Comparisons
Versatile Thermostat vs Better Thermostat
Better Thermostat excels with thermostatic valves. Versatile Thermostat matches it there and also covers electric radiators, heat pumps and whole-home management.
What is Better Thermostat?
Better Thermostat (by KartoffelToby) is a very popular HACS integration that improves thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) by aligning them with an external sensor. It acts on the setpoint, on the calibration offset or directly on the valve opening, with several algorithms: AI Time Based (default), MPC and MPC v2, self-tuning PID, TPI or aggressive mode. It handles window and door sensors, an optional cooling device, and turns heating off in summer based on the outdoor temperature. It only drives climate entities. Version 2.0, in beta, rebuilds its decision engine and adds a degraded mode when a sensor fails.
Better Thermostat official websiteFeature comparison
| Feature | Versatile Thermostat | Better Thermostat |
|---|---|---|
| Electric radiators, relays and pilot wireBetter Thermostat requires wrapping a switch in a Generic Thermostat. | Yes | No |
| Thermostatic valves, heat pumps and air conditioners (climate entities) | Yes | Yes |
| Direct control of valve opening | Yes | Yes |
| Valve sensor calibration / synchronization | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic coefficient learningBetter Thermostat learns the room heating power (AI Time Based), an MPC model or PID gains. | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor temperature compensationBetter Thermostat uses it in its TPI (fixed coefficient), its MPC model and the summer cut-off. Versatile Thermostat lets you tune this coefficient, and Auto-TPI learns it. | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic presence via sensor | Yes | No |
| Motion detection | Yes | No |
| Open window detection via sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic open window detection (temperature drop)Versatile Thermostat detects an open window without a sensor, using the temperature slope. | Yes | No |
| Power shedding | Yes | No |
| Central boiler control | Yes | No |
| Central mode for all thermostats | Yes | No |
| Automatic stop / restart of heat pumps | Yes | No |
| Heating and coolingBetter Thermostat requires a separate air conditioning climate entity. | Yes | Partial |
| Heating failure detection | Yes | No |
| Safety mode when the sensor stops respondingBetter Thermostat falls back to the valves' internal sensors, then holds the last valve opening. | Yes | Yes |
| Thermostat lockBetter Thermostat's lock reverts changes made on the valve itself. Versatile Thermostat's lock blocks changes from Home Assistant, with a PIN code. | Yes | Partial |
| Automatic periodic valve maintenanceVersatile Thermostat offers an on-demand valve recalibration service. | No | Yes |
| Dedicated Lovelace card | Yes | Yes |
| Online log analyzer | Yes | No |
| Plugins (algorithms, cards, integrations)The official SmartPI plugin adds regulation based on a learned thermal model (power, heat loss, dead time). | Yes | No |
Comparison checked against the documentation and source code of Versatile Thermostat and Better Thermostat (1.9.3 / 2.0.0 Beta 1) in October 2026. Both projects move fast: please report any mistake on GitHub.
Why choose Versatile Thermostat?
One tool for all your heating
Valves, electric radiators and pilot wire, heat pumps and air conditioners: the same integration, the same configuration and the same card for the whole home.
Automatic presence and motion
Versatile Thermostat switches to away mode on its own thanks to a presence sensor and restores comfort when motion is detected, with no automation to write.
Power shedding and central boiler
Power shedding to avoid exceeding your subscribed power, and boiler switch-on as soon as valves call for heat.
Centralized control
A central mode (single selector) puts the whole home in Eco, Frost protection or off with one click.
Direct valve regulation with self-learning
Direct opening control combines the TPI algorithm with Auto-TPI, which learns your room's coefficients over successive cycles.
Safety and diagnostics
Safety mode when the sensor stops responding, heating failure detection and code-based lock.
Online log analyzer
Load your logs and see temperatures, setpoints and triggers (window, safety, start-stop) on a chart. The analysis runs in your browser: your logs stay with you.
Learn moreExtensible with plugins
Since version 10, official and community plugins add regulation algorithms, cards, blueprints and integrations to fit Versatile Thermostat to your setup.
Learn more
When Better Thermostat remains a good choice
- Your setup only has thermostatic valves and you want to try its MPC v2 room models or its self-tuning PID.
- You use Homematic IP valves: a dedicated option spaces out commands to respect their duty cycle.
- You want the valves exercised automatically every week so they don't seize.
- You expose your thermostats to Google Home, a compatibility Better Thermostat highlights.
Switching from Better Thermostat to Versatile Thermostat
Both integrations use the same climate entities from your thermostatic valves: migrating requires no new hardware. 1. Install Versatile Thermostat from HACS. 2. Create one “Thermostat over a climate” per room with the same valves and the same temperature sensor. 3. Choose self-regulation by direct valve control if your valves expose it. 4. Then disable the matching Better Thermostat entity so the two integrations don't drive the same valve.
Ready to try Versatile Thermostat?
Pick your heating type and follow the tutorial: your first thermostat is up and running in a few minutes.