# Versatile Thermostat vs the alternatives > Several integrations can regulate heating in Home Assistant. These comparisons detail, point by point, what each one can do and where Versatile Thermostat goes further. - [Versatile Thermostat vs Better Thermostat](https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/versus/better-thermostat/): Versatile Thermostat or Better Thermostat? TRVs, electric radiators, heat pumps, presence, power shedding: a detailed comparison for Home Assistant. - [Versatile Thermostat vs Smart Autotune Thermostat](https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/versus/smart-autotune-thermostat/): Versatile Thermostat or Smart Autotune Thermostat (SAT)? Room-by-room regulation or OpenTherm boiler: the comparison to choose well in Home Assistant. - [Versatile Thermostat vs Generic Thermostat](https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/versus/generic-thermostat/): Generic Thermostat or Versatile Thermostat? Hysteresis vs TPI, presence, windows, power shedding: why upgrade to Home Assistant's advanced thermostat. > [!IMPORTANT] > “Better Thermostat” is the proper name of another Home Assistant integration (https://github.com/KartoffelToby/better_thermostat). “Better” is part of that name: it does not mean that this thermostat is better than Versatile Thermostat, or better than any other solution. ## Versatile Thermostat vs Better Thermostat https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/versus/better-thermostat/ > [!IMPORTANT] > “Better Thermostat” is the proper name of another Home Assistant integration (https://github.com/KartoffelToby/better_thermostat). “Better” is part of that name: it does not mean that this thermostat is better than Versatile Thermostat, or better than any other solution. 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 website: https://github.com/KartoffelToby/better_thermostat ### Feature comparison | Feature | Versatile Thermostat | Better Thermostat | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Electric radiators, relays and pilot wire | Yes | No | Better Thermostat requires wrapping a switch in a Generic Thermostat. | | 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 learning | Yes | Yes | Better Thermostat learns the room heating power (AI Time Based), an MPC model or PID gains. | | Outdoor temperature compensation | Yes | Yes | Better 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. | | Automatic presence via sensor | Yes | No | | | Motion detection | Yes | No | | | Open window detection via sensor | Yes | Yes | | | Automatic open window detection (temperature drop) | Yes | No | Versatile Thermostat detects an open window without a sensor, using the temperature slope. | | 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 cooling | Yes | Partial | Better Thermostat requires a separate air conditioning climate entity. | | Heating failure detection | Yes | No | | | Safety mode when the sensor stops responding | Yes | Yes | Better Thermostat falls back to the valves' internal sensors, then holds the last valve opening. | | Thermostat lock | Yes | Partial | Better Thermostat's lock reverts changes made on the valve itself. Versatile Thermostat's lock blocks changes from Home Assistant, with a PIN code. | | Automatic periodic valve maintenance | No | Yes | Versatile Thermostat offers an on-demand valve recalibration service. | | Dedicated Lovelace card | Yes | Yes | | | Online log analyzer | Yes | No | | | Plugins (algorithms, cards, integrations) | Yes | No | The official SmartPI plugin adds regulation based on a learned thermal model (power, heat loss, dead time). | 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. (https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/debugger/) - **Extensible with plugins**: Since version 10, official and community plugins add regulation algorithms, cards, blueprints and integrations to fit Versatile Thermostat to your setup. (https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/plugins/) ### 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. ## Versatile Thermostat vs Smart Autotune Thermostat https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/versus/smart-autotune-thermostat/ SAT is built for OpenTherm boilers. Versatile Thermostat regulates each room, whatever the heat emitter, and manages everyday life in the home. ### What is Smart Autotune Thermostat? Smart Autotune Thermostat (SAT, by Alexwijn) is a HACS integration that drives a boiler through an OpenTherm or EMS-ESP gateway. It modulates the flow temperature using a heating curve and a self-tuning PID. A PWM mode also lets it drive a simple switch. It only handles heating. Smart Autotune Thermostat official website: https://github.com/Alexwijn/SAT ### Feature comparison | Feature | Versatile Thermostat | Smart Autotune Thermostat | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | OpenTherm / EMS boiler modulation (flow temperature) | No | Yes | Versatile Thermostat switches the boiler on or off without modulating its flow temperature. | | Electric radiators, relays and pilot wire | Yes | Yes | | | Thermostatic valves, heat pumps and air conditioners (climate entities) | Yes | Partial | SAT integrates valves as “rooms” that call for heat. | | Direct control of valve opening | Yes | No | | | Outdoor temperature compensation | Yes | Yes | | | Automatic coefficient learning | 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) | Yes | No | | | Power shedding | Yes | No | | | Central mode for all thermostats | Yes | Partial | SAT offers a multi-room comfort/eco mode. | | Automatic stop / restart of heat pumps | Yes | No | | | Heating and cooling | Yes | No | | | Heating failure detection | Yes | No | | | Thermostat lock | Yes | No | | | Dedicated Lovelace card | Yes | No | | | Online log analyzer | Yes | No | | | Plugins (algorithms, cards, integrations) | Yes | No | | Comparison checked against the documentation and source code of Versatile Thermostat and Smart Autotune Thermostat (4.2.1) in October 2026. Both projects move fast: please report any mistake on GitHub. ### Why