For the past couple of months, Aqara has been running my entire smart heating system, and it has turned out to be a surprisingly affordable and capable solution. In this article, I’m breaking down exactly how I’ve been using the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat and Aqara T2 Relay Module to control my heating, including room-by-room temperature control and automatic geofencing, all without a subscription.

This setup has been running through the winter here in the UK, and it’s been a great opportunity to properly test reliability, automation logic, and everyday usability. Everything here is based on real-world use in my own home and is not sponsored.

My Smart Heating Journey

Regular readers of Mark’s Tech Blogs will know that I’ve been on a bit of a smart heating journey. After a key feature was paywalled elsewhere, I started looking for alternatives that didn’t rely on subscriptions.

I previously tried a Matter-compatible system that suffered from Wi-Fi reliability issues, and I also explored building something custom using Home Assistant. While both approaches worked to an extent, neither felt like the right balance of simplicity and control for most people.

That changed when Aqara released the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat. Combined with the Aqara T2 Relay Module, it finally felt possible to build a full smart heating system that was affordable, flexible, and didn’t require cloud dependence.

The Heating Setup I Wanted

Before buying anything, I had a clear idea of what I wanted my heating system to do.

• Independent temperature control for each room
• Radiators that could call the boiler for heat
• Automatic geofencing when the first person arrives or the last person leaves
• The ability to resume heating schedules correctly
• Centralised control in a single app
• Local control and remote monitoring when away from home

I wasn’t concerned about OpenTherm support, as my boiler doesn’t support it anyway, but it’s worth noting if that’s important to you.

The Hardware I Used

To make this work, I needed three core components.

Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat

I use six Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostats in total, three upstairs and three downstairs. These are Matter and Zigbee compatible smart TRVs that can be used across Apple Home, Home Assistant, Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings.

The Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat costs around £40 per unit and comes with multiple valve adapters, a clean white design, and a subtle LCD display. They’re powered by two AA batteries, with Aqara estimating up to two years of battery life.

If you want to check current pricing, search for BUY_AQARA_W600.

Aqara T2 Relay Module

To allow the radiators to call for heat from the boiler, I use the Aqara T2 Relay Module. This sits alongside my existing boiler wiring and acts as the on/off switch for heating demand.

The Aqara T2 Relay Module supports dry and wet contact modes, has overload and overheat protection, and works with both Zigbee and Matter over Bridge. It exposes two switches in smart home platforms, even if you only use one, which is slightly annoying but manageable.

It’s compatible with Apple Home, Home Assistant, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings when paired with an Aqara hub.

You can find it by searching for BUY_AQARA_T2_RELAY.

Aqara Hub

To get the most out of the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat, I strongly recommend using Zigbee mode, which requires an Aqara hub. Aqara’s budget hubs start at around £20, while higher-end hubs like the M3 offer Ethernet connectivity and better local reliability.

I already owned an Aqara hub, which kept the overall cost down. If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll want to factor this in.

Look for BUY_AQARA_HUB if you’re pricing things up.

Total Cost Comparison

With six Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostats, an Aqara hub, and the Aqara T2 Relay Module, the total cost comes in at around £290.

Comparable systems come in noticeably higher:

• Habi equivalent: around £300
• Tado equivalent: around £485

That price difference becomes even more significant when you factor in subscriptions.

Installing the Aqara T2 Relay Module

Installing the Aqara T2 Relay Module was straightforward thanks to existing boiler wiring. I mounted it inside a black enclosure and ran the Zigbee antenna externally.

This is the only part of the setup where you may want to use a qualified electrician or heating engineer, especially if you’re not comfortable working with mains wiring.

Once installed, pairing in the Aqara app was simple, and switching the relay into dry contact mode only took a few taps in the settings.

Installing the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat

The Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat is very easy to install. If you already have TRVs fitted, they simply screw on using the appropriate adapter.

Pairing is done through the Aqara app, where you choose between Matter and Zigbee mode. I initially tested Matter mode but later switched to Zigbee to unlock additional features like advanced scheduling, external temperature sensors, and better automation control.

One standout feature is how quiet these TRVs are. Even standing next to them, they’re almost silent in operation.

Scheduling and Automation

I tested several ways of managing schedules and boiler control, including Apple Home and Home Assistant, but ultimately found the Aqara app to be the most practical option.

Each Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat has its own smart schedule made up of named modes like Home, Away, Sleep, and Vacation. Each mode has a defined temperature, which simplifies scheduling once everything is set up.

