The Best Nest Alternatives in 2026

Quick picks

Why people switch from Nest in 2026

• Older thermostats lost app support. Google ended support for the Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen (2011), 2nd gen (2012) and the 2014 Europe 2nd gen model starting October 25, 2025. They lost app control, notifications, assistant links and security updates, though schedules and on-device controls still work.
• Nest Aware became Google Home Premium. Standard and Advanced plans replace Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus. Standard costs $10 a month or $100 a year and keeps 30 days of event video. Advanced costs $20 a month or $200 a year and adds 60 days of event video plus 10 days of 24/7 recording for cameras and wired doorbells.
• Nest Protect is gone from the Google Store. The Nest Protect product page now redirects to the Google Store home page, and the store lists the First Alert SC5 Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm instead. Google's help center calls the First Alert alarm a compatible replacement for an expiring 2nd gen Nest Protect, which must be replaced 10 years after its manufacture date.
• Works with Nest ended earlier. Works with Nest connections stopped working on September 29, 2023, and Google points users to Works with Google Home instead.

Google still sells the Matter-certified Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) for $279.99 as of October 2026. The picks below suit buyers who want Apple Home, cheaper camera history, or a brand not tied to Google's plans.

How we chose

• Still sold on the maker's own US store, with a price confirmed October 21, 2026
• Works with Apple Home or Alexa, not only Google Home
• Clear subscription terms, with local storage or lower ongoing cost where possible
• Replaces a Nest product line: thermostat, camera, doorbell or smoke alarm

These picks come from comparing official specs, prices and support pages. HomeGearLab did not test these products.

Comparison table

Thermostat alternatives

If heating and cooling is your main reason to leave Nest, our Nest vs Ecobee comparison goes deeper on the two brands.

ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium: best overall Nest alternative

Best for: replacing a Nest Learning Thermostat with room sensing and Apple Home support.

Key facts: The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium includes a SmartSensor and a Power Extender Kit in the box; ecobee says the kit powers the thermostat without running a fifth wire. It adds a built-in air quality monitor, radar occupancy sensing, and Siri or Alexa built in. ecobee lists Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings among its integrations and says it works with over 95% of HVAC systems.

Limits: ecobee's pages do not mention Matter, and Siri needs a HomePod running software 15 or later.

Price: $259.99 on ecobee.com as of October 2026, versus $279.99 for the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) on the Google Store.

Pick it if you want the most complete Nest thermostat replacement and use Apple Home or Alexa. If it is already on your shortlist, our page of alternatives to ecobee thermostat models shows what else competes with it.

ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential: best budget alternative

Best for: replacing an older Nest or Nest Thermostat on a budget.

Key facts: The Essential costs $139.99 and works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It works with ecobee's SmartSensor (sold separately).

Limits: No built-in voice assistant, no sensor in the box, and it is not compatible with the first-generation ecobee Room Sensor. Homes without a C wire need the Power Extender Kit, which is $24.99 extra.

Price: $139.99 as of October 2026.

Pick it if you want ecobee's integrations without the Premium's extras.

Aqara Thermostat Hub W200: best Matter-first option

Best for: Apple Home or Matter households.

Key facts: Aqara lists "Native Matter Support" for the Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 and says it works with the majority of HVAC systems. Its page describes Apple Home features such as Adaptive Temperature and Clean Energy Guidance, which need an iPhone or Apple Watch on software 26 or later; Adaptive Temperature also needs a home hub such as an Apple TV or HomePod on software 26 or later.

Limits: It needs a C wire, or the Aqara C-Wire Adapter sold separately. Aqara's product page does not name Google Home or Alexa directly.

Price: $159.99 on Aqara's US store as of October 2026.

Pick it if you are building around Matter and Apple Home and want a cheaper alternative to the Nest Learning Thermostat.

For a wider look beyond these three, see our guide to smart home thermostats.

Camera alternatives

Google sells the Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen) for $129.99. Without Google Home Premium, its store page lists 6 hours of event video previews with clips up to 10 seconds. Longer history needs a paid plan.

Aqara Camera Hub G350: best indoor camera for mixed ecosystems

Best for: homes that use Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa, or a mix.

Key facts: Aqara calls the Aqara Camera Hub G350 "The World's First Matter-Certified Camera." It pairs a 4K wide-angle lens with a 2.5K telephoto lens for up to 9x hybrid zoom, and pans and tilts for a 360° view. Aqara lists HomeKit Secure Video, Home Assistant, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings. It records to a microSD card up to 512 GB (not included) and doubles as an Aqara Zigbee hub.

Limits: In Apple Home, video is capped at 1080p and HomeKit Secure Video needs an iCloud+ plan and an Apple home hub. Aqara notes that Matter camera features depend on each ecosystem. Cloud storage needs a HomeGuardian plan.

