Buying guide

Best Smart Thermostats for Heat Pumps UK (2026 Guide)

Compare the best smart thermostats and heating controls for UK heat pump homes. We look at compatibility, zoning, app control, installation and which systems are best suited to efficient low-temperature, steady heating.

David Tooth, founder and editor of Heat Pump Guide UK
Written by David Tooth Independent UK heat pump researcher

Updated Editorial policy About us

Quick answer: which smart thermostat is best for a heat pump?

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Our Best Overall choice for most homeowners is the tado° Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen). It combines explicit heat-pump compatibility with a strong app, Matter and Thread support, suitable control options and excellent expansion with smart radiator thermostats.

Best Overall
tado Smart Thermostat X 2nd gen

tado° Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen)

Explicit heat-pump compatibility and excellent zoning with tado° X TRVs. The best balance for most homeowners.

Read our notes
Best for Advanced Zoning
Honeywell Home evohome smart heating control system

Honeywell Home evohome

Purpose-configurable for heat pumps, with up to 12 zones. The strongest specialist zoning choice.

Read our notes
Best Value Multi-Room
Drayton Wiser smart heating thermostat

Drayton Wiser

Dedicated heat-pump guidance and very good zoning. An excellent value ecosystem.

Read our notes
Best for Underfloor Heating
IMI Heatmiser neoStat V3 smart thermostat

Heatmiser neoStat V3

Excellent zoning, best judged as part of the complete system. Strong for complex heating layouts.

Read our notes
Best Smart-Home Experience
Google Nest Learning Thermostat UK

Google Nest Learning Thermostat

Suitable for compatible installations, with limited zoning. Polished but less flexible.

Read our notes
Best if You Already Use Hive
Hive smart thermostat UK

Hive Thermostat

Simple on/off control on suitable systems, good with Hive TRVs. Convenient rather than efficiency-led.

Read our notes

Do not replace your heat pump’s own controls without checking first. A third-party thermostat normally controls room demand; it does not necessarily replace the heat pump manufacturer’s weather compensation, flow-temperature control, hot-water management or system protection. Always check the exact heat pump model and control arrangement before buying. If you are still choosing between thermostats, room controls and zoning, read how smart heating controls fit together.

Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, including Amazon and selected manufacturer links. If you buy through one of these links, Heat Pump Guide UK may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Product rankings are based on suitability and research, not commission rates.

How we chose these thermostats

Recommendations in this guide are based on manufacturer compatibility information, control capability, zoning options, smart-home usability and suitability for the way heat pumps operate. Affiliate relationships do not determine product rankings.

Read our editorial policy

  • Manufacturer heat-pump compatibility information
  • Control method: relay, OpenTherm or manufacturer interface
  • Zoning and room-by-room options
  • App and smart-home usability
  • Suitability for steady, low-temperature operation
  • Whole-ecosystem cost, not just the first box

Best smart thermostats for heat pumps: our 2026 picks

Each pick below explains who it suits, what it does well and what to check before buying for a heat-pump home.

tado Wired Smart Thermostat X 2nd gen Starter Kit with Bridge X
Best Overall

1. tado° Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen)

Best for: homeowners wanting a modern, expandable smart-heating system with explicit support for compatible boilers, heat pumps and water-based underfloor heating.

The second-generation tado° Smart Thermostat X improves the physical thermostat while retaining the wider tado° X ecosystem. The wired thermostat is slimmer at 17.8mm, uses a rechargeable USB-C battery and includes a redesigned LED matrix display, light ring and physical controls. More importantly for this comparison, tado° states that the wired model supports compatible boilers, heat pumps and water-based underfloor heating using Relay or OpenTherm.

Key strengths

  • Explicit heat-pump compatibility on suitable installations
  • Relay and OpenTherm support on the wired model
  • Matter and Thread smart-home connectivity
  • Strong app and scheduling
  • Excellent expansion with tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat X
  • Multiple purchase configurations for different installations
  • Optional advanced features through tado° AI Assist

Watch-outs

  • Compatibility does not mean it should automatically replace the heat pump manufacturer’s main controller
  • Weather compensation, hot-water control and compressor management may remain with the heat pump’s own controls
  • Choose the package to suit your installation, not the cheapest box

Why we recommend it: tado° currently offers one of the strongest combinations of mainstream usability, heating-system compatibility, smart-home connectivity and room-by-room expansion. It is easier to recommend to the average homeowner than some of the more specialist zoning systems below.

