Hive or Tado: which smart thermostat should you get?
Both let you control your heating from your phone, and both are good. If you have a hot water cylinder, Hive usually makes more sense. If you want automatic room-by-room control, Tado is hard to beat.
- 2brands we fit and set up
- 0subscriptions needed for the basics
- 1visit to fit, wire and set it up
2brands we fit
Hive and Tado are the two smart thermostats we get asked about most. Both let you turn the heating on from your phone, set schedules, and talk to Alexa or Google. Both are well made, and either is a big step up from an old dial.
The differences are in the details: how they handle a hot water cylinder, how far they go with room-by-room control, and what’s free versus what’s behind a subscription.
Hive
Simple, reliable, and good with hot water.
Hive is British Gas’s smart home brand. The thermostat connects to the internet through a small hub that plugs into your router.
- Controls heating and hot water from one app
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit
- Smart radiator valves can be added later
- Multizone setup for homes split into two heating zones
The app’s everyday features are free. Hive+ is an optional paid membership that adds budgeting tools and extra monitoring. Hive reminds you to turn the heating down when everyone’s out, rather than doing it for you.
Talking it through
Tado
Built around room-by-room control.
Tado’s strength is control room by room. Add its smart radiator valves and each room gets its own temperature and schedule.
- Smart radiator valves fit most standard valves
- Works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home
- Schedules and app control are free
- Newer Tado X kit works with Matter
Tado’s automatic features, like turning the heating down when the last person leaves and pausing a room when a window opens, need tado’s optional paid AI Assist subscription, previously called Auto-Assist. Without it, the app sends you a nudge instead.
Handover
Hive and Tado side by side
| Hive | Tado | |
|---|---|---|
| Heating from your phone | Yes | Yes |
| Hot water cylinder | Yes, Hive Heating and Hot Water | Ask us, it depends on the kit |
| Room-by-room control | With Hive radiator valves | With Tado radiator valves, its main strength |
| When you leave the house | Reminder to turn it down | Automatic, with AI Assist |
| Subscription | Optional Hive+ | Optional AI Assist |
| Voice assistants | Alexa, Google, Apple | Alexa, Google, Apple |
| Two heating zones | Hive Multizone | Ask us |
From Hive and Tado’s published product information, checked 2 November 2026. Features and subscriptions can change.
Which one sounds like you?
- I’ve got a hot water cylinderHive Heating and Hot Water
Heating and hot water in one app.
- Combi, want every room separateTado with radiator valves
Start with the thermostat, add valves later.
- Two heating zonesHive Multizone
A thermostat for each zone.
- Not sureAsk when you book
We’ll tell you which suits.
Common questions
Do I need a subscription for Hive or Tado?
No. Both work from the app without one: schedules, temperatures and remote control are free. Hive+ and tado’s AI Assist are optional extras.
Will a smart thermostat work with my boiler?
Both work with most boilers. We check the boiler and its wiring, connect the thermostat properly and set it up before we leave, so there’s one control for the heating rather than two.
Can I fit a smart thermostat myself?
Some kits are sold for DIY, but connecting to the boiler’s wiring is best done by an engineer, and some boilers need a professional install.
Will a smart thermostat save me money?
It can, if it means the heating is only on when you need it. Pair it with a lower boiler flow temperature and the savings add up.
Can I add radiator valves later?
Yes, with both. Start with the thermostat and add smart radiator valves room by room when you’re ready.
Which do you recommend?
If you’ve got a hot water cylinder, usually Hive. If you’ve got a combi and want control room by room, usually Tado. We’ll talk it through when you book.
Related pages
Sources: Hive, smart heating; tado, the tado app. Checked 2 November 2026.
Not sure what you need? Give us a shout.
Book online in a couple of minutes or give the office a call, Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. We’ll tell you what we think, and if the answer is to leave things as they are, we’ll say that too.
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