I recommend setting manual overrides to resume “Until the next” scheduled event, as this ensures your heating returns to the correct temperature automatically.

Geofencing Without Extra Apps

While the Aqara app supports geofencing, I wanted to avoid requiring another app on everyone’s phone.

Instead, I use a smart plug that turns on when the first person arrives home and off when the last person leaves. This single device acts as my “someone is home” indicator and feeds directly into my heating automations.

Boiler Control Automations

The core logic is handled through a set of automations in the Aqara app:

• Turn the boiler on when any radiator calls for heat and someone is home
• Turn the boiler off only when all radiators are up to temperature
• Resume heating when someone arrives home
• Turn heating off when the last person leaves

I also added frost protection automations to ensure the house doesn’t drop below safe temperatures when everyone is away.

Boost Mode

I recreated a “Boost” feature using an Aqara scene. When triggered, it temporarily raises radiator temperatures, then forces schedules to resume correctly after an hour.

This can even be exposed to Apple Home if you want quick access from Siri or the Home app.

Living With Aqara Smart Heating

After months of daily use, the system has been rock solid. Nothing has gone offline, and thanks to local control via the Aqara hub, heating continues to work even if the internet goes down.

Battery life has been excellent so far, and the ability to use additional Aqara temperature sensors has noticeably improved accuracy.

The only issue I’ve encountered relates to schedule resuming after manual overrides, which Aqara support are currently investigating.

So, Can Aqara Run Your Smart Heating?

Yes, it absolutely can.

This setup ticks every box for me: no subscriptions, reliable local control, room-by-room heating, and automatic geofencing. While the initial setup is more involved than some off-the-shelf systems, the flexibility and long-term value make it well worth it.

If you’re looking for an affordable and powerful smart heating solution, the Aqara W600 Radiator Thermostat paired with the Aqara T2 Relay Module is a combination well worth considering.

The post Can Aqara Run Your Smart Heating? – Auto-geofencing, TRVs calling for heat and NO SUBSCRIPTIONS appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

If you’re looking for a smart thermostat for electric underfloor heating, the Meross MTS215 Smart Thermostat is currently the only Matter-compatible option available. I reviewed the earlier MTS200 at the start of the year, and this updated MTS215 adds Matter support and a slight redesign, while keeping the same excellent price point of around £50. If you already have an MTS200, there’s no need to upgrade.

Design

The Meross MTS215 features a modern, rounded design and an updated LED touchscreen display that’s brighter and more responsive for manual controls. While the rounded edges look nicer, they may appear slightly off if mounted on a standard backbox. Overall, the design is sleek, minimal, and functional.

Specifications

• Compatible with electric underfloor heating only (boiler version also available)
• Matter compatible over Wi-Fi — works with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings without requiring a hub
• Optional external sensor for accurate temperature readings in bathrooms or other separate rooms
• 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity (works even if 5GHz is enabled)

Installation

Professional installation is recommended if you’re unfamiliar with wiring, but I installed mine myself while upgrading from an MTS200. Key points:

• The redesigned back and cable positions may require additional space in your backbox; I used a spacing plate.
• Cables are clearly labelled on both the old and new thermostats, and installation instructions include helpful stickers.
• Ensure power is off before beginning installation.
• The front panel clicks off and on easily for installation and access.

Pairing

Pairing the MTS215 is simple via the Meross app. You can also use Apple Home, though the Meross app provides advanced controls. The process includes scanning the Matter QR code on the thermostat and instruction manual, and the device is automatically added to Apple Home if using an iOS device.

Usage and Features

You’ll likely use a combination of the Meross app and Apple Home app for full control:

• Meross app: View current temperature, humidity, toggle heating on/off, and switch between schedule or manual modes. Adjust temperature via slider, configure notifications, child lock, display brightness, hold actions, calibration, open window detection, frost detection, and external sensor options.
• Apple Home app: Exposes three devices — temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and thermostat. Allows automations with presence detection to solve the lack of geofencing in the Meross app.

Schedules can be set for specific days and times. While the Meross app scheduler is visual, it doesn’t support geofencing. Using Apple Home, I’ve created automations for morning, daytime, evening, and night, which only run when someone is home, saving energy.

