Automate almost anything with these super-smart plugs
The best smart plugs 2024 in make it simple and cheap to manage many things. Do you want to make an old light remote work? That can be done with a smart plug. Need to turn off a lot of electronics before you leave? You can do that too, of course.
One great thing about smart plugs is that they’re getting cheaper and cheaper, so you can use them to make things smarter that would be too expensive to replace with better ones. There are also apps, the best smart speakers, and intelligent screens that make it easy to control almost anything.
Smart plugs have an extra benefit: they can help you use less energy, which could save you money. You can learn more about how smart plugs can save energy by reading about them, but in short,Pair them with the brightest lights and an intelligent heater to use the least energy. If the app supports geofencing, you can even set it off when someone leaves your home.
We went through the most popular types from all the major brands to find the best smart plugs. This list has options with Amazon, Apple HomeKit, and Hive. It also has choices from well-known and less well-known but still good brands. We’ll also let you know if a smart plug works with Matter, the new standard to make it easier to connect smart home tech and work with more devices.
THE BEST SMART PLUGS 2024
THE BEST SMART PLUG FOR MOST PEOPLE
1. EVE ENERGY SMART PLUG
For most individuals, the best smart plug
| SPECIFICATIONS | Dimensions: 2.8 x 1.5 x 2.4 inches (US) / 7.2 x 7.2 x 7.1 cm (UK)Wireless connection type: Bluetooth and Thread |
| TODAY’S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon(White) |
| REASONS TO BUY | Excellent energy monitoring+Apple HomeKit compatible+Thread and Matter support |
| REASONS TO AVOID | Expensive compared to the rest of the market |
The best smart plug you can get is the Eve Energy one. It is simple to use and monitors how much energy the connected gadgets use. If you give accurate information from your energy provider, it can also show you how much the whole thing costs.
This smart plug may be linked to your home using Bluetooth or Thread and Matter smart home technology. Thread eliminates the stuttering of smart home devices and is more reliable than Wi-Fi. Additionally, Matter is now present in products like Amazon’s Echo speakers, which allows you to link your Matter smart home to this formerly HomeKit-only gadget.
Although it is more costly than other products on the market and has a simple all-white style, don’t let that deceive you—it has many valuable functions, such as the ability to make timetables. Furthermore, it is more broadly compatible due to the Matter support, which is a considerable gain.
THE MOST AFFORDABLE SMART PLUG
2. WIZ SMART PLUG
The most affordable smart plug
Some people define “no-nonsense” as being direct, while others describe it as simplistic. These statements are applicable in this case because the WiZ Smart Plug has a modest feature set and is easy to use. Because of its reliable operation and connectivity, it’s pretty simple to use and performs precisely what it’s designed to.
Neither Apple HomeKit support nor energy consumption monitoring are available. In addition, it can only be connected to a Wi-Fi network using the regular 2.4GHz frequency and set up calls for a few more steps. That being said, those are minor annoyances (apart from HomeKit users), given the price of the WiZ Smart Plug.
Folks who are just beginