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Software · head to head

Nest vs Shelly

Nest logo

Nest

Software

Google's smart home hardware and software ecosystem

From
On request
Rated
-
Shelly logo

Shelly

Software

Powerful WiFi smart home devices with local control

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Shelly has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Nest pricing not published in support documentation; individual product prices vary significantly; Shelly premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • They diverge on capability: Nest covers Learning Thermostat, Shelly covers Local Control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nest and Shelly actually diverge.

Attributes where Nest and Shelly differ
AttributeNestShelly
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsHardware, Mobile, WebWeb, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network
Founded20102016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Nest

  • Learning Thermostat
  • HD Cameras
  • Smart Alerts
  • Energy Savings
  • Google Assistant
  • Third-party apps
  • Works with Nest
  • Nest Hub support

Only in Shelly

  • Local Control
  • Open API
  • MQTT Support
  • Energy Monitoring
  • Home Assistant
  • Alexa
  • SmartThings
  • Local API support

Both cover

  • Google Home
  • IOS support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Nest

  • Households already invested in Google Home ecosystem seeking integrated smart thermostat, camera, and door locknot Shelly
  • Users wanting unified control of temperature, security, and entertainment across multiple devicesnot Shelly
  • Organisations deploying Google-based smart building solutions with Nest hardwarenot Shelly

Shelly

  • Smart home automation and controlnot Nest
  • Energy monitoring and managementnot Nest
  • WiFi/Bluetooth/Matter device integrationnot Nest

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Nest

  • Pricing not published in support documentation; individual product prices vary significantly
  • All Nest products require Google Home ecosystem integration for full functionality
  • Smart home devices operate only within the Google Nest ecosystem; limited third-party interoperability
  • Support and product documentation dispersed across Google support rather than centralised Nest site

Shelly

  • Premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • Device-specific capabilities vary; not all features available across entire product range

Pricing, plan by plan

Nest

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nest review.

Shelly

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Shelly review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Nest if

  • You need learning thermostat.
  • You work on Hardware, Mobile, Web.
  • You also want hd cameras.

Choose Shelly if

  • You need local control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
  • You also want open api.

Questions people ask

Is Nest or Shelly better?
Neither clearly leads. Nest starts at On request and Shelly at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Nest or Shelly?
Shelly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Nest and Free for Shelly.
Does Nest or Shelly run on more platforms?
Nest runs on Hardware, Mobile, Web. Shelly runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
Can I use Shelly for free?
Yes. Shelly has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Nest starts at On request.
What is Nest best used for?
Nest is most often used for households already invested in google home ecosystem seeking integrated smart thermostat, camera, and door lock, users wanting unified control of temperature, security, and entertainment across multiple devices, organisations deploying google-based smart building solutions with nest hardware. Of those, households already invested in google home ecosystem seeking integrated smart thermostat, camera, and door lock and users wanting unified control of temperature, security, and entertainment across multiple devices are not what Shelly is typically brought in for.
What can Nest do that Shelly cannot?
Nest covers Learning Thermostat, HD Cameras, Smart Alerts, Energy Savings. Shelly covers Local Control, Open API, MQTT Support, Energy Monitoring. Both handle Google Home, IOS support, Android support, Web support.

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