Which tado° Smart Thermostat X package should you buy?

The three UK packages are aimed at different installations. Choose according to your existing controls rather than simply buying the cheapest option.

tado Wireless Smart Thermostat X 2nd gen Starter Kit with Programmer
Wireless Starter Kit + Programmer

Best for: replacing wireless heating controls or a programmer, particularly where heating and cylinder hot-water control are required.

The UK Programmer connects to the heating appliance and supports Relay and OpenTherm. It can also manage hot-water scheduling on suitable cylinder systems. The included Wireless Receiver X acts as the Thread Border Router, so you do not need a separate Bridge X.

View Wireless + Programmer on Amazon
tado Wired Smart Thermostat X 2nd gen thermostat only
Wired Thermostat Only

Best for: existing tado° X users or homes that already have a compatible Thread Border Router.

This is the lowest-cost entry point, but the thermostat needs Thread connectivity to reach the internet and tado° app. You can use a Bridge X, tado° Heat Pump Optimizer X, Wireless Receiver X or certain compatible third-party Thread Border Routers.

View Wired Thermostat on Amazon
tado Wired Smart Thermostat X 2nd gen Starter Kit with Bridge X
Wired Starter Kit + Bridge X

Best for: first-time tado° X buyers replacing an existing wired thermostat.

This combines the wired 2nd-gen thermostat with Bridge X, giving a new installation the Thread connectivity required for app control. If you do not already have compatible Thread infrastructure, this is normally the more straightforward wired package to buy.

View Wired + Bridge X on Amazon

Our buying tip: The three packages are not good/better/best versions of the same product. Choose according to your installation. If you have a wired thermostat and are new to tado° X, the Bridge X starter kit is usually the obvious starting point. If you already have suitable Thread infrastructure, buy the thermostat alone. If you are replacing wireless heating controls or need the UK Programmer, choose the wireless starter kit.

Shop tado smart heating controls

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Honeywell Home evohome smart heating control system
Best for Advanced Zoning

2. Honeywell Home evohome

Best for: larger properties, complex radiator layouts, mixed radiator and underfloor-heating systems, and homeowners who want deeper room-by-room heat-pump control.

evohome is closer to a complete smart heating-control system than a simple wall thermostat. It can manage up to 12 heating or cooling zones and includes installer settings intended for heat-pump operation.

Key strengths

  • Explicit heat-pump support from Resideo
  • Up to 12 independently controlled zones
  • Heating and cooling capability
  • Radiator and wet underfloor-heating integration
  • App and touchscreen control
  • Strong option for larger and more technically complex homes

Watch-outs

  • Its complexity is an advantage in a larger property, but tado° is easier for the average homeowner
  • Most useful when room-by-room control is designed into the installation

Why we recommend it: evohome is one of the strongest choices if you are designing room-by-room control as part of the heat-pump installation rather than simply replacing one central wall thermostat.

Best for you if: you have a larger home, several heating zones or a mix of radiators and wet underfloor heating.

Drayton Wiser smart heating thermostat
Best Value Multi-Room System

3. Drayton Wiser

Best for: homeowners who want effective smart zoning and radiator control without moving into one of the more expensive ecosystems.

Wiser is particularly attractive as an expandable system. Wiser Smart Radiator Thermostats allow individual rooms to have different target temperatures, while the wider system can also support room thermostats and wet underfloor-heating control.

Key strengths

  • Good room-by-room control
  • Dedicated heat-pump guidance from Drayton
  • Strong Smart Radiator Thermostat ecosystem
  • Wet underfloor-heating support within the wider system
  • Good balance between cost and functionality

Watch-outs

  • Confirm compatibility with your exact heat pump and control arrangement
  • Radiator zoning should be part of the heat-pump design, not simply closing unused rooms

Why we recommend it: Wiser offers much of the practical zoning functionality most homeowners actually need without requiring the more involved setup of evohome.

Best for you if: you have radiators in several rooms and want a sensible, expandable smart-heating system at a more accessible cost than some premium alternatives.