Verdict

The Meross MTS215 Smart Thermostat is a strong choice for controlling electric underfloor heating. It has a modern design, a responsive touchscreen, and an optional external sensor for accurate readings. The main downside is the lack of geofencing and multi-user support in the Meross app, but this can be managed using Apple Home automations. At £50, it’s excellent value for a Matter-compatible smart thermostat.

Find the Meross MTS215 and compatible accessories via affiliate links on the site.

The post Meross MTS215 Smart Thermostat Review – Electric Underfloor Heating Control appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Update – Late January 2026

After creating this review and returning the Habi items within my 30 day window from Screwfix Habi’s technical team reached out to try and replicate the issues. Their team came out and replicated my original setup without connecting anything to the boiler but keeping the receiver, thermostat and radiator TRVs in the same place and spent some time monitoring it. They have now pushed a software update and from my own monitoring these haven’t gone offline at all making them the reliable system I had hoped for. They are also now available on Amazon.

Why I Looked for a Tado Alternative

When Tado made a change in October that meant new users had to subscribe for features like allowing smart radiator valves to call for heat, I went in search of an alternative. That led me to Habi, a smart heating range from Salus Controls.

Salus Controls have been around for quite a while and have a range of heating-related products. Under the Habi brand, they launched a new smart heating lineup, initially exclusive to Screwfix in June 2025 (now available on Amazon). I bought the Habi wireless thermostat, boiler control and several Habi TRV radiator valves with my own money and have been using them for about a month.

Before I get into the details, I want to be upfront: while Habi started off strong, it has become progressively less reliable in my home. Because of this, I cannot recommend it as a smart heating solution, even though there is a lot to like on paper.

Pricing and Value

Habi is positioned as an affordable smart heating option:

• Habi Smart radiator valves (TRVs) – around £40 each
• Habi Wireless thermostat and boiler control kit – around £80

Compared to some competitors, that is a very attractive price, especially when you factor in Matter over Thread support and the ability for the valves to trigger the boiler control.

Key Features and Specifications

The Habi range is built around modern smart home standards and a simple, no-frills app experience.

Matter and Smart Home Compatibility

• Matter over Thread compatible
• Works with Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and SmartThings
• Initial setup is via the Habi app, after which you can control devices from your preferred platform
• Boiler control acts as a Thread border router for the Habi devices
• All products include a 5-year warranty

Habi Wireless Thermostat and Boiler Control

• Wireless thermostat powered by 2 × AA batteries
• ITLC advanced load compensation to avoid overshooting the target temperature
• Dial-based temperature adjustment and a function button
• Boiler receiver can control heating and, if applicable, separate hot water
• Receiver includes physical buttons for on, off and auto modes (follows schedules)

Habi Radiator Valves (TRVs)

• Powered by 2 × AA batteries
• Connect via Thread, using the boiler receiver as the border router
• Ultra-quiet valve actuation
• Onboard LCD display with a turn wheel and top button
• Child lock option available in the app
• Temperature offset adjustable by ±2.5°C in 0.5°C increments
• Includes a Danfoss RA adapter if you need it

What’s Missing?

Although the feature list looks good, there are a few notable omissions:

• No OpenTherm support. This will be a dealbreaker for people who want more advanced boiler modulation. Salus effectively sell the boiler control separately, so in theory an OpenTherm version could appear in future, but that is only speculation.
• No native geofencing or open window detection. Schedules are basic: on, off and boost, with no built-in location-based automation.

Personally, I am not too bothered about open window detection, but geofencing feels essential in a modern smart heating system so you are not paying to heat an empty home.

Design and Hardware

Boiler Control

The boiler control is a simple white box that would not look out of place on a wall, although mine lives in a cupboard. The physical buttons on the front are a big plus, letting you turn heating and hot water on, off or to auto even if wireless connectivity fails.

Wireless Thermostat

The thermostat has a rounded back piece and a protruding circular dial. There is a function button in the bottom-right corner and the dial is used to adjust temperature. The screen shows the essentials: current temperature, target temperature while adjusting, boost status and connectivity. The display only lights up when you interact with it.

Radiator Valves

The TRVs look very similar to Tado V3+ valves. The LCD is clear and simple, and with the wheel and button on top you can adjust most settings directly on the valve, which is genuinely handy once you know the controls. As a package, the design is simple, modern and unobtrusive.

Installation and Setup

I previously filmed a full setup video, so here is the shorter version of the process I followed.

