Overview
Nest (now Google Nest) and Hive (British Gas) are the UK's two most popular smart thermostats. Both offer app control, geofencing, and scheduling. The differences are in detail.
Learning
Nest: auto-learns your schedule over the first week. Hive: manual scheduling only. Nest wins for homeowners who don't want to programme anything.
App quality
Both apps are good. Nest's app is slightly more polished; Hive's is simpler and more straightforward. Depends on personal preference.
Hot water control
Hive includes hot water scheduling as standard (vital for system/heat-only boilers). Nest requires an additional component for hot water control. Hive wins for homes with hot water cylinders.
Price
Hive: from £149 fitted. Nest: from £189 fitted. Hive wins on price.
Integration
Nest integrates with Google Home ecosystem. Hive works with Alexa and Google. Both are flexible.
Verdict
Combi boiler + want simplicity: Hive. Combi boiler + Google Home + want auto-learning: Nest. System/heat-only boiler (with cylinder): Hive (native hot water control). Both are excellent — the difference is modest.