Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
ecobee vs SONOFF
What sets them apart
| Compare |  ecobee |  SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $139.99 | €6.16 |
| Hub required | No | YesHas it |
| Warranty | 3 yearsHigher | 2 years |
| Markets | US, CA | AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, GB, US |
| Matter certified | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Local control | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Subscription per month | $5 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Energy reporting (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- SONOFF scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Hub required: only SONOFF.
- Warranty is higher at ecobee: 3 years vs 2 years.
- Support channels: only ecobee offers Phone.
- Support channels: only SONOFF offers Email.
- SONOFF is available in 27 more countries.
- Device types: only SONOFF offers Trv, Lighting, Plug.
- Ecosystems: only SONOFF offers Matter.
- Markets: only ecobee offers CA.
- Markets: only SONOFF offers AT, BE, BG.
Our verdict on each
ecobee
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.
SONOFF
SONOFF suits people building a wired or Zigbee home on a tight budget who want cameras and climate gear that keep working without a subscription. Entry costs start at €6.16, the range is Matter certified, and local storage holds recordings for 90 days. The catch is support, which runs on email and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | ecobee | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Entry price of $139.99 ranks 41 of 54 brands, so cost sits mid field. | 9.9HigherEntry price runs €6.16 and a camera sits at €20.47, with monitoring and contracts at 0 months, well under the €61.38 typical band. |
| Offer | 8.9Free Core plan covers detection and door or window alerts; the paid tier at $5 a month adds monitoring. | 9.0HigherFree features cover local AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP, and energy reporting is included. |
| Trust | 9.5HigherLegal entity ecobee Technologies ULC in CA, founded 2007, support on phone and help centre, monitoring in US and CA. | 9.12 years of cover, local storage as standard, and support limited to email and help centre, which is thinner than most rivals. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | ecobee | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 18 of 83 | 34 of 83 |
| Home alarm systems | 11 of 35 | 15 of 35 |
| Smart thermostats | 6 of 24 | 9 of 24 |
Where these facts come from
ecobee
- ecobee.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
SONOFF
- sonoff.tech: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ecobee | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Sensor | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Smartthings | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more |
| Legal entity | ecobee Technologies ULC | Shenzhen Sonoff Technologies Co.,Ltd |
| Headquarters | Canada | China |
| Founded | 2007 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Home security
| Fact | ecobee | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | €20.47 |
| Monitoring per month | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | 0 months |
| Products | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbellCovers more | Camera, Alarm |
| Professional monitoring | YesHas it | No |
| Local storage | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Pricing model | Diy, MonitoredCovers more | Diy |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Free features | Free Core plan with security devices: motion and person detection, door or window open/close alerts | 1080P live view, free motion detection push alerts, local microSD (TF) recording up to 128GB, two-way audio, sleep mode, privacy zones and RTSP; CAM-C44HE adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee |
| Top resolution | Not confirmed | 4k |
| Power source | Wired | Wired |
| Recording retention | 30 days | 90 daysHigher |
| Two-factor sign-in | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
| Monitoring countries | United States, Canada | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ecobee | SONOFF | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription per month | $5highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Warranty | 3 yearsabove the median | 2 yearsat the median | 2 years |
Median across 34 listed brands.
Pros and cons
ecobee
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.
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.
SONOFF
Pros
- Matter certified gear across thermostat, trv and lighting, covering matter, thread and zigbee so it fits most existing setups
- Entry prices from €6.16 and cameras from €20.47
- Free features include local AI detection, security modes, privacy zones and RTSP with no monthly fee
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alarms stay self-served
- A hub is required for the Zigbee thermostat, adding cost to a heating setup
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone or live chat line
Who each suits
ecobee
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.
SONOFF
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who already run a Matter or Zigbee home
- People who want camera recording on a card rather than a cloud subscription
- Builders covering lighting, plugs, sensors, blinds and climate from one maker
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants professional alarm monitoring, which Sonoff does not sell
- Households on Z-Wave, a protocol outside the matter, thread and zigbee list
- Buyers who want phone or chat support, since email and help centre is the limit
Current offers
ecobee
Current offer
Discount code
$20 off your next purchase with newsletter signup: $20 USD
New customers only; promotional code sent by email after form submit; cannot be combined with other offers; cannot apply to prior purchases
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Free trial
1 month free Smart Security + Professional Monitoring: 1 month
Offered during system setup; no contracts, no credit card required; 24/7 pro monitoring not available in Calgary, AB
Source, checked September 30, 2026
SONOFF
Current offer
Discount code
10% OFF your first order for newsletter subscribers: 10% off first order
Email newsletter signup; valid for 30 days; one-time use per customer; cannot be combined with other offers
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ecobee | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
8 of 30 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
ecobee
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.
SONOFF
What does SONOFF hardware cost to get started?+
Entry prices run €6.16 across the range, and a security camera starts at €20.47. There is no separate hardware bundle to buy, so the outlay is the device itself plus a hub if the product needs one.
Is there a monthly subscription or contract?+
No. Contract length is 0 months, and local card recording, AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP are listed as free features. The dual-lens hub camera adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee attached.