Thank you for this video. It seems difficult to find detailed information on Tado out there, your video finally cleared up a bunch of my questions.

Excellent info, thank you. I was settled in the idea that I was going to buy tardo for the new house we're moving into in a few months. However the idea of being tied to a subscription fee completely changes my view. From your videos and more research I've been doing I'm still convinced that tardo is one of the best if not the best system out there but monthly payments for anything is something that I'm not very keen on.

Thanks for making this so clear. Was already thinking about Tado, but not any more now.

So in uk you telling me 6 months you dont use heating??? You mean 2-3 months if lucky

I don’t have the auto assist. There is normally someone at home when we have the heating on and i find that if the weather is good then the heating doesn’t come on any way. I do have trv on each radiator though.

Thanks for the concise information. I have just installed a Tado V3 system. To be honest, if you have paid the cost of the smart thermostats then the subscription should not worry you too much. Bought the initial start-up pack to try it out it was in a sale at the time. I was impressed so much that I bought another 3 pack to finish the install, it had gone up by £50 because the sale had finished. What impresses me is being able to adjust the heating from anywhere If you decide to get up early for instance you can go on the app and just switch on the bathroom from your bed or wherever. If you think of buying it wait for the sales.

Thanks for this Mark, I appreciate your content as always. like everyone else, the thought of subscription puts me off. especially if you are new n thinking of tado. it is hands down one of the best on the market though. i like the idea you mentioned of subscribing only during the winter months. I may try that, but think going to hold off as much as possible. does this mean that the current Away feature will not be automatic anymore? currently its using geofencing. are expected to do this manually now? doesn't sound to me like the subscription is worth it at the moment. not really getting anything new. as long as tado doesn't switch of features for existing customers, like open window etc we should be okay. i like the idea of the air quality of new thermostats. but for me a step too late as you have air purifiers with this feature, that will kick in once the quality hits a certain level.

The "auto" feature is not subscription only. I've not paid the fee, and the away from home feature works for me. However, I didn't buy it to primarily save money, that's a useful benefit but mostly I like the level of control; by room temp and also remotely. Manual control is not an issue for me and isn't really the key usp, being able to control it from almost anywhere and every room however is.

I bought the original V1 Tado kit some years ago, to get the ability to control our home heating when we are abroad. That early version turns the heating down or off when we leave, and gives frost protection while we are away. We chose it because at that time it was the only such system available where we live and Nest were being coy about saying when, if ever, it would be available outside the US. Our system is pretty basic by today’s standards but does almost everything we need without any ongoing subscriptions etc. My big reservation concerns Tado’s customer support which, in my experience, is poor to non-existent. We had some problems with our installation at the start and after being helpful initially, Tado’s customer support people eventually gave up trying to help, refused to send the installers out again to sort it out, and then broke off contact completely. I was left to sort the issue out myself. More recently I raised another issue with them by email and never received any response. The problem turned out to be pretty simple and caused by a flat temperature sensor battery. I am sure that Tado could have told me that, had they taken the trouble to reply to my email, but again I was left to figure it out by myself. For that reason, when my existing equipment needs replaced, I will not be buying Tado again.

I am also investing in such a system prior to buying a new Viessmann 200 for my small home, around 7 or 8 rariothermostats except for the living room that will be controlled by the thermostat itself. Most important is room temperature control when the kids leave the house. I can turn it on/off with the app? So if I am driving home I can do it myself, don't really need geofencing for that. Am I right or am I missing something? Input would really help... Thanks

I use 15 tado radiator valves in my rentalhouse, which was a big investment, but worth it, as I see after 6 months of use. I was about to buy the thermostat for the floorheating in the main room but this video makes me think that it would not be the best solution as my clients dont need all those extra features. The only feature I really need and tado has not implemented is to set a MAX temp for the radiator valves.

I have just purchased the Tado V3+. Yet to be delivered and was eagerly awaiting it. Not so sure now that geo fencing is subscription based. May send it back unopened. That said your tip about having the subscription only over the months you use the heating makes sense. Plenty of food for thought over the next few days.

