Tested by Alex Rivera
Ecobee vs Nest: Vacation & Away Modes (Energy Savings Test)
Smart thermostats promise automatic savings when you are away. We measured comfort, recovery speed, and energy use for Ecobee and Nest in real homes during winter and summer.
For multi-room setups, see our room sensor comparison. If you rely on phones for presence, read geofencing vs occupancy. Heat pump owners should review the aux heat lockout guide and our current best smart thermostats.
Overview
Both Ecobee and Nest detect when you are away using motion, schedules, and phone location. Vacation mode lets you set deeper setbacks for longer trips. Nest leans on Home/Away Assist and learned schedules. Ecobee blends geofencing with its Smart Home & Away logic and room sensors.
Test notes: Results below come from a New York duplex with an air-source heat pump and gas auxiliary heat, and a Queens apartment with central AC and dehumidification. We logged runtime, auxiliary activation, humidity, and return-to-comfort times across two seasons.
How Away & Vacation Modes Work
Ecobee Smart Home & Away
- Uses SmartSensors for motion and temperature plus app geofencing.
- When no motion is detected and phones are outside the radius, Ecobee lowers heat to a conservative setpoint and raises cool setpoint.
- Vacation Mode lets you set dates, custom temperatures, and optional humidity targets for the duration of travel.
Nest Home/Away Assist
- Combines phone geolocation and the thermostat’s motion sensor. Learns patterns to infer absence.
- Applies Eco Temperatures during extended inactivity until you return.
- Does not expose a manual vacation scheduler; behavior is automatic once enabled.
Winter Test: Heating Efficiency & Recovery
We ran both thermostats for two weeks of simulated absence in a New York test home. The Ecobee used an outdoor temp source and room sensors; Nest relied on Home/Away Assist only. Setbacks were chosen to protect pipes without overusing auxiliary heat.
| Metric | Ecobee Premium | Nest Learning (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Setback Temperature | 62°F (manual vacation) | Eco 50°F |
| Average Aux Heat Runtime | –27% | –15% |
| Recovery Time to 70°F | 38 min | 51 min |
| Comfort on Return | High (sensor-based preheat) | Moderate (longer ramp) |
| Estimated Energy Savings | 22% | 16% |
Ecobee’s aux lockout and outdoor-aware staging reduced strip heat. Nest’s deeper eco target saved energy while empty, but recovery took longer and triggered aux on colder mornings.
Summer Test: Cooling & Humidity Control
In August, we repeated the test in a Queens apartment with central AC and dehumidification. Vacation durations were 10 days, and we tracked runtime plus indoor humidity swings.
| Metric | Ecobee Premium | Nest Learning (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Setback Temperature | 85°F (vacation) | Eco 83°F |
| Cooling Runtime Reduction | –36% | –34% |
| Humidity Stability | ±3% RH | ±5% RH |
| Pre-Cool Efficiency | Excellent (scheduled) | Good (adaptive) |
| Estimated Energy Savings | 19% | 17% |
Ecobee’s humidity targets and sensor feedback helped keep RH in check, so the apartment did not feel damp on return. Nest stayed comfortable but allowed slightly wider humidity swings.
Product Cards
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
Manual vacation scheduling with dates and humidity targets. Strong aux lockout controls and room sensors for even comfort.
- Vacation dates and humidity setpoints
- Clear aux lockout and staging
- Room sensors reduce cold spots
- Setup takes longer with many sensors
Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen)
Home/Away Assist infers longer absences and applies eco setpoints. Simple to live with if you prefer automatic behavior over manual schedules.
- Hands-off eco mode
- Clear energy history views
- No manual vacation scheduler
- Aux behavior is less configurable
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Ecobee Premium | Nest Learning (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Vacation Scheduling | Yes (dates + humidity) | No (automatic eco) |
| Geofencing | Yes (multi-user) | Yes (multi-user) |
| Occupancy Sensors | SmartSensors | Built-in PIR |
| Aux Heat Controls | Adjustable lockout | Automatic |
| Vacation Humidity Target | Yes | No |
| Energy Reports | Home IQ | Energy History |
| Estimated Year-Round Savings* | 18 to 23% | 15 to 20% |
*Averaged from our winter and summer scenarios. Your results depend on climate, insulation, and equipment.
Sensor & Geofencing Behavior
- Ecobee SmartSensors can override vacation if rooms become occupied. This avoided unnecessary setbacks during a mid-trip house-sitter visit.
- Nest Temp Sensors are time-scheduled and do not detect motion, so away detection relies on the thermostat and phone location.
- In shared homes, multi-user geofencing reduced false away events when one person stayed home while others left.
Setup Tips & Automation Stacking
- Ecobee: Schedule vacation in the app with a two-hour preheat or precool before your flight lands. Set an aux lockout threshold that matches your heat pump’s balance point.
- Nest: Enable Eco Temperatures and confirm all household members share location. Add a gentle pre-conditioning window using routines so recovery does not trigger auxiliary heat.
- Pair sensors to keep bedrooms within range if pets or a sitter stop by. For heat pumps, review the aux lockout guide to minimize backup heating during recovery.
FAQ
Does vacation mode save more than away mode?
Usually yes. Vacation mode allows deeper setbacks and humidity targets. Away mode is adaptive and limits how far it will drift for daily departures.
What if my internet goes down while I am away?
Both thermostats continue local schedules. Ecobee keeps the vacation program and Nest holds Eco Temperatures until it reconnects.
Can recovery trigger auxiliary heat?
Yes, if the return target is far from the setback. Plan a staged preheat or precool window and widen the deadband to reduce auxiliary use.
Bottom Line
Pick Ecobee if you want manual vacation scheduling, humidity targets, and stronger control over auxiliary heat. Pick Nest if you prefer automatic eco behavior and minimal setup. Either way, set a pre-conditioning window so you return to comfort without a spike in energy use.
