tado Smart Thermostat X vs Honeywell evohome: Which Should You Buy?

tado Smart Thermostat X vs Honeywell evohome: Which Should You Buy in 2026? By tado Editorial | March 2026

Winner: tado Smart Thermostat X — modern Thread/Matter networking and AI automations make it the better buy for most homeowners who want true multiroom, energy-saving heating control.

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Quick verdict

tado X is the winner. It pairs genuine room-by-room schedules with Matter/Thread support (Bridge X included) and optional AI Assist automations that can cut real-world wasted heating — features evohome doesn’t offer. Choose evohome only if you want a long-established, widely installed multi-zone system with proven installer support and a near-identical starter-kit price.

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At a glance

	tado Smart Thermostat X	Honeywell evohome
Price	£159.99	£161.99 (approx.)
Max zones / multiroom	Industry-leading multizone with tado radiator valves (room-level schedules)	Up to 12 zones (Resideo evohome platform)
Connectivity	Matter & Thread (via included Bridge X)	Proprietary evohome wireless + cloud app (no Matter/Thread)
Smart automation	AI Assist subscription — geofencing, open-window, holiday modes (from £3.99/mo or £29.99/yr)	Robust scheduling and remote control via Total Connect Comfort app; no manufacturer AI subscription model
Best for	Future-proofed smart homes that want local, reliable multizone control	Homeowners wanting a mature, installer-friendly multi-zone system

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Where tado Smart Thermostat X wins

Thread and Matter are built in (Bridge X included). That means lower-latency local control and far better resilience than cloud-only radios — your radiator valves keep working if the cloud hiccups. The starter kit ships with Bridge X so you get that benefit out of the box.

Room-by-room control that actually works. tado’s X platform ties thermostats and radiator valves into true per-room schedules rather than a single-zone assumption; that reduces wasted heating and solves the common problem of heating empty rooms.

Automation that can justify the spend. tado’s AI Assist (optional) uses geofencing, open-window detection and holiday modes; tado quotes up to 55% extra savings from those automations in modelling. If you want ongoing bills down rather than one-off tweaks, the automations matter.

Where Honeywell evohome wins

Proven multi-zone platform and installer familiarity. evohome has been on the market for years and supports up to 12 zones, which makes it a safe choice if you want wide installer support and lots of expansion options.

Slightly simpler buying story for some installs. evohome starter kits retail around £162 — effectively the same as tado X — and you can extend with evohome radiator heads and controllers without moving to a new ecosystem. If you already work with installers who prefer evohome, that reduces friction.

Who should buy the tado Smart Thermostat X

You run a boiler, heat pump or water-based underfloor heating and want your heating split into real zones with modern smart‑home compatibility. You value local reliability (Thread/Matter) and want automations that can reduce bills over time even if it means a small subscription.

Who should buy the Honeywell evohome

You’re buying through an installer or want a mature, widely supported multi-zone system with long dealer availability. You prefer a proven platform and don’t need Matter/Thread or tado’s AI automation.

The verdict

tado Smart Thermostat X takes this head-to-head. It’s the smarter buy for most people because it solves two persistent problems: flaky smart-home networking and poor multiroom control. At £159.99 vs roughly £161.99 for an evohome starter kit, the price difference is negligible — but tado gives you future-proof connectivity (Thread + Matter) and an included Bridge X, which is the real value.

If you want a third option that keeps things simpler and cheaper, look at Hive Active Heating for a basic, low-friction smart-thermostat approach.

Buy tado Smart Thermostat X if you want multizone control that won’t feel obsolete in a few years; pick Honeywell evohome if you prioritise installer familiarity and a long track record.