Hardware Installation

• I replaced an existing Tado wireless control with the Habi boiler receiver and wired it in myself. If you are not comfortable with heating electrics, you should use a qualified heating engineer, which is an extra cost to consider.
• The wireless thermostat is screwed to the wall and is straightforward to mount.
• The TRVs simply screw onto existing adjustable radiator valves, with adapters included for common fittings.
• A nice touch: all packaging, including battery packaging, is cardboard. There is no plastic at all.

App Setup

Setup in the Habi app is generally smooth:

• Create an account, then create a home.
• Add the wireless boiler receiver first.
• If you sign in using Google or Apple and want to stay signed in, you must tick the “stay signed in” option in the app, even though the placement of this checkbox does not make that especially clear.
• Most of my devices paired quickly, although one radiator valve needed a few factory resets and restarts. I suspect there may have been some server downtime at the time, but it is hard to know for sure.
• Once devices are in the Habi app, you put each one into Matter pairing mode to add it into your chosen ecosystem such as Apple Home.
• Importantly, you pair using the Matter codes shown in the app rather than the printed codes that come in the box.

Habi App Experience

The Habi app is simple but functional and gives you control over devices, schedules and basic settings.

Home Screen and Device Control

• The Home screen shows devices and rooms along with their current and target temperatures.
• You can adjust the set temperature using plus and minus controls directly from the overview.
• Tapping into a device shows more details and controls, including on/off and schedule toggle.

Device Options

For each device you can:

• Change the device name and room
• Access and edit schedules
• See battery and connectivity status
• Turn on child lock
• Adjust temperature offset (very useful for TRVs)
• Use an identify mode to make the device light up so you can see which one you are working on

Schedules

Scheduling is one of the strongest parts of the Habi app:

• Create schedules per device
• Set the same schedule every day, weekdays and weekends, or different schedules per day
• Add multiple time slots, each with its own start time and target temperature

The interface for managing slots is well thought out and intuitive, making it easy to build a day’s heating pattern. There are also basic global options such as units, hour format, data collection and notifications. All devices have built-in frost protection for safety.

Matter and Apple Home Integration

Because Habi lacks native geofencing, I rely on Apple Home for location-based control and more advanced scheduling.

I have created automations in Apple Home that:

• Adjust temperatures at various times of day if someone is home
• Turn off heating when the last person leaves
• Run a shortcut when the first person returns, which checks the time and sets different rooms accordingly to effectively resume the schedule
• Integrate other devices such as my Meross Matter electric underfloor heating controller for the bathroom

When the Habi devices are online, this setup works well. The valves can call for heat from the boiler receiver and Apple Home handles the geofencing side of things.

Performance, Reliability and Battery Life

This is where the experience falls down for me.

Offline Devices and Border Router Issues

The biggest problem I have had is that devices keep going offline. The boiler receiver itself has been fine: it is on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with a static IP and has been rock solid. However, the wireless thermostat and several TRVs regularly lose their connection to the receiver.

When I contacted Habi support about my bedroom TRV, which was going offline more than any other, I was told it was due to low signal. That might be plausible, except the radiator in question is roughly 20 feet from the receiver downstairs with only a door in the way. The wireless thermostat, on the same floor as the bedroom and about ten feet from the receiver, also drops offline occasionally.

This suggests to me that the issue is not simple range but a weakness in the Thread border router implementation on the boiler receiver. Moving the receiver outside the cupboard did not solve the problem, and there does not seem to be any clear pattern to when devices drop off.

Testing and Troubleshooting

I even bought an extra radiator valve to see whether my bedroom valve was faulty. For a while I had two valves side by side: one connected and one not, which further highlighted how inconsistent the connection could be. The thermostat and another valve have also spent a fair amount of time offline, reinforcing my suspicion that this is a system-level issue rather than a single defective device.

Battery Life and Noise

In terms of battery usage, early indications from the TRVs suggest something in the region of six to nine months on a set of AA batteries, which is reasonable for this type of device.

The valves are quiet but not completely silent. You can hear them move, but they are quieter than Tado V3 valves, although not as quiet as the newer X valves. They should not wake you up at night.

Customer Service

It is worth noting that my experience with Habi’s customer service has been positive. During the pre-purchase phase I sent several emails with questions, and during weekday working hours the responses were quick and helpful. Unfortunately, good support does not fully compensate for a system that proves unreliable in day-to-day use.

