Why spend more than you have to when you can find an affordable, quality thermostat that has the features you need? Check out the best thermostat under $50 to see if what you want is available at a cheap price. Maybe you are looking for a touchscreen thermostat with seven day programming that makes temperature control feel modern and intuitive.
Perhaps a straightforward non-programmable thermostat that accurately maintains temperature without bells and whistles will meet your needs. A programmable non-touchscreen thermostat can find a good balance between straightforward use and energy conservation. Consider your reasonably priced options and choose the best thermostat for you.
Best Programmable Thermostat Under $50
Orbit 83521 Clear Comfort Programmable Thermostat
The Orbit 83521 Clear Comfort Programmable Thermostat with Large, Easy-to-Read Display makes temperature control easy. The attractive blue backlighting looks good with any decor while the glass faceplate has a sleek, classic appeal. Temperature is displayed in large font that is clearly visible across the room.
Programming is simple with easy to push up and down arrows and simple switches. This thermostat comes pre-programmed with Energy Star recommended settings that can save you up to 33% on your energy bill.
While this thermostat isn’t a touchscreen, many people may find it easier to use than touchscreen. Seven day programming with four periods per day gives you complete control, and Early Start technology ensures that the temperature is what you want it, when you want it.
- 7 day programmable with four programmable sections per day
- Copy and paste days so you don’t have to repeat scheduling
- Easy to use fingertip buttons and simple switches
- Comes with Energy Star recommended settings to save you money on your energy bill
- Early start so you can be confident that temperatures will be at your set level by your desired time
- Compatible with most heating and cooling systems
- Permanent or temporary hold to override programming when desired
- Clear backlit display and attractive glass faceplate
- Not compatible with baseboard heaters, multi stage heating or cooling, or three wire hydronic systems
- Not touchscreen
- Some people have trouble installing
- No summary chart of programming makes programming a little confusing
Orbit 83521 Clear Comfort Specifications
- Compatible with two wire hot water systems, central heating and cooling systems, millivolt systems, and heat pumps without auxiliary/backup heat necessary
- One year warranty
- Certified Energy Savings
- Backlit display
Orbit 83521 Clear Comfort Review
The Orbit 83521 Clear Comfort Programmable Thermostat with Large, Easy-to-Read Display is a sleek, attractive thermostat that is easy to use and will save you money on your energy bill. The backlit LCD screen is large and so easy to read that you can clearly see the temperature across the room.
Orbit utilizes Early Start Mode to ensure that the temperature you want is reached by the set time. You can program each day individually, with up to four programmable periods per day, giving you complete control over your temperature, any time, seven days a week.
The copy feature lets you easily copy a day’s schedule so that you don’t have to program each day individually if you don’t need to. If you want to change just one section of a day’s programming for another day, you can easily copy the schedule and change the part that you want to change. This Orbit thermostat has a permanent and temporary hold feature so that you can indefinitely override programming or tell programming to hold for a set time.
This thermostat is accurate, capable of reading temperatures to within 1 degree for consistent control that beats competition. This versatile thermostat works with a variety of furnaces, central AC, heating and cooling systems, heat pumps without auxiliary, and more.
The switches that control this thermostat are intuitive and easy to use. Fingertip temperature control is easy for anybody to use, unlike touchscreen thermostats, which can be finicky for some people.
Energy Star recommended settings are preloaded for each day of the week so you can decide how far to alter temperature control from the most energy efficient available settings. If you choose to use the recommended settings you could save up to 33% on your energy bill.
Best Touchscreen Thermostat Under $50
Honeywell RTH8500D 7-Day Touchscreen Programmable Thermostat
The Honeywell RTH8500D 7-Day Touchscreen Programmable Thermostat offers a lot of features for the price. This touchscreen thermostat gives you a lot of control over your temperature throughout your week with seven day programming. If you go on vacation don’t worry about having to change all the programming when you go away and when you come back. Just set the thermostat on vacation mode and it will pause for your vacation and resume function when you return.
The Smart Response Technology constantly adjusts heating and cooling ahead of your specified time so that the temperature will be right where you told it to be at the programmed times. This is a lot of thermostat for under $50. If you want a more sensitive touchscreen or WiFi connectivity you will need to spend a little more, but this Honeywell programmable thermostat offers a lot for the price.
