If it's a "Total Connect Comfort" thermostat, I have been able to set up an Amazon Echo and a Samsung Smart Hub to control it, although it's usually just easier use the app.
Right, The Honeywell "TCC" is their back-end server. The stat talks ONLY to the server. You can talk to the server directly through the TCC web site or Honeywell app, then the server sends your commands to the stat.
There's also an API so that third-party systems can talk to their server. Now you're talking to your system, which essentially does for you the same thing you'd do on the web page or app. That's one extra layer of communication, and one more thing to go wrong, but it actually works pretty well.
And of course, you can bring in a whole 'nuther layer by using a cloud-based voice control system like Alexa, Siri or Google. I haven't graduated to that yet, but I can see the benefit.
I had not made a decision on the thermostat yet. Most of the reviews I’ve read seem pretty bad. Mostly with the process to connect and WiFi type issues. I can’t tell if it’s just their ability or the equipment. Honeywell has a good name and the have a cheap one that will do what I think I want, but once in, maybe I’ll want more. So, at the moment, looking mostly at a Honeywell and a Ecobee.
This is the Honeywell. I’m leaning toward this unless I let the reviews get to me.
I have three of those. I also see them just about everywhere, and the price is not bad. Going on two years now, they've been very reliable. Between the web site and the app, they're easy to control from anywhere. Setup was a breeze (once I ran "C" wires.) Because everything's controlled from Honeywell's "mother ship" server, you don't really need to do much. They even manage their own software updates.
My only problem is that I'm a bit of a tinkerer, and I don't like the idea that I have no control, beyond what the web site and app give me. For example, every month they send me a nice e-mail showing the total time in heating and cooling mode, and a couple of simple charts comparing monthly usage. Great. But I want access to MY data, so I can make my own charts. I called, and that's not available.
Another minor annoyance: The API which allows my home automation hub (running Home Assistant) to talk to their server is limited to one connection every six minutes or so. So the heat could be on for up to 12 more (or fewer) minutes than my system knows about.
That said, you're not going to find any well-supported consumer product that lets customers tinker much. That drives support costs way up. I'm working on other ways to gather operating data from my HVAC system. As just a thermostat, these work fine.
I have heard a lot of negatives about the Ecobee, although no first hand experience there.
