The short version: The Nest Learning Thermostat is a premium device with a beautiful display and strong auto-scheduling. The Nest Thermostat is a budget-friendly option that handles the basics well. Neither supports Apple HomeKit; if that matters to you, ecobee is the only alternative. If you’re in the Google ecosystem and want the best Nest has to offer, the Learning Thermostat is the pick.

Two Very Different Products

Google sells two current smart thermostat models, and the naming causes confusion:

Nest Learning Thermostat Nest Thermostat
Price (CAD) ~$329 ~$149
Display Mirror/stainless, 3.25″ colour Satin finish, 2.08″ LCD
Learns schedule? Yes, observes and auto-programs No, manual schedule only
C-wire required? No (power harvesting) No (power harvesting)
Apple HomeKit No No
Google Home Yes Yes
Alexa Yes Yes
Room sensors No No
Farsight (activates from across room) Yes No
ENERGY STAR Yes Yes

The Learning Thermostat is Nest’s flagship, the one with the iconic round metal design that’s been updated through four generations. The Nest Thermostat is a simpler, cheaper alternative with a plastic housing and smaller display.

Nest Learning Thermostat: The Detail

Design

The fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat has a 3.25-inch colour display in a circular housing available in mirror, obsidian, polished steel, and brass finishes. Farsight activates the display when you walk toward it from across the room, a useful feature the cheaper model lacks.

It’s the most visually distinctive thermostat on the market. Whether that matters depends on how much attention you pay to wall hardware.

Auto-Schedule: Does the Learning Actually Work?

The Learning Thermostat observes your manual adjustments for the first week and builds a schedule from your patterns. After 1–2 weeks, it programs itself.

In practice, this works well for households with consistent routines and less well for irregular schedules. If your work-from-home days are unpredictable, the Nest may heat to “away” temperatures when you’re home, requiring manual overrides.

You can edit the auto-schedule in the app at any time; you’re not locked into what it learned.

Ecosystem

Nest integrates tightly with Google Home, enabling automations with other Google devices (Nest cameras, Nest Hub displays, etc.). It works with Alexa for voice control.

No Apple HomeKit support. This is the Nest’s most significant limitation for Apple users. If you use an iPhone and want HomeKit integration, ecobee is the only major alternative. This is a major omission: HomeKit automations, location-based triggers via the Home app, and Siri control don’t work with Nest.

Rush Hour Rewards (Demand Response)

Nest supports utility demand-response programs through Rush Hour Rewards in participating areas. When your utility has a peak demand event, Nest adjusts your temperature automatically and you receive a bill credit. See Nest Rush Hour Rewards: Which Utilities & How Much for participating utilities.

Nest Thermostat: The Detail

The Nest Thermostat at ~$149 CAD is the entry-level option. It has a smaller 2.08-inch LCD display, a plastic satin housing, and a simpler feature set.

What it does:
– Manual schedule programming (doesn’t learn automatically)
– Remote control via app
– Google Home and Alexa integration
– Works without a C-wire (battery + power harvesting)
– ENERGY STAR certified

What it lacks vs the Learning Thermostat:
– No auto-schedule learning
– No Farsight display activation
– Less polished display (no colour, smaller)
– No rush-hour demand-response integration on all programs (check your utility)

For a household that wants basic smart thermostat features (remote control, scheduled temperature changes, app monitoring), the Nest Thermostat does the job at $180 less than the Learning model.

C-Wire Situation

Neither Nest model requires a C-wire. Both use power harvesting: the thermostat draws a small charge from the heating/cooling system at intervals to maintain its battery. This works fine in the vast majority of homes.

On a small number of HVAC systems, power harvesting causes the system to click on for a moment to charge the thermostat, a “ghost call” that’s harmless but can be annoying. This is not common, but it’s worth knowing.

Unlike ecobee (which includes a Power Extender Kit), Nest doesn’t provide a hardware C-wire adapter. If your system has a dedicated C-wire available, you can connect it to the Nest’s C terminal and eliminate the power harvesting.