- Seven day programming for customized temperature control each day of the week
- Clear, easy to use display with green backlighting that won’t ruin your night vision
- Smart Response Technology continuously adjusts the pre-heating and cooling so temperatures are what they should be when they should be
- Compatible with most systems including heat pump
- Automatically switches between heating and cooling as necessary
- Saves your settings and the time and date
- Not compatible with electric baseboard heat
- Furnace may cycle on and off too frequently
- Unit dies with battery, which may result in losing temperature control
- Touchscreen could be more sensitive
Honeywell RTH8500D Specifications
- One year warranty
- Certified energy savings
- Compatible with heating, cooling, and heat pump
- Touchscreen
Honeywell RTH8500D Review
The Honeywell RTH8500D 7-Day Touchscreen Programmable Thermostat offers a lot of value for under $50. This thermostat is user friendly with the large touchscreen display that is backlit so it is clear even in the dark.
Customize programming exactly to your schedule with 7-day programming. Why heat or cool your home when you aren’t there? Adjust the temperature so that when you are at work or at scheduled outings your temperature control will run less. If you like it cold while you are sleeping, adjust the thermostat to get colder at night without you having to remember to change it.
Smart Response Technology adjusts pre-heating and cooling continuously and can tell whether your home requires heating or cooling. As long as you have a C wire, this thermostat is compatible with most systems, including heating and cooling and heat pump systems.
This thermostat makes ease of programming it’s priority, with a straightforward and easy to use display, a clear green backlit display that doesn’t destroy your night vision, and a filter change reminder so you won’t have to worry about forgetting to change your air filters.
When you go on vacation, you can use the Vacation Hold feature to adjust the programming temporarily so your air conditioner and heat doesn’t run while you’re away. Your settings will automatically resume when you return. This convenient feature saves you from having to re-program the thermostat when you return from vacation.
Even if your power goes out this thermostat will remember the day and time as well as your settings so that when power returns function will resume as normal. If you live in an area with daylight savings you can tell this Honeywell to adjust time automatically so you don’t have to remember to change it.
A one year warranty from the old and trusted name of Honeywell can give you confidence in your buying choice for this affordable thermostat.
Best Non-Programmable Thermostat Under $50
Honeywell TH3110D1008 Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat
If you’re sick of fiddling with programmable or smart thermostats that don’t work the way you expect them to, or you’ve never seen the point in programmable thermostats, the Honeywell TH3110D1008 Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat may be the choice for you. This straightforward thermostat keeps the temperature where you set it.
There is no scheduling, connecting through WiFi, or other bells and whistles. Just use the simple up and down arrows to adjust the temperature and choose whether you want the fan on or auto and you’re done.
This thermostat is accurate to within a degree so you will be able to keep your space at the exact temperature that you prefer. This thermostat won’t adjust between air conditioner and heat, so if you live somewhere with extreme temperature fluctuations it may not be right for you.
- Very affordable at under $30
- Extremely simple and easy to use
- Very accurate
- 5 year limited warranty if professionally installed.
- Backlight only comes on when you push it, making it difficult to find in the dark
- Does not switch automatically between heating and cooling
- Battery runs out quickly depending on use
- Must be installed by technician
Honeywell TH3110D1008 Specifications
- Works with: Gas, oil, or electric heat with air conditioning as well as furnaces, heat pumps, steam, gravity, heat only, cool only
- Not touchscreen
- Accurate to within one degree
- 5 year limited warranty if professionally installed
Honeywell TH3110D1008 Review
If you want a good, straightforward thermostat that will get the job done, Honeywell TH3110D1008 Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat might be the thermostat for you. The nondescript design of this discrete Honeywell will blend effortlessly into any decor. Temperature is easily adjustable with up and down buttons. If you spend most of your time at home and don’t need to schedule temperature ahead of time, a reliable non-programmable thermostat can meet your needs.
If the extra information and options of fancy thermostats are just frustrating for you, you will like the straightforward information and control of this thermostat. The display clearly shows the inside temperature as well as what the thermostat is set to. A clear backlit display is easy to read no matter the lighting conditions. It turns off discreetly between uses so it doesn’t draw attention to itself in your space.
This precise and accurate thermostat maintains temperature to within one degree of accuracy. Choose between auto fan and fan on and cool or heat. A five year limited warranty can make you feel confident of your buying decision.
