A smart plug will instantly step up your connected home game. Through the wonders of Wi-Fi, these products will give you full control over your plugged-in electronics, even while you're away from home. You can turn them on and off instantly, set a schedule for your appliances, and keep track of their energy consumption.
You can also control your connected power outlets with voice commands to your preferred virtual assistant or by simply tapping on the screen of your smartphone, tablet, and, in some cases, smartwatch. To determine the product category's finest offerings, we spent a couple of weeks scrutinizing Wi-Fi-equipped products from leading brands like Wemo, TP-Link, Satechi, and Eve, to name just a few.
One of the most important things to look for in a smart plug is its ability to work with your preferred virtual assistant. Most products on the market can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. If you're a frequent Siri user, you should look for connected outlets with Apple HomeKit integration.
Setting up each product to work with your preferred assistant is easy — just visit their corresponding mobile app to get started. When it comes to the Apple HomeKit, all you need to do is to scan a barcode on the device.
Controls
In addition to voice- and app-enabled controls, look for convenient hardware switches to enable and disable the power outlets.
Thankfully, today's finest smart plugs don't require a separate hub to deliver their functionality. And best of all, they're all priced well below $100. Read on to check out the 10 best smart plugs worth buying today.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit
Other: Energy monitoring, companion app
The Wemo smart plug by Belkin is the best smart plug out today. It has a minimalist design, an impressively compact footprint that won't block other power outlets, and is compatible with all popular virtual assistants. Best of all, the nifty gadget has a low, impulse-buy price tag.
Thanks to the Wemo mobile app, you can control the mini smart plug from anywhere, monitor the energy use of the connected appliances, and even set their schedules. We like the product’s away mode, which randomly switches the lights on and off, creating the impression that you haven't left your home.
TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Plug Mini is an excellent, just-as-affordable alternative to the Wemo — as long as you're not an Apple HomeKit user. Like its Belkin rival, the accessory has a compact design that won’t block the vertical space in your power outlet. It also rocks a convenient light indicator.
You can control the Kasa Smart Plug Mini and monitor the energy consumption for the connected appliances via a mobile app. It also features an Away mode for randomly switching on the lights. TP-Link also offers a cheaper Kasa Smart Plug Mini that doesn't have any energy monitoring capabilities.
With a price tag that’s just a tad above $10, the Wyze smart plug is the most affordable smart plug that we recommend. The product has an understated design and easy-to-use controls. Wyze also offers bundles with multiple smart plugs, bringing the product's pricing to below $10 per unit — a great value.
The Wyze app can group multiple plugs into separate rooms and set custom schedules for connected appliances. On the other hand, vacation mode will randomly power lights on and off when you're away from home.
In addition to monitoring the energy consumption of the devices it powers, the Kasa Smart power strip also has built-in surge protection. Its plug has an angular setup to avoid blocking other wall outlets. We only wish that the product were compatible with Apple HomeKit.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit
Other: Companion app, weather-resistant build
If you're looking for a dependable smart plug to use in a garden, patio, or balcony, the Wemo WSP090 by Belkin is your best option. The product has a durable build and duo of splashproof, weather-resistant power outlets. Plus, it offers seamless integration with all popular virtual assistants.
The Wemo mobile app gives users complete control of the WSP090 power outlet, including setting schedules and monitoring the power usage of the connected appliances. Away mode — a feature that made the indoor Wemo our top pick — is also available on this iteration.
The Eve Energy Strip is hands-down the best multi-outlet option for Apple HomeKit users, and well worth its $100 price tag. The product’s aluminum housing and braided cable are of premium quality. Its power outlets have ample space between them, as well as a child lock button to prevent your little ones from accidentally pressing the hardware switches.
The accessory has onboard tech to protect the connected appliances from overcurrents and power surges. You can view their power consumption via Eve's mobile app.
Unsurprisingly, Amazon's own smart plug is designed to deliver seamless integration with the tech giant's Alexa virtual assistant. The understated gadget is insanely easy to set up — all you need to do is plug it into a power outlet, and Alexa will automatically detect it when it goes online.
Once set up, you can control the Amazon smart plug with Alexa voice commands. You can ask the assistant to turn a connected appliance on or off, or add it to an existing routine with lights and other devices.
The reasonably priced TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug KP200 is the best smart in-wall outlet for most consumers. Like the brand’s smart plug and power strip that we already mentioned, it offers easy virtual assistant integration — as long as you don’t need Apple HomeKit support.
The product has elaborate controls via the Kasa Smart app, as well as integrated manual switches. Away mode is also available. Because the KP200 is designed to replace a standard power outlet, be mindful that professional installation is necessary.
This connected surge protector by APC is hands down the most versatile option on this list. Its onboard power outlets include a trio of standard, permanently enabled ones (great for appliances) and three connected ones that you can control with voice commands or a mobile app. The same goes for the product's four onboard USB outputs — two of them are always on.
The APC PH6U4X32 has well-spaced outlets and stellar surge protection capabilities. You can order the accessory in black or white.
This smart outlet by Satechi is another solid product for Apple HomeKit users. It has a duo of side-by-side power outlets and a surprisingly compact housing. We also like that the device doesn’t block the second plug of a vertical wall outlet.
In addition to Siri voice commands via HomeKit, the device also comes with the Satechi Home app. The latter can control the connected appliances, as well as monitor their real-time power consumption.
Stefan VazharovSenior Technology EditorStefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015; He previously covered tech products for GSMArena.com and his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics.
Brandon CarteSenior Electronics EditorBrandon Carte has been the technology editor at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been covering the latest gadgets and scouring the internet for the greatest deals; His tech reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com and USA Today.
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