Final Verdict: Great Idea, Let Down by Reliability

On paper, Habi gets a lot right. The pricing is very competitive, the design is modern and unobtrusive, the app is simple but effective, and Matter over Thread support with integration into platforms like Apple Home makes it very flexible. The ability for radiator valves to trigger heating is exactly what many people want as they move away from subscription-based platforms.

However, a heating system has to be reliable above all else, and in my experience Habi simply is not. Persistent issues with devices dropping offline, even at modest distances from the receiver, mean I cannot recommend it as a smart heating solution right now.

If you have tried Habi or other Salus products yourself, it would be interesting to hear whether you have had similar issues or a more reliable experience. For the moment though, despite its promise, Habi is not the Tado replacement I was hoping for.

The post Habi Smart Thermostat and Radiator Valves Review – Great Features, Poor Reliability appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Purchase Links

Meross Smart Thermostat: https://bit.ly/3QAnVH0 Save 10% with code marktech10

Meross Smart Radiator Valve: https://bit.ly/46NJNEr Save 10% with code marktech10

Save 15% when you buy directly from TADO with this link: https://referral.tado.com/r8nadaky

TADO Thermostat (wired): https://amzn.to/46SdB2D

TADO Thermostat (wireless): https://amzn.to/46ZCut6

TADO Radiator valve: https://amzn.to/3MizDDu

Watch below:

The post TADO vs Meross – Which HomeKit compatible whole-home smart heating solution is right for you? appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

Nest Learning Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat is one of the most popular smart thermostats on the market, and for good reason. It’s designed to learn your schedule and temperature preferences over time, which allows it to automatically adjust your home’s temperature to optimize your energy savings. It also features a stylish and intuitive interface that displays your energy usage in real-time, as well as providing you with detailed reports on your energy consumption.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat is another popular option for homeowners who are looking to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. It features advanced sensors that can detect when you’re in the room, as well as occupancy sensors that can help you conserve energy when you’re away from home. It’s also compatible with most HVAC systems, which makes it a great choice for homeowners who want a hassle-free installation process.

Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat

The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat is another great option for homeowners who are looking for a smart thermostat that can help them save energy and money. It features a user-friendly interface that allows you to adjust your home’s temperature from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet. It also features advanced sensors that can detect when you’re away from home, which allows it to adjust your home’s temperature accordingly and help you conserve energy.

Conclusion

Smart thermostats are an excellent investment for homeowners who are looking to reduce their energy consumption and lower their energy bills. By automatically adjusting your home’s temperature based on your schedule, occupancy, and preferences, these devices can help you save energy and money while keeping your home comfortable. The Nest Learning Thermostat, Ecobee Smart Thermostat, and Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat are all great options for homeowners who want to take advantage of the benefits of smart thermostats, and each one offers unique features and benefits that can help you optimize your energy savings.

The post The Best Smart Thermostats for Energy Efficiency appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

What is the Tado Smart Radiator Valve?

The Tado Smart radiator valve is a Wifi connected valve that fits onto your radiator instead of an existing thermostatic valve. If you already have a traditional thermostatic valve then you can fit these really easily just by unscrewing your existing valve and adding the Tado valve. If you don’t currently have a thermostatic valve you may require a heating engineer.

Once installed the Tado Smart Radiator Valve lets you set controls for specific rooms using the Tado app. This allows you to only heat rooms when you want to use them and set different rooms around your house to different temperatures.

Do I need Tado’s Smart Heating to use the radiator valve?

No. You can buy these as standalone products however you will need to buy the Smart Radiator Valve Starter kit alongside any extra valves so you can connect them to your Wifi. This starter pack costs £120.

Tado Radiator Valve Design

Much like the Tado Smart heating system the design of the valves is sleek and modern. They are completely white with a twistable top which can be used for adjusting the temperature when you don’t want to use the app. They also have a white LED display which isn’t always on but shows you the temperature and provides some feedback.

Battery Life

The smart radiator valves are powered by two AA batteries which make them easy and cheap to replace and Tado say that they can last for up to two years.

Tado Smart Radiator Valve – Everyday Usage

Once you’ve got your radiator valves installed and connected then if you set schedules in the app then they just run all by themselves, turning on and off when you have your schedules set and making sure your rooms are heated to the correct level.

The Tado app is well thought out and easy to use and even with a couple of these dotted around the house I’ve had no connectivity issues at all (although this will of course depend on the strength of your wifi).

