”
- ecobee.com/en-us/smart-thermostats checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Energy reporting, Hub required, Warranty
“Home Energy Reports give you clear insights into energy use, temperature and humidity, and system runtime”
Compiled from 10 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Protocols, Matter certified, Local control.
ecobee
Heating-led homes in US and CA that add a camera, video doorbell or alarm sensor to the same brand.