IMI Heatmiser neoStat V3 smart thermostat
Best for Underfloor Heating

4. Heatmiser neoStat V3

Best for: multi-zone properties, wet underfloor heating and homes where individual wired room thermostats form part of the heating design.

Heatmiser is different from tado°, Nest or Hive. It makes most sense when the thermostat forms part of a properly designed zone-control system rather than simply replacing one central wall controller. The neoStat V3 supports programmable heating control, remote sensing, floor-temperature limiting and mesh networking when used within the wider neo ecosystem.

Key strengths

  • Excellent for multiple heating zones
  • Strong fit for wet underfloor-heating systems
  • Remote air and floor sensing options
  • Part of the expandable Heatmiser neo system
  • Good choice for extensions and mixed heating layouts

Watch-outs

  • Best judged as part of the complete system, not as a one-thermostat swap
  • Needs an installer-led zone-control strategy

Why we recommend it: a heat-pump home with several wet underfloor-heating zones has very different control requirements from a conventional single-zone radiator home. Heatmiser is particularly strong in that environment.

Best for you if: your installer is building a multi-zone or underfloor-heating control strategy rather than relying on one central thermostat.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat UK
Best Smart-Home Experience

5. Google Nest Learning Thermostat

Best for: simpler heat-pump installations where design, automation and day-to-day usability matter more than advanced zoning.

The UK Nest Learning Thermostat remains one of the most polished thermostats to use. The display, app and automatic scheduling are easy to understand, and suitable heat-pump installations can be controlled through the Nest Heat Link.

Key strengths

  • Excellent user interface
  • Strong Google smart-home integration
  • Learning and automatic scheduling features
  • Premium physical design

Watch-outs

  • Less capable for sophisticated whole-home zoning
  • The installer should confirm the Heat Link arrangement is appropriate

Why we recommend it: Nest remains a good option if you want a simple, polished control experience and the heat pump installer confirms that the Heat Link arrangement is appropriate.

Why it ranks below tado°, evohome and Wiser: those systems offer a clearer path to detailed room-by-room control.

Hive smart thermostat UK
Best if You Already Use Hive

6. Hive Thermostat

Best for: homeowners already invested in Hive who want familiar app-based space-heating control and whose heat pump supports third-party thermostat input.

Hive can control space heating on compatible heat pumps that accept third-party controls. However, its thermostat uses relatively simple on/off control, so it is important that the installer confirms this approach suits the heat pump design. Domestic hot water normally remains under the heat pump manufacturer’s own controller.

Key strengths

  • Very easy app control
  • Familiar ecosystem for existing Hive users
  • Can control space heating on suitable heat pumps
  • Hive Radiator Valves provide room-level adjustment

Watch-outs

  • Does not replace advanced manufacturer heat-pump controls
  • Simple on/off operation may not be ideal for every installation

Why we recommend it: if you already own Hive products, replacing the whole ecosystem may make little sense. But we would not choose Hive purely because it is the most familiar brand.

Best for you if: you already use Hive and your installer is satisfied that simple external room-demand control will work correctly alongside the heat pump’s own weather compensation and system controls.

How to choose a smart thermostat for a heat pump

Five checks that matter more than the brand on the box.

Start with the heat pump manufacturer’s controls

Before adding a third-party thermostat, establish what the heat pump’s own controller already does. Modern systems may use:

  • Weather compensation
  • Flow-temperature control
  • Domestic hot-water scheduling
  • Anti-legionella cycles
  • Compressor modulation
  • Heating and cooling changeover

You normally do not want a generic smart thermostat interfering with these functions.

Check whether the heat pump accepts third-party controls

Compatibility needs to be confirmed for the exact heat-pump model, not simply the brand. The relevant connection might be:

  • Volt-free relay
  • 230V switched demand
  • OpenTherm on compatible equipment
  • A proprietary manufacturer interface

Avoid unnecessary cycling

Heat pumps generally work most efficiently when delivering heat steadily at relatively low temperatures rather than repeatedly starting and stopping.

A thermostat should therefore complement the system design rather than constantly interrupt it.