Heat Pump & Compatibility

The Nest Learning Thermostat works well with single-stage and multi-stage gas furnaces, central AC, and conventional heat pumps. It supports the O/B terminal for heat pump reversing valves and handles auxiliary/emergency heat.

In cold Canadian climates with heat pumps, the Nest Learning Thermostat’s balance point handling is adequate: you set the temperature at which auxiliary heat activates in the app. ecobee has more granular controls for complex heat pump systems, but Nest handles standard setups correctly.

What Nest doesn’t work with: Electric baseboard heaters (line-voltage). For baseboard heating, see Best Smart Thermostats for Electric Baseboard Heating in Canada.

Rebate Eligibility in Canada

Both Nest models are ENERGY STAR certified and appear on most Canadian utility rebate qualifying lists. The Nest Learning Thermostat shows up on more lists; the Nest Thermostat appears on some lists but not all. Verify for your specific program.

See Smart Thermostat Rebates in Canada by Province.

Price, Warranty & Value

Nest Learning Thermostat Nest Thermostat
Price (CAD) ~$329 ~$149
Warranty 2 years 2 years
Subscription None None

Value assessment:
– The Nest Thermostat at ~$149 is reasonable value for basic smart thermostat features without HomeKit. It’s often the cheapest ENERGY STAR-certified option, making the rebate net cost very low.
– The Nest Learning Thermostat at ~$329 is harder to recommend against the ecobee Enhanced (~$229). The ecobee costs $100 less, adds room sensors and HomeKit support, and has better energy reporting. The Nest Learning wins on design and the auto-learning feature. Whether that’s worth $100 more is personal.

Pros & Cons

Nest Learning Thermostat Pros:
– Best-looking thermostat on the market
– Auto-schedule works well
– Farsight display is a nice touch
– Tight Google Home integration

Nest Learning Thermostat Cons:
– No Apple HomeKit (biggest limitation for Apple users)
– No room sensors available
– More expensive than ecobee Enhanced with fewer features
– 2-year warranty (vs ecobee’s 3 years)

Nest Thermostat Pros:
– Lowest-cost ENERGY STAR option
– No C-wire required
– Google Home integration
– Simple, reliable

Nest Thermostat Cons:
– No auto-learning
– Small display
– No HomeKit
– Demand-response support more limited than the Learning model

Nest models compared: Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat, features, price, rebate eligibility

The Recommendation

Buy the Nest Thermostat if you want basic smart thermostat features at a low price and you’re in the Google ecosystem.

Buy the Nest Learning Thermostat if design matters to you, you want auto-scheduling, and you’re committed to Google Home.

Consider ecobee instead if you use Apple products (HomeKit support), want room sensors, or want a longer warranty. See Nest vs ecobee: Which Should You Buy?

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Google Nest work with Apple HomeKit?
No. Neither Nest model supports Apple HomeKit. If HomeKit integration is important to you, ecobee is the only major smart thermostat that supports it natively.

What’s the difference between the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat?
The Learning Thermostat observes your adjustments and programs itself automatically. It has a premium metal design with a colour display and Farsight activation. The Nest Thermostat requires manual scheduling, has a simpler plastic design and smaller screen, and costs $180 less.

Does Nest work without a C-wire?
Yes, both models use power harvesting to charge an internal battery, eliminating the need for a C-wire. On rare HVAC setups, this can cause brief ghost calls; most installations work without issue.

Is Google Nest ENERGY STAR certified in Canada?
Yes. Both models carry ENERGY STAR certification and appear on most Canadian utility rebate qualifying lists.

Does Nest work with heat pumps?
Yes. The Nest Learning Thermostat supports heat pump wiring (O/B terminal, auxiliary/emergency heat, dual-fuel systems). The Nest Thermostat supports basic heat pump setups.

Can I use a Nest with electric baseboard heating?
No. Both Nest models are low-voltage (24V) thermostats. Electric baseboard heaters require line-voltage thermostats. See Best Smart Thermostats for Electric Baseboard Heating in Canada.