@steviesteve750

5 жыл бұрын

I've just installed it today, and no sub required for geofencing

Thanks Mark Was just going to buy 8 tardo trvs - will now look for an alternative. I'm not paying for a monthly subscription.

I’ve ordered this but this video is 10 months ago so was just asking do you think it’s still better than nest or hive ? I want to control every room automatically as its a big house but only 2 of us in it but I’m a bit bothered as it looks difficult to set up but I haven’t used it or any smart thermostats so I don’t know what to think now

They must be absolutely bonkers. Never! Happy I discovered this, I was 2 minutes from buying.

@monstrositylabs

3 жыл бұрын

same

Thank you for the video, the monthly fee is a big turn off.

If you decide to upgrade to he new app, please make a video. I'm very curious to see if they have screwed up the UI or they have just reorganized it a bit. To me the old app presented in your videos seemed quite prefect, so I can only imagine a change in a bad direction...

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

From the screenshots - I like the /look/ of it. Aesthetics aren't everything though - it's also got to be functional! When I upgrade, I certainly plan to do a video overview of the new app :)

Thanks for letting us know about this new subscription policy! Tado certainly does not advertise it. They make it seem like the geo-fencing, open window detection, etc. comes for free. I was very seriously thinking about buying a Tado system, because the user experience seems much better than what I have with my current Netatmo system. I even had the Tado components in the basket for the last two days, I just never pressed the buy button yet. And I'm happy I didn't! Because this subscription is appalling! Not only is the equipment ridiculously expensive, now they give you the best features for additional cost? If I were an existing user, I'd very much feel cheated and ripped off. Because, like you said, they will pretty soon abandon developing the old app. That's just how software development works. I am so very disappointed.

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't be put off by the subscription personally. Whilst it might seem a bit frustrating, you'll save more than the subscription costs through the energy savings of the system. I re-evaluated my choice to go with Tado and not Nest as a result of this change, and I still don't regret my decision. Nest /still/ don't have radiator controllers (a major oversight), and whilst they profess to have location based control, it's based more on a simple 'home / away' mechanism. You still have to weight up which one is right for you - but I'd not count Tado out.

@steviesteve750

5 жыл бұрын

Geofencing is included for free.

@TheGuptfauj

5 жыл бұрын

@@NewHomeTricks you may make the money back for the subscription but it'll more than double the time it'll take to recoup the actual cost of purchasing the equipment itself. from another review i watched the guy calculated his 5-7 yrs to recoup the money doubled to 12-15 yrs depending on usage etc. Possibly taking it right outside the life of the products itself.

Am I still able to set some automated scenarios using google Home even thought I am not subscribed to Tado services ?

Was going to invest in Tado, now I don’t think I will. The geofencing option was what attracted me to the system in the first place! If I have to pay for it, I’m less keen.

This is the reason why I havent bought into tado yet. I was about to, but I'm not going to but 15 radiothermostats from a company that I no longer trust. I do not need a subscription for my radiator control's. A shame, I really liked the product.

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

It's frustrated many customers. I understand the need for maintaining the business model. One thing I plan to do is monthly updates so I can hopefully offer an idea of whether you can still save more than you spend with Tado. My suspicion is that you can, but it's something I want to track and share through the channel.

@pedervanroestdahl

5 жыл бұрын

@@NewHomeTricks i will be following along.

@richarddarnell486

5 жыл бұрын

+1

@Sharx95147

4 жыл бұрын

its funny how people think cloud service should be free. unfortunatly they gave it out free at first , but this businessmodel is not sustainable in long term.

@roots2825

4 жыл бұрын

​@@Sharx95147 it's not funny, it's the competition, nest/google offer geofencing for free.

Hi, the V3 works with homekit?! i think! so homekit has geofencing which can be used to automate the thermostate?!

@itfben

4 жыл бұрын

R4smart solutions I thought this so.... does this mean not to buy v3 and buy old hen or can I get v3 and not pay for the subscription?