Price: $139.99 on Aqara's US store as of October 2026.

Pick it if you want one indoor camera that works across platforms.

eufy Indoor Cam S350: best for no monthly fee

Best for: local recording without smart home integration.

Key facts: The eufy Indoor Cam S350 combines a 4K wide-angle camera with a 2K telephoto camera, giving 3x optical and up to 8x digital zoom. eufy advertises local storage with no monthly fee; a 128 GB microSD card holds up to 120 hours (5 days) of continuous footage at the highest resolution.

Limits: eufy's own FAQ says the S350 does not support Apple HomeKit or Google Home. It does support Alexa and Google Assistant smart displays for viewing the live feed. eufy sells cloud backup through its optional Plus Member plan at $15 a month.

Price: $139.99 on eufy's US store as of October 2026.

Pick it if avoiding a monthly fee matters more than smart home integration. Our list of security cameras without a subscription has more options like it.

Arlo Pro 6: best outdoor battery camera

Best for: replacing a Nest Cam (battery) outdoors.

Key facts: The Arlo Pro 6 records 2K HDR video with a 160° field of view, has a spotlight for color night video, and uses a swappable battery that charges over USB-C. Arlo says the Pro 6 lasts 15% longer per charge than the Pro 5S 2K. It connects straight to Wi-Fi, and a SmartHub is optional. The product page lists Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and IFTTT.

Limits: Arlo says a subscription is not required for live view and motion notifications after the trial, but cloud video storage, interactive notifications and object detection need an Arlo Secure plan. The product page does not list Apple HomeKit.

Price: $124.99 for one camera on Arlo's US store as of October 2026 (two-camera kit on sale at $159.99, regular $229.99).

Pick it if you want a wire-free outdoor camera for Google Home or Alexa. The older Arlo Pro 5S 2K is no longer listed on Arlo's US store and is not a current pick.

Doorbell alternatives

Google's Nest Doorbell (wired, 3rd gen) is $199.99 on the Google Store, and its Gemini features need Google Home Premium. We compare it with Ring's models in Ring vs Nest doorbell, so here we cover one other pick.

ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera (wired): best doorbell alternative

Best for: wired doorbells in Apple Home or Alexa homes.

Key facts: The ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera has a 187° diagonal field of view (175° vertical, 115° horizontal) and records 1080p HDR video from a 5MP sensor. ecobee lists Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit compatibility. It needs a 16 to 24 VAC, 10VA minimum doorbell transformer.

Limits: Apple's HomeKit Secure Video is not supported. Recordings are stored in the cloud, and video history needs ecobee Smart Security: Plus is $5 a month or $50 a year for 30 days on one camera, and Advanced is $10 a month or $100 a year for unlimited cameras. The free Core plan has no video history.

Price: $159.99 regular price on ecobee.com as of October 2026 (ecobee ran a $129.99 sale that its terms say ended October 21, 2026).

Pick it if you want a cheaper wired doorbell with lower plan costs.

Smoke and CO alarm alternatives

First Alert SC5: best Nest Protect replacement

Best for: replacing an expiring Nest Protect.

Key facts: First Alert says the SC5 is "Compatible with and replaces Google's Nest Protect Alarm." It comes in battery and hardwired versions, sends phone alerts through the Resideo Connect app (per First Alert), and interconnects with Nest Protect so that when one alarm sounds, all compatible alarms sound. The Google Store says you can check or silence it from the First Alert app or the Google Home app, and Google's setup guide has you link your First Alert account to interconnect with Nest Protect.

Limits: Setup requires a Google Account (not a legacy Nest account) and the latest Google Home and First Alert apps. Google's guide describes Wi-Fi as the connection method.

Price: $129.99 for either the battery or hardwire version on First Alert's store as of October 2026.

Pick it if you want an alarm that keeps working alongside existing Nest Protects. Our guide to the best smart smoke detector options compares more connected alarms.

Costs and subscriptions compared

Google Home Premium costs $100 a year (Standard) or $200 a year (Advanced). ecobee Smart Security starts at $50 a year for one camera. eufy and Aqara record to microSD with no plan required. Arlo keeps live view and alerts free but puts cloud clips behind Arlo Secure. Neither the ecobee nor the Aqara thermostat product page lists a required subscription.

What we don't know

• Exactly which Matter camera features the Aqara G350 exposes in Google Home and Alexa today; Aqara says this depends on each ecosystem.
• Whether Google will add Nest Protect back to its store. Google has not said, and its product page now redirects.

Verdict

The ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is the strongest Nest alternative: cheaper than the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen), with a room sensor included. Pick the ecobee Essential to save money or the Aqara W200 for Matter. For cameras, choose the Aqara G350 for cross-platform support, the eufy S350 to avoid fees, or the Arlo Pro 6 outdoors. Replace an expiring Nest Protect with the First Alert SC5.