As of 2026, Google no longer launches new Nest thermostats in Europe and the fourth-generation model never came to the UK, so for a new installation the realistic choices are Hive, tado, Drayton Wiser or Honeywell evohome. A single smart thermostat controls your whole home from one schedule, while smart thermostatic radiator valves add room-by-room control. The right choice depends on your heating system, how many rooms you want to control, and how hands-on you want to be.
Key takeaways
- Google has stopped launching new Nest thermostats in Europe, and the fourth-generation Nest never came to the UK.
- Existing Nest thermostats still work for now, but for a new install Hive, tado, Drayton Wiser and Honeywell evohome are the systems to look at.
- A single smart thermostat runs your whole home on one schedule; smart radiator valves let you set each room separately.
- Smart radiator valves are locked to their own ecosystem, so choose the whole system before you start buying.
- Correct installation and setup by an electrician is what makes any of these systems reliable.
Smart heating is the most popular place to start a smart home, and it is also the area that has changed most in the last year. Here is where things stand in 2026, what your realistic options are, and how to pick the right one for your home.
What has changed with Nest in 2026
The biggest change is Nest. In 2025 Google confirmed it would no longer launch new Nest thermostats in Europe, explaining that European heating systems are too varied to build for reliably. The fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat, released elsewhere, never came to the UK at all.
Google has also stopped supplying new third-generation Nest Learning Thermostats and the Nest Thermostat E to UK retailers. You may still find remaining stock through other sellers, but the range is being wound down. Separately, the original first and second-generation Nest thermostats lost their software and security updates in October 2025, which means those older units no longer work as smart thermostats.
Should you still buy a Nest thermostat
If you already have a third-generation Nest or a Nest Thermostat E, there is no need to rush to replace it. Those models still work, still receive security updates, and you can keep controlling them through the app.
For a brand new installation, though, Nest is no longer the obvious default it once was. With no new models coming and stock being run down, it makes sense to choose from the systems that are still being actively sold and developed in the UK.
How does Hive compare
Hive remains widely available and supported in the UK, and it is the simplest option for most homes. Rather than trying to learn your routine, Hive lets you set clear heating and hot water schedules yourself, with app and voice control and a geolocation feature that can turn the heating down when everyone leaves the house.
Hive works with most combi and system boilers and integrates well with Amazon Alexa. Its whole-home approach suits people who want straightforward, reliable control without much fuss. If you want detailed room-by-room zoning, that is where smart radiator valves come in.
What are smart thermostatic radiator valves
A smart thermostatic radiator valve, or smart TRV, replaces the manual valve on the end of a radiator. Like a traditional valve it limits the flow of hot water once a room reaches temperature, but a smart version can be programmed and adjusted from your phone, and it talks to the rest of the system to call for heat on a room by room basis.
That is what makes true zoning possible. Instead of heating the whole house to one temperature, you can warm the rooms you are using and turn others down, each on its own schedule. It is one of the most effective ways to stop paying to heat empty rooms.
The one catch is that smart valves are locked to their own ecosystem. A smart radiator valve from one brand needs that brand’s hub or thermostat to work, and you cannot mix and match. The four systems worth taking seriously in the UK are tado, Drayton Wiser, Hive and Honeywell evohome, so it pays to choose the whole system before you buy your first valve.
Thermostat or smart radiator valves
Most homes fall into one of two camps. If you want simple control of the whole house from one place, a single smart thermostat is enough. If different rooms are used at very different times, or some rooms are always too hot or too cold, smart radiator valves and their room-by-room control will make a bigger difference. Many homes combine the two: a smart thermostat for the main system, with smart valves added where zoning matters most.
| System | Control style | Room-by-room zoning | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hive | Whole-home schedule you set | Limited | Simple, reliable control |
| tado | App-led, with add-on smart valves | Yes, with smart valves | Zoning and automation |
| Drayton Wiser | Modular, grow it over time | Yes, with smart valves | Adding rooms one at a time |
| Honeywell evohome | Multi-zone from the start | Yes, many zones | Whole-house zoning |
| Nest | Self-learning whole-home | Limited | Existing owners, being wound down in the UK |
Which system works with your heating
Compatibility is the part worth getting right before you buy anything. Most of these systems work with common combi and system boilers, and several now support heat pumps, but the details depend on your specific boiler, wiring and existing controls. Older or unusual systems sometimes need an extra part or a small change first.
This is where a quick check by an electrician saves money and hassle. We confirm what your system will and will not support, and tell you honestly if anything needs doing first, before you commit to a particular brand.
Why have an electrician install it
Smart heating controls are still electrical work. Wiring the receiver to your boiler or heating system correctly, pairing the controls and setting up the app and account is what makes the difference between a system that just works and one that drops off the network or heats the wrong rooms.
As NICEIC approved electricians and approved Hive and Nest installers, we handle the whole job, from advising on the right system to fitting it, setting it up and making sure you can control it before we leave. We install smart thermostats and smart heating controls as part of our wider smart home installations, and you can read more about our smart thermostat service here.
Service areas: Nulectrics is based in Chippenham, Wiltshire. We install smart thermostats and smart heating controls across Chippenham, Corsham, Calne, Melksham, Devizes, Trowbridge, Bath and the surrounding area.