I am going to have to change my thermostats and having looked around. I really like the Tado system at the moment. Checking the UK site there is plenty of info regarding the subscription fee and what you get out of it. Personally I dont really need to be told there is a window open, auto assist. For goodness sake we either turn the heating down or off when we go out, why all of a sudden do I need help with that. Likewise regarding outside temperatures. If I feel cold I turn it up or down if I am too warm. I really dont see the point in that app to be honest. Must be the English in me. Everything else that is free, no subscription I really like and want. All I have to do is work out how many radiator thermostats I require and who to purchase it off. Brilliant update, love the advice. Wish there was a little more on the timer as no one seems to mention that. Regards Chris

In October 2019 I bought a V2 Thermostat starter kit and was able to install the old V3 app - this starter kit was brand new but they are not easy to find as technically they are older stock - though the Thermostat seems to have the same features as the latest one (firmware upgrades will occur), the V2 bridge does not support HomeKit. I then followed the upgrade path and payed a 1 off fee of £19.99 for the V3+ app which then included the auto-assist without subscription. This was a more viable option and avoided the ongoing subscription fee - which Tado supported me with. Finally I then replaced the V2 bridge with a V3 bridge I bought with a TRV starter kit as so was able to use the HomeKit features. I also fitted the Tado Extention kit for the boiler to support wireless operation and now have the full Tado system i.e. Extension Kit/Thermostat/V3 Bridge/V3+ App and Auto-Assist with Alexa/Homekit/IFTTT integration - this all works very well and is better all round than the Hive Active Heating system I had before which couldn't interact with the Tado TRV's.

@Jajalaatmaar

2 жыл бұрын

Could I do this at someone's home who has a tado v2 or 3? Just make an account there, pay the fee and then go back to my home with the 3+?

What about evohome

I just bought Tado. The subscription can put me off a little bit on getting it for the year and will follow your advice of doing a month to month basis for now. But I guess it all depends where you are coming from. I had just a timer and no TRVs or anything. I bought the full kit with a few Tado TRVs. I know I will be saving way more than 3 euros a month. Anyway, if I don't save, I will just send the kit back and get my money back

@itfben

4 жыл бұрын

Pedro Silva I doubt you can send it back for a refund after installation

Thanks for the video! Like many others, I don't want to pay for automation services. But many of these paid features - scheduling & geofencing - should be doable via HomeKit, no? So no reason to pay Tado. Can anyone confirm?

@Hellerup

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly my question as well

Hi, thanks for your video. What if I buy a v3? Will I be able to use the old (subscription free) app?

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

To the best of my knowledge if you find stock of the 'old' one, then yes.

You could hookup tado with HomeAssistant/Openhab or domoticz and system could maintain your heating using tado API for free. With subscription model you need to pay lots of pounds for ring video door bell, tado heating, security system, cctv in cloud etc. I do automate my home to save monies not to spend more!. And definitely say no to subscription model is hence I won't be choosing TADO and go for Honeywell evohome.

Thanks for your video. To be honest I never heard of anything like Tado before today so maybe I 1st heard about this 12 hours ago. I absolutely hate subscription services I live in Rep Of Ireland and we are nothing like the UK where you have so many different companies to pick and choose from comparison sites here in Ireland there something we only dream of. So the fact that Tado is going to be a subscription it really has made me think twice. I know you said you don't need to subscribe but it's a lot of cash to layout and I'm not sure the savings would ever come back to me. What has my interest is I'm unwell and my wife runs round doing the vast majority of the house work. So I'm constantly cold while the sweat is falling off my poor beautiful wife. She roasting and has light clothes on but because I'm unwell I'm inside with the heating on full and can still sometimes find myself with my coat on. Anyway thank you so much for all the great information. It was a pleasure finding out about this amazing product.

I suppose that even without the subscription, controll of leaving the home automatically, can still be achieved with homekit automation, is that not the case? And if yes what other main features will not exist in case you do not opt for subscription? I'm currently considering tado for my home. Thanks!

