Amazon
Amazon Smart Thermostat
$59.99Cheaper
Released 2021
Best Smart Thermostats · head-to-head
Amazon Smart Thermostat vs GE Cync Smart Thermostat
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Amazon Smart Thermostat is cheaper at $59.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
GE Cync
GE Cync Smart Thermostat
$119.99
Which is better: the Amazon Smart Thermostat or GE Cync Smart Thermostat?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Amazon Smart Thermostat is the cheaper at $59.99.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Amazon Smart Thermostat | GE Cync Smart Thermostat |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $59.99 | $119.99 |
| Brand | Amazon | GE Cync |
| Released | 2021 | — |
| Display | Basic segmented LED/LCD display; no color touchscreen | Backlit LCD display (always on); button and app control (Control Type: Buttons and App) |
| Sensors included | Temperature plus indoor humidity sensor (humidity reported in Alexa app, not shown on the on-unit display); no occupancy sensor, no remote sensor support | No remote sensor included (package contains 1 thermostat); Cync Room Temperature Sensors sold separately |
| Geofencing | Yes | — |
| Hvac compatibility | Low-voltage 24V systems (forced air gas/oil/electric, heat pumps); single-stage systems; does not support ACC-/ACC+ terminals, dual-band Wi-Fi only on 2.4 GHz | Most residential 24V heating and cooling systems; designed for C-wire systems, Power Extender Kit (PEK) included for homes without a C-wire; 3- and 4-wire installation options |
| C wire required | No | No |
| Voice assistants | Amazon Alexa only (requires separate Echo device) | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant (Google Home) |
| Energy reports | Yes | Yes |
| Release | 2021 | — |
Sources — Amazon Smart Thermostat: safewise.com (verified 2026-06-15). GE Cync Smart Thermostat: gelighting.com (verified 2026-07-10).
What's the difference between the Amazon Smart Thermostat and GE Cync Smart Thermostat?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Display: Amazon Smart Thermostat Basic segmented LED/LCD display; no color touchscreen vs GE Cync Smart Thermostat Backlit LCD display (always on); button and app control (Control Type: Buttons and App)
- Sensors included: Amazon Smart Thermostat Temperature plus indoor humidity sensor (humidity reported in Alexa app, not shown on the on-unit display); no occupancy sensor, no remote sensor support vs GE Cync Smart Thermostat No remote sensor included (package contains 1 thermostat); Cync Room Temperature Sensors sold separately
- Hvac compatibility: Amazon Smart Thermostat Low-voltage 24V systems (forced air gas/oil/electric, heat pumps); single-stage systems; does not support ACC-/ACC+ terminals, dual-band Wi-Fi only on 2.4 GHz vs GE Cync Smart Thermostat Most residential 24V heating and cooling systems; designed for C-wire systems, Power Extender Kit (PEK) included for homes without a C-wire; 3- and 4-wire installation options
- Voice assistants: Amazon Smart Thermostat Amazon Alexa only (requires separate Echo device) vs GE Cync Smart Thermostat Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant (Google Home)
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Amazon Smart Thermostat
Three whitelisted outlets reviewed the ~$60 Amazon Smart Thermostat in 2021-2022 and all rate it the best-value smart thermostat. Tom's Guide and Reviewed/USA Today are hands-on reviews (Reviewed wired it to a test rig); TechRadar is a 'should I buy' buying-advice piece with no hands-on testing. None report any lab-measured numbers (all measured arrays empty). The one universal caveat is that the thermostat is Alexa-only. All nine quotes were verified as literal substrings of the fetched pages. (3 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Outstanding value at ~$60, undercutting Nest and Ecobee; Clean, minimalist design; includes a faceplate in the box; Intuitive Alexa Hunches automation for energy savings.
Flagged: Works only with Alexa — no Google Home or Apple HomeKit; No support for remote temperature sensors; Requires a C-wire (adapter needed for older homes).
GE Cync Smart Thermostat
No sourced tester review yet.