Hive Active Heating is British Gas's answer to smart home heating — a polished, widely available system that lets you control your boiler from anywhere in the world via an app. Backed by one of the UK's largest energy suppliers, Hive has become one of the most recognisable names in smart heating, with millions of installations across Britain. But does it stand up to scrutiny in 2026? This hands-on review covers everything from what's in the box to Home Assistant integration.
What is Hive and who makes it?
Hive is owned by British Gas (Centrica). Launched in 2013, it was one of the first mainstream smart heating systems in the UK and has since expanded into a full ecosystem of smart home products including smart plugs, bulbs, cameras, and sensors — all managed through a single app. The heating system itself is engineered in the UK and is designed to work with the majority of combi, conventional, and system boilers found in British homes.
Kit contents
The Hive Active Heating starter kit includes three components. First, the Hive Thermostat — a circular, backlit touchscreen unit that mounts on your wall in place of your existing thermostat. Second, the Hive Receiver, which wires into your boiler and communicates wirelessly with the thermostat. Third, the Hive Hub, a small white box that plugs into your router and bridges the thermostat to the internet via a proprietary 868 MHz radio protocol. The kit includes the thermostat, receiver, hub, four AA batteries, mounting hardware, and a user guide. OpenTherm wiring is supported on compatible boilers, which can yield modest additional efficiency gains.
DIY install vs professional install
Hive offers both self-install and professionally installed options. The DIY kit (the model this review covers) is designed for homeowners who are comfortable with basic wiring — essentially swapping out the old thermostat wires to the new receiver and mounting the thermostat on the wall. The process typically takes 30–60 minutes and Hive provides in-app guidance and video tutorials. For those less confident with wiring, Hive's professional installation service sends a British Gas engineer to your home; this option also includes one year of Hive Plus membership free of charge. Note that certain boiler types — including some Worcester Bosch models and oil-fired boilers — require professional installation due to compatibility constraints.
The Hive app
The Hive app (available on iOS and Android) is the system's control centre. From the app you can set target temperatures, switch between heating modes (Schedule, Manual, or Boost), and check real-time temperature readings. The Boost function activates heating for one hour without overriding your schedule — handy when you arrive home earlier than expected. A Heating History feature logs your daily usage patterns so you can identify waste. Holiday Mode lets you set a frost-protection temperature for a set period, protecting your pipes while minimising energy use. The interface is clean and beginner-friendly, requiring no technical knowledge to navigate.
Geofencing
Hive's geofencing uses your phone's location to trigger alerts when you leave or arrive home with the heating still running — or not yet on. Unlike tado°, Hive does not automatically adjust the temperature based on your location by default; instead it sends a push notification prompting you to act. Some users find this less automated than rivals, though it avoids unexpected heating bills caused by misfired geofence triggers. The feature requires location permissions and works on both iOS and Android.
Schedules
Schedule creation is flexible and intuitive in the Hive app. You can set different temperature profiles for each day of the week, with up to six time slots per day. Schedules sync to the thermostat itself, meaning the system continues to follow its last-known schedule even if the hub loses internet connectivity — a practical advantage over fully cloud-dependent rivals.
Hive TRV compatibility
Hive Radiator Valves (TRVs) extend the system to individual rooms. These Zigbee-based valves fit onto standard radiator valve bodies and are controlled through the same Hive app as the main thermostat. You can set per-room schedules and temperatures independently of the main boiler schedule, turning your home into a multi-zone heating system without rewiring. The TRVs communicate directly with the Hive Hub and appear as separate devices in the app. They are sold separately from the main kit.
Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit
Hive works with all three major voice platforms. Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit (including Siri Shortcuts) are all supported, letting you adjust the temperature, check the current setting, or activate Boost by voice. Setup is handled through each platform's companion app and requires linking your Hive account. Voice control covers the main thermostat and any connected TRVs.
Home Assistant integration
Hive has an official Home Assistant integration that is configured via the UI — no YAML required. It uses cloud polling (minimum 30-second interval) and supports Climate entities for the thermostat and any TRVs, a Water Heater entity for hot water control, Binary Sensor entities for Hive door/window and motion sensors, Switch entities for Hive smart plugs, and Sensor entities for battery levels and boost status. Authentication requires your Hive account owner credentials and two-factor authentication — shared or secondary accounts will not work. Once connected, you can build automations in Home Assistant to control heating alongside other smart home devices. For a broader comparison of how Hive stacks up against other smart thermostats from an automation perspective, see our best smart thermostat UK guide.
Hive Plus subscription
A Hive Plus subscription is entirely optional — the system works fully without it. Hive Plus costs £3.99/month (or £39.90/year) and adds Saver Mode (automated temperature optimisation), a Budget Tracker, extended warranty coverage, and priority customer support. For most households, the free tier provides everything needed for day-to-day smart heating control.
UK price and where to buy
The Hive Active Heating 2 thermostat and receiver kit is available for around £149–£179 depending on retailer and promotions. It is stocked at major UK retailers including Screwfix, B&Q, and Amazon. You can buy the Hive Active Heating 2 kit on Amazon UK (approx. £149–£179). Hive TRVs are sold separately at around £50–£60 each.
Verdict
Hive Active Heating is a solid, well-supported smart heating system that hits the sweet spot for most UK households. The setup is straightforward, the app is polished, and the British Gas backing means professional installation and customer support are readily accessible across the country. Geofencing is notification-based rather than fully automatic, which some power users will find limiting, and Home Assistant integration relies on cloud polling rather than a local API. But for anyone who wants reliable smart heating without complexity, Hive is one of the most dependable options available in the UK today. If you want to compare it directly against tado°, read our in-depth Hive vs tado° comparison.
Related: Hive vs Tado vs Nest UK, best smart thermostat UK, and best smart boiler controls UK.