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

I guess that -yes- you could use an external system like Homekit or IFTTT to control things. It's likely to work less effectively since such systems work purely on the basis of whether you're at home or not. Whereas Tado adjusts your heating based on how far away you've traveled in order to effectively warm your home to a comfortable level in time for your arrival back. However, for basic control an external system could provide some level of automation.

Helpful clear video - although this information is now out of date. I am an existing Tado V3 customer (not the V3+ hardware which comes with the subscription). Tado have now revised their position on this to existing customers. I am now able to upgrade my App to the new V3+ version, and keep my existing geolocation and open window detection features without having to pay for the subscription. I have it confirmed in writing by email from Tado, and also raised a support query with one of their representatives to confirm the same thing. Here was the response from Tado: 'The upgrade for 13.99 includes the payed subscription for Auto-Assist, confirmed. As you mentioned, the features are automated in the V3 app already, so it wouldn't be fair to charge the customers after they get a new app version V3+. That is why the upgraded V3+ app will not ask you for subscription, ever.'

I don't get it... I have the v3 app and my heating has been turning off when everyone leaves the house for two years already....

Would this be better than nest? What pros does this have over nest?

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

Hi there! I don't have experience of both systems, so I can't give you a comprehensive review or product comparison. However I can speak generally about them. Essentially, the products have a different 'heritage'. Where nest began, was to focus on the idea of it being a 'learning' thermostat. That means you don't need to explicitly set a heating schedule. Instead, you start out by simply turning the thermostat up when you want it warm, and down when you don't. After a while, the system will just 'learn' when you want heating, and will adjust automatically. Tado focused more on location based heating control. So you still manually define a schedule, but then based on your phone's location (and the phones of others in your household), the system will adjust by turning your heating down when you're away, and back up when you're on your way home. Today, both systems have progressed to incorporate similar features. Nest has some location capabilities, and Tado has a few fancy features for its timer. One other difference to call out; Tado also have their own radiator controllers that can be added to the system. Nest do not currently have this (at least, not yet).

@waseemhussain1865

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks very informative

Well I was about to place an order tomorrow and came across this vid, thank goodness. It’s not cheap and for some who have invested into this kit will continue to pay if they want to keep the functionality they had already paid for. What a rip off and how could they get away with it. I can’t see there support lasting long to be fair on the old app. Also if apps are automatically updated, bang, you have lost your functionality and can’t go back. Well, I’m now considering the Drayton wiser or the Honeywell Evo.

@Chobaca

4 жыл бұрын

Same

The Geofencing works for FREE if you (as I do) use Apple iPhone - iPad! Which is brilliant!

@greetp

3 жыл бұрын

Hi David Is that by using HomeKit?

@banditdave1200

3 жыл бұрын

@@greetp Or load the Tado App.

The subscription has totally put me off buying Tado - with the price of the radiator trvs and the units themselves, it was going to be hard to recoup the mney spent but with the added subscription cost, this will more than double taking it beyond the end of the life of the units making it not viable anymore. Shame really as the product was great but i will certainly not be investing in it now. Looking at drayton wiser or evohome now (or just going for the simpler nest)

All the company’s want to implement monthly fees and turn physical tech into monthly services, young people growing up today have to learn to avoid the plague of monthly fee services that are a fiscal death of a thousand cuts.

I was just thinking to buy one and this video is turning me off.. thanks for all the tips but now I need to rethink indeed

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't let it put you off. You'll likely save more than enough to cover the subscription cost. Personally I have no 'buyers remorse'. The ultimate thing for me is that Tado /works/, and works very well. So I still feel it's worthy of consideration if you're in the market for smart heating :)

I use Honeywell Evohome with smart TRV’s on all rads. They detect window open and optimise for warm up & cool down. I use the Life360 app to create all family members then create a recipe in IFTTT to turn to away setpoint once the last family member leaves etc and back on when returning home. Although this is all great the lack of HomeKit and app development is making me seriously consider Tado.

