The ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential was released in 2025. It is the newest model in the ecobee lineup, and we highly recommend any of the ecobee family or products. There are reasons you may want to consider the Enhanced or Premium versions. For most use cases in short-term rentals, the Essential is going to give you everything you need.
The most important features of the original ecobee3 Lite thermostat are included in this version, including:
- Remote access – that you can share with others easily if needed
- Temperature limits – to ensure guests don’t turn the thermostat to extreme temperatures
- Temperature warnings – if things get too cold or too hot in the property
- HVAC alerts – if the system is calling for heat and the temperature drops, for example, you’ll get an alert
- Easy controls – these are typically easy for guests to use without issue
The new Essential model is a little smaller than it’s siblings, and doesn’t have the same ability to control more complex HVAC systems. It also doesn’t feel as high quality as the Premium version, but our assessment is that these additional features aren’t needed for your short-term rental.
The thing we like most about the ecobee lineup is the ability to set temperature limits. This allows the guest to adjust the temperature to their liking without feeling locked in or over-controlled at your property. For example, if you set the cooling temperature limit to 62 degrees, the guest can adjust it down to 62 but no further. This will save you a lot of headaches caused when guests turn it all the way down (or up).
It’s a great thermostat from a trusted brand, and we highly recommend this thermostat for Airbnb hosts and managers. If you aren’t sure this version will work with your HVAC system, check out their Thermostat Compatibility Checker to see which model might work for you.
