The digital age is here. Arguably, it has been here for quite some time now, however, there is no doubt that we live in an interconnected world. The digital innovations that have come in the last few years are nothing short of remarkable and life-changing. Not all countries, however, follow the same electricity and internet connectivity standards. You may wonder, for example, do products such as Nest work in other countries, for example, Canada?
The short answer is yes, Nest products work in Canada. Canada is a modern, developed nation and as such, has similar internet and electrical capabilities as other modern countries such as the United States. Not all Nest products may work exactly the same as other countries so if you are comparing to another country, be aware that there may be differences.
As with any country, there may be remote areas where internet access is not as strong or available as in larger cities. These areas may find their experience with Nest products to be a bit less feature-rich than areas where the full power of internet speed is available. If you are moving to Canada or visiting and wish to bring your products with you, will they work when you arrive?
Do I Need Adapters for my Nest Products in Canada?
There may be scenarios where you wish to take a Nest product with you while on vacation, specifically the Nest Mini for listening to music. If you are coming from another country you may wonder whether an adapter for plugging your Nest Mini in is needed. If you are coming from the United States, no, you do not need an adapter.
If you are traveling from another region i.e. the United Kingdom then yes, you may need an adapter for plugging anything in. Take a few extra minutes to make sure that the adapter you plan to purchase will work in Canada as there are different prongs to fit the outlets. Your best bet is a universal adapter that will work in many regions around the world.
HVAC System Differences for Nest Thermostat
If you are planning to bring your Nest Thermostat, which is likely only in the scenario that you are moving to Canada from the US, be sure to check the HVAC system in your new home to determine if your existing Nest Thermostat will work. The Nest product itself will work in Canada no problem, however, if your new home has a different heating system that is not controlled by a compatible thermostat, you may need a new thermostat.
Fortunately for you, the Nest product suite makes it relatively easy to check this. Simply head to nest.com/works and walk through the questionnaire provided. This questionnaire will help you determine if the wiring system in your new home is compatible with the Nest product you purchased prior to moving to Canada.
Are there WiFi Differences between the US & Canada?
Smart home products that connect to your WiFi network will use the available frequencies you have to discern the performance of the device. Common frequencies are 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. Will your Nest products work differently in Canada if there are any differences in the WiFi frequency bands? While there may be some differences in some locations, overall, this should not impact the ability of your Nest products to work in Canada.
Nest Subscription Differences Between US & Canada
There are slight differences in the Nest subscription pricing between the countries. In the US, the basic Nest Aware subscription, which provides you 30 days of event history along with alerting and other features, costs $6USD/month. In Canada, this same subscription will cost $8USD/month.
It is not a straight $2/month increase, however, as you need to factor in exchange rate differences and your overall cost of living for the true increase. For example, $6 USD right now is worth $7.43 Canadian so if your salary and cost of living were equal in value when you moved to Canada, it would only be another 57 cents a month difference.
The upgraded Nest Aware Plus plan, which gives you all the features of Aware but with 60 days of event history and 10 days of 24/7 monitoring history, is $12/month in the US. In Canada, this subscription is $16/month. Be sure to factor in these price differences when deciding whether to keep your existing subscription or if you are signing up for a new one.
Conclusion
Nest products work well in Canada and provide a wide range of valuable features for Canadian citizens. If you are traveling from another country and planning to bring a Nest with you, check to make sure you have a compatible adapter for plugging your device in when you arrive.
