tado° Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit vs Hive Thermostat Mini
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The short answer
you have a heat pump, want hot water control in the same kit, or plan to add tado° radiator thermostats.
you have a compatible combi boiler and already own a Hive Hub, which makes it the cheaper option.
| Feature | tado° Wireless Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit (with Hot Water Control and OpenTherm) | Hive Thermostat Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Lowest verified price | £139.99 at Screwfix (checked 6 November 2026) | £79 at Hive shop (checked 6 November 2026) |
| Also needed | Nothing extra | Hive Hub (£80) |
| 3-year cost (price + required subscription) | £139.99 | £79 |
| Subscription | £47.88/yr (optional) | £39.90/yr (optional) |
| Compatibility | ||
| UK heating systems | Combi boilerSystem boiler (check)Regular boiler (check)Heat pumpOpenThermNeutral wire: not statedRenter-friendly | Combi boilerSystem boiler (check)Regular boiler (check)Heat pumpOpenThermNeutral wire: not statedRenter-friendly |
| Buy | ||
| View at Screwfix | View at Hive shop | |
Open in the interactive comparison (all rows, differences mode) →
Differences that matter
Price
At the manufacturers' own shops on 5 November 2026, the tado° kit was £159.99 (no bridge needed) and the Hive Thermostat Mini was £79 — or £159 if you also need the Hive Hub (+£80). Both have optional subscriptions: tado° AI Assist at £3.99 a month and Hive+ at £3.99 a month or £39.90 a year.
Heat pumps
tado° lists the kit as compatible with most heat pumps using relay or OpenTherm control. Hive says heat-pump compatibility is not guaranteed.
OpenTherm
Both support OpenTherm. Hive limits OpenTherm to compatible combi boilers and single zones.
Warranty
tado° states a 2-year warranty. Hive states 1 year as standard, continuing while you subscribe to Hive+.