Hi All I'm an existing Tado customer and have been for some time. This system has worked really well for me. At time of purchase you could either buy outright or pay so much per month. I decided to buy the lot outright and it's been a great system. Now this is where I am confused. I had a notification that Tado was making a major upgrade and I could pay a one off payment to upgrade to the new App and its new layout and other new options but as an existing customer that would be it. After viewing the video I was taken by surprise that I would ALSO have to start paying a monthly subscription - is this correct? I definitely did not expect to pay monthly as I am sure when I made my initial purchase of the kit they categorically stated that I would never be charged extra for any future upgrades! Just bought radiator thermostats also and I will be gutted if they have renaged on their original agreement. How sad IF this is the case.

could i still automate this with smartthings / homey / openhab or any other "hub" without having a subscription?

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

Possibly. The result would not be quite the same. Tado detects your overall proximity to your house, and as you get closer (when you're coming home) gradually turns the heating up. The idea being that your home should be at a pleasant temperature ready for your arrival. Other systems would likely only turn the heating on at the point you arrive, thus your home may initially still be cold.

So everyone migrates to the subcription model as they upgrade their mobile phone and loose access to the old app.

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

Based on my understanding this will not be the case. The version of the app you see will be tied to your account. So if you don't upgrade, you keep the original app. In addition, Tado have now announced that customers who are on the 'Original' system, will be able to upgrade /Without/ needing to subsequently add the subscription to maintain functionality.

Frankly I don’t believe Tado, I’ve an Arlo camera system that allowed me to swap in and out Cameras as I’ve six cameras and can only monitor five for free! But an update stopped this unless I subscribe! leaving me with one expensive useless camera. That’s the Americans for you they didn’t advise and once updated I couldn’t go back.

Thanks for this video. That pretty much put me off from buying this product.

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

Be sure to watch the next one too, outlining the policy change. Plus check out my videos on what you actually save with a smart Thermostat system!

You ask for feedback - I am a prospective customer and I AM put off - but not by the subscription - which is for functions I regard as fripperies. I am repelled by the fact that Tado give so little detail about functional specs and that they have outsourced their support to the people they have already taken money from - their customers! It's reprehensible. Oh, and by the fact that in a 3 storey house with wi-fi repeaters on each floor, Tado's stats cannot use this, but instead would shred their batteries in an attempt to contact the 'internet bridge'. If I were only able to raise Tado by phone I suspect I'd be told to scatter more internet bridges around the house, each taking up a further network port. And I'm also put off by a product that is ostensibly part of the revolution we humans need to tread more lightly on the planet we are stomping over, but which will (despite a hailstorm of existing customers' requests) only support disposable batteries, and not NiMH rechargeables. This does not augur well for the contentment of Tado's future customers - which won't include me for the time being. BTW congratulations on a thoughful & well-articulated review.

Tado - the most confusing company ever! So difficult to find out what you need - for example why isn't the "extension kit" called a "wireless receiver". That's what it is!!! And now this automation nonsense - detecting an open window? Detecting when someone's gone out or coming home?? Talk about a cure for a problem that didn't exist!! Got one coming tomorrow from Amazon. Going straight back unopened. Thanks for the video though 👍

*empties Apple basket

see Reddit for more Tado discussion

@Resurrected46

5 жыл бұрын

Mark, thanks for the update. I emailed Tado with questions five days ago and so far I've had no response. It's a shame that I had to get answers from you as Tado seem very poor at responding. Like you I have the v2 thermostats (it was your review that helped me come to my original decision) and they are a brilliant piece of kit. I'll not be changing at present but I can't help but feel this change is going to dent Tado's place in the market. Especially as they've introduced it in a rather underhand way in my opinion. Whilst I'd looked at the website and the v3 kit I had no idea until this vlog that there was now a subscription service.

Subscription ! No thank you! Thanks or the video was so close to buying.

Have to say, now not buying Tado

Subscription service? Ha ha. It's a joke.

@NewHomeTricks

5 жыл бұрын

I would not say its an unusual feature of the smart home product landscape. Take cameras for example. Both nest and ring require a subscription for cloud video recording. I would say that it does seem unusual for a smart heating system specifically.