Decide how much zoning you really need

A single-zone home may not benefit from an expensive multi-room system. A larger home with bedrooms, offices, extensions and underfloor-heating zones can be very different.

If zoning matters, compare our best smart TRVs for heat pumps as well as the main thermostat.

Consider the whole ecosystem cost

A modest difference in the price of the central thermostat becomes much less important if you later intend to buy several smart radiator valves, sensors, hubs and subscription features.

Compare the complete system you are likely to build, not just the first box.

Smart thermostat vs heat pump manufacturer controls

What each is usually responsible for in a heat-pump home.

Function Smart thermostat Heat pump controller
Room temperatureUsually yesUsually yes
App schedulingOften excellentVaries by manufacturer
Room-by-room zoningStrong on selected ecosystemsVaries
Weather compensationUsually not the main controllerOften yes
Flow-temperature controlUsually limitedUsually yes
Heat-pump hot waterOften limited or unavailableNormally yes
Compressor protection/controlNoYes

Important: In many homes, the right answer is to use the smart thermostat for comfort, scheduling or zoning while allowing the heat pump’s own controller to remain responsible for the technical operation of the system.

Our verdict

tado° Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen) is our Best Overall smart thermostat for most UK heat-pump homeowners. It wins because it offers the strongest balance of explicit heat-pump compatibility, app usability, smart-home support and straightforward expansion into room-by-room control.

Honeywell Home evohome is arguably the stronger system for a large or technically complex heat-pump property, while Drayton Wiser offers one of the best-value routes into smart zoning.

Heatmiser neoStat V3 is particularly attractive where wet underfloor heating and multiple fixed zones dominate the installation. Nest remains one of the easiest systems to use, while Hive makes most sense for homeowners already invested in the Hive ecosystem.

The thermostat is only one part of an efficient heating system. Flow temperature, weather compensation, radiator sizing, zoning and commissioning all matter.

See heat pump running costs

Are smart TRVs worth using with a heat pump?

They can be, particularly in larger homes where occupancy varies significantly between rooms. The most useful scenarios include:

  • Spare bedrooms that do not need the same temperature as living areas
  • Home offices used only during the week
  • Bedrooms that naturally stay warmer
  • Large homes with different occupancy patterns

However, aggressive zoning can reduce water volume and available heat-emitter capacity if the system was not designed around it. Smart TRVs should therefore be considered as part of the complete heat-pump design rather than simply closing every unused radiator.

Compare smart TRVs for heat pumps

Frequently asked questions

What is the best smart thermostat for a heat pump?

For most UK homeowners, we currently rate the tado° Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen) as the strongest all-round option. Honeywell Home evohome is particularly strong for advanced zoning, while Drayton Wiser offers good value for room-by-room radiator control.

Can any smart thermostat control a heat pump?

No. The heat pump must support the thermostat’s control method and the system must be configured appropriately. Always check the exact heat-pump model, wiring, control interface and manufacturer requirements before installation.

Can tado° control a heat pump?

tado° states that its Wired Smart Thermostat X (2nd gen) is compatible with suitable boilers, heat pumps and water-based underfloor heating using Relay or OpenTherm. Compatibility should still be checked against the exact installation.

Do I need Bridge X with the new tado° thermostat?

The wired thermostat requires a compatible Thread Border Router. That can be Bridge X or certain compatible tado° or third-party devices. The UK Wireless Starter Kit with Programmer does not require a separate Bridge X because its Wireless Receiver X performs that role.

Is Hive good for a heat pump?

Hive can control space heating on compatible heat pumps that accept third-party controls, but it uses simple on/off control. That may be less suitable than more advanced controls in systems designed around steady modulation and weather compensation.

Should a smart thermostat replace the heat pump controller?

Usually not completely. Manufacturer controls often remain responsible for functions such as weather compensation, flow temperature, domestic hot water, compressor operation and system protection.

David Tooth, founder and editor of Heat Pump Guide UK

About the author

David Tooth

Founder & Editor | Heat Pump Guide UK · Independent UK heat pump researcher

David writes UK-focused heat pump guides for Heat Pump Guide UK, helping homeowners compare systems, understand installation costs, running costs, grants, controls and practical upgrades. Heat Pump Guide UK provides independent information rather than property-specific engineering design.