It’s worth noting that these do make a small noise when they turn on or off just because they have movable parts in but this isn’t enough (in my opinion) to disturb sleep.

Should I buy a Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat?

In conclusion, at £120 for the starter pack and £50-60 for subsequent valves these aren’t cheap but can be a great way to give you precise room control and save you money in the long run. These work well and have a great app and we’d recommend looking at these for anyone interested in smart heating especially if you can’t add a system onto your boiler.

You can pick up the Tado valves here or read our o there reviews here

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Hive Mini Thermostat – What do we know?

Hive haven’t announced a huge amount of details yet and whilst they’ve said the Hive Mini will be cheaper they haven’t given us a price yet. Hive have however told us that the mini will boast the features their existing thermostat provides which means schedules which can be controlled from your smart phone, geofencing, holiday modes and frost protection.

We also know that it will work with their smart radiator valves for greater control of the different rooms in your house.

The New Design

The stand out feature that we should be talking about is the new design. The bulky design of the existing thermostat has been replaced with a slimmer, flatter design with no physical buttons. The glossy black display looks sleek and modern and the new font feels like the next generation of Hive is here.

Should you still buy a Hive Thermostat?

At the moment we’re tempted to say no…hold off for the mini. The mini is going to have the latest tech, it looks better and will have a lower price which will make it a better choice than the dated Hive thermostat. We also recently compared the Hive with Tado so you might want to read more about that here because the Tado is also a great option.

In Summary…

It looks like 2022 is going to start strongly for smart home tech and we can’t wait to see how it advanced. You can read more about the Hive Thermostat Mini here or check out our other reviews.

The post Hive Mini Thermostat – Announcement appeared first on Mark's Tech Blogs.

What Does a Smart Thermostat Do?

Before we dive into the ins and outs of smart thermostats let’s talk about what one actually does.

Most readers will be familiar with thermostat / heating controls. Traditionally these are either a temperature dial which turns on your heating when the temperature falls below the temperature you’ve set or a programmable device that lets you choose when your heating and your hot water comes on. Traditional thermostats work but can easily be left on when you’re not at home and often their interfaces are difficult to get your head around.

A smart thermostat takes these concepts of heating your home to a certain temperature and places the controls for this thermostat on your phone, allowing you to adjust your heating controls in a much more precise way than before and switch it on/off when out of your home.

Both the Hive and the Tado smart thermostats offer this app-based experience but with slightly different approaches.

Tado vs Hive – Design

The design of the Tado and Hive devices is probably the biggest separator. Whilst both have rounded edges and aim to look modern the Tado takes a minimalist approach with a fully white design and a simple white LED display whereas the Hive looks more like a traditional thermostat. In our opinion the Tado has the edge when it comes to the design because it embraces the modern whereas the Hive design is certainly beginning to look a little dated.

Cost & Installation?

The cost of the two devices is relatively similar although not as simple as just comparing costs. The Hive costs £175 and comes with everything you need but the Hive does recommend professional installation which will add upwards of £100 to the cost.

The Tado on the other hand has a few different options depending on your heating system and existing thermostat. This means the cost of the Tado will cost between £130 and £180 and Tado have a helpful tool to help work out which version you need. When it comes to installation costs Tado believe you should be able to install it yourself and have a brilliant app which guides you through the set up based on your boiler and thermostat brand. We self-installed our Tado and it took about an hour and a half, it was a little fiddly at times but Tado’s instructions were easy to follow and well explained.

Once again, when it comes to Hive vs Tado this certainly gives Tado the edge making it more affordable but also empowers the user to install it themselves if they wish to.

Tado vs Hive – The Smartphone Apps

When it comes to smart home tech the usability of the app is one of the key things to make or break a piece of smart home tech and, thankfully, both the Hive and Tado have excellent apps but with slightly different focuses.

The Hive app is focused around your smart home as a whole as Hive offer a whole range of products including light bulbs and sensors whereas the Tado app is focused around heating (and cooling if you have their smart air conditioning controls too).

Both of the apps let you set schedules for your heating and hot water, allow you to boost and allow you to turn off your heating and/or hot water. Out of home control is great for turning your heating off when you forget or even for boosting it on a cold day during your walk home.

When it comes to the whole Hive vs Tado thing we have going on in this articles it’s pretty difficult to choose which is best. The Tado focuses on heating alone and does that well whereas the Hive does a good job of bringing together multiple devices…I think it’s probably a draw on this one!