choose Versatile Thermostat? - **True room-by-room regulation**: Each room has its own thermostat, sensor, presets and windows. The boiler only switches on when a room asks for it. - **Every emitter, not just the boiler**: Thermostatic valves, electric radiators and pilot wire, air-to-air heat pumps, stoves: Versatile Thermostat drives them all. - **Heating and cooling**: Cooling mode, automatic heat pump stop and restart, Auto-Fan: where SAT only heats. - **Presence, motion and windows**: Automatic switching based on presence and motion, window detection via sensor or temperature drop. - **Power shedding**: Essential with electric radiators: devices are cut by priority so you don't exceed your subscribed power. - **Community and documentation**: Full documentation in three languages, a database of tested devices and a dedicated card. - **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. (https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/debugger/) - **Extensible with plugins**: Since version 10, official and community plugins add regulation algorithms, cards, blueprints and integrations to fit Versatile Thermostat to your setup. (https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/plugins/) ### When Smart Autotune Thermostat remains a good choice - You have an OpenTherm or EMS boiler and want to modulate its flow temperature with a heating curve. - You want to control the boiler's domestic hot water. - The two tools can complement each other: SAT on the boiler, Versatile Thermostat in each room. This combination has not been officially tested yet. ### Switching from Smart Autotune Thermostat to Versatile Thermostat If you used SAT in PWM mode on a switch, simply create a “Thermostat over a switch” in Versatile Thermostat with the same switch and the same sensor: the TPI algorithm replaces the PID. If SAT drives your OpenTherm boiler, keep it for the boiler and add Versatile Thermostat on the valves in each room. ## Versatile Thermostat vs Generic Thermostat https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/versus/generic-thermostat/ Generic Thermostat is Home Assistant's starting point. Versatile Thermostat keeps its simple configuration and adds real regulation and whole-home management. ### What is Generic Thermostat? Generic Thermostat is Home Assistant's native integration. It switches a single switch on or off based on a temperature sensor, with a tolerance (hysteresis) and manual presets. It either heats or cools, depending on its configuration. Generic Thermostat official website: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/generic_thermostat/ ### Feature comparison | Feature | Versatile Thermostat | Generic Thermostat | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Built into Home Assistant, no installation | No | Yes | Versatile Thermostat installs in one click from HACS. | | Electric radiators, relays and pilot wire | Yes | Yes | | | Thermostatic valves, heat pumps and air conditioners (climate entities) | Yes | No | | | Direct control of valve opening | Yes | No | | | Several devices per thermostat | Yes | No | | | Proportional regulation (TPI) instead of on/off | Yes | No | Generic Thermostat works on/off with a hysteresis. | | Automatic coefficient learning | Yes | No | | | Outdoor temperature compensation | Yes | No | | | Presets (Eco, Comfort, Boost, Frost protection...) | Yes | Yes | | | Automatic presence via sensor | Yes | No | | | Motion detection | Yes | No | | | Open window detection via sensor | Yes | No | | | Power shedding | Yes | No | | | Central boiler control | Yes | No | | | Safety mode when the sensor stops responding | Yes | No | | | Heating and cooling | Yes | Partial | Generic Thermostat heats or cools, but not both in the same entity. | | Dedicated Lovelace card | Yes | No | | | Online log analyzer | Yes | No | | | Plugins (algorithms, cards, integrations) | Yes | No | The VTherm Hysteresis plugin reproduces the Generic Thermostat on/off regulation, if you prefer it. | Comparison checked against the documentation and source code of Versatile Thermostat and Generic Thermostat (Home Assistant 2026.10) in October 2026. Both projects move fast: please report any mistake on GitHub. ### Why choose Versatile Thermostat? - **Stable temperature, no yo-yo effect**: The TPI algorithm doses the heating on each cycle based on the gap to the setpoint and the outdoor temperature. No more hysteresis overshoots. - **Much more than a switch**: Valves, heat pumps, air conditioners, pilot wire, several devices per room: Versatile Thermostat adapts to your setup. - **Zero automations to write**: Presence, motion, away and return: everything is configured in the interface, no YAML. - **Open windows**: Heating stops when a window opens, with or without a sensor, and resumes when it closes. - **Power shedding and boiler**: Power shedding for electric radiators and central boiler control. - **Safety**: If the sensor stops responding, safety mode prevents heating at full blast or letting the room freeze. - **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. (https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/debugger/) - **Extensible with plugins**: Since version 10, official and community plugins add regulation algorithms, cards, blueprints and integrations to fit Versatile Thermostat to your setup. (https://www.versatile-thermostat.org/en/plugins/) ### When Generic Thermostat remains a good choice - You don't want to install anything outside Home Assistant. - You control a single switch, with an accurate sensor, and on/off is enough for you. - Your heating has very little inertia (supplementary convector) and fine regulation adds nothing. ### Switching from Generic Thermostat to Versatile Thermostat Versatile Thermostat is configured like Generic Thermostat, entirely in the interface. 1. Install Versatile Thermostat from HACS. 2. Create a “Thermostat over a switch” with the same switch and the same sensor. 3. Keep the default TPI coefficients or enable Auto-TPI. 4. Replace the old entity in your dashboards and automations, then delete the Generic Thermostat.