However, we should also mention Tado’s ‘Auto Assist’ which is an optional subscription costing £25 a year. This gives you automatic geofencing (meaning that your heating is automatically off when the last person has left) and also keeps track of your heating system’s health. These features are nice ideas but I’m not sure they’re worth an extra £25 a year.

External Services

At this point we should also mention that both are HomeKit compatible and work with Alexa and Google Assistant. Both do this well and so again, it’s a draw on this one!

Daily Use?

Finally, we should talk about daily use for both of these and in having used both of these for extended periods of time I have to say both work just as well as each other. Heating schedules work, hot water is ready when you need it and connection remains good.

Both offer ‘You’ve left home’ notifications which work well and being able to boost your heating, turn it off and monitor the temperature from your phone is incredibly useful.

This means that, once again both the Hive and Tado are equally great choices.

There are however, some optional extras that give the Tado the edge. Both Tado and Hive offer smart thermostatic radiator valves for room based control however, the Tado ones are the only ones that actually seem to work well. This means, for room-based heating and the opportunity to save more money the Tado has the edge with it’s extra accessories.

Tado vs Hive – Which should you buy?

If you’ve worked through this article then you’ll know that overall the Tado has the edge over the Hive however this is largely to do with installation, design and optional extras. When it comes to the app and functionality they are pretty much the same and both excellent smart heating systems.

You can pick one up using our links below (these are affiliate links) or read more of our reviews here.

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What is the Hive Hub 360?

The Hive Hub 360 is effectively a wireless replacement for your wired Hive Hub that probably came with your Hive products. It costs around £99 and so does have some extra features to make the upgrade more worthwhile.

The Hive Hub 360 comes in glossy white or glossy black and has some extra gold features. It’s not a bad looking product and looks pretty non-invasive depending where you choose to place it. It’s powered by a USB cable.

In addition to being the hub for your Hive smart products it also listens out for noises such as glass breaking, dogs barking and fire alarms and alerts you to the things it’s heard which means it can act as a way of making your non-smart fire alarm smart.

How to set up the Hive Hub 360?

Setting up the Hive Hub 360 is really easy. You simply plug it in, wait for the light on the top to start flashing white and then from within the Hive App just choose ‘Add New Device’ and follow the instructions.

This process configures your Hub with your Wifi settings and lets you select a few other options (e.g. if you want it to listen or not). From there you’re done and if you’re replacing an existing hub you can unplug the old wired one.

One of the great things about the Hive Hub 360 is the simplicity of installation but if you get stuck Hive have some great instructions on their website.

Is this wireless better than the Wired Hub?

The Hive Hub 360 offers a couple of plus points over the wired Hub. The first being that it connects using Wifi. This means you don’t need to place it close to your router, you can place it anywhere you like and, with the listening features you need to place it where it’s likely to pick up the noise of your smoke alarm.

The second key feature is the security options it offers with the ability to pick up and recognise the sound of a smoke alarm, dog barking or window breaking. Once it picks up one of these sounds you’ll get a notification and you can open the Hive app and listen to the sound recorded. This works wherever you are in the world allowing you to check the noise when you’re away from home.

The listening feature is a great idea but it doesn’t have the biggest range meaning you need to place it in the same room as you’d want it to listen too. Secondly, it’s still very limited to what it can hear still only recognising three sounds three years later.

Finally, I’ve found the Hub less reliable than the wired Hub with occasionally dropouts of signal.

Should I buy the Hive Hub 360 or Hive Hub?

If you’re trying to decide whether you need the Hive Hub 360 or the Hive Hub (wired) for your new smart heating or lighting from Hive then you need to decide whether the listening feature is something you want. If you’re not fussed about the ability to get notifications about smoke alarms and your router has an ethernet port then I’d recommend sticking with the wired Hub as it’s more reliable and can easily be hidden.

If you want wifi connection for your Hub and like the idea of the listening feature then go for a Hive Hub 360 as we’ve found it generally performs well.

Should I upgrade my Hive Hub to the Hive Hub 360

For a cost of just under £100 our answer to this is no. Unless you really want the listening features the Hive Hub 360 isn’t a big enough of an upgrade to make it worth while.

Is it any good?

The Hive Hub 360 provides the ability for a wireless Hub connection to your Hive devices and the ability to get alerts about glass breaking, dogs barking and smoke alarms but that’s it.

If you want to read more about smart home products be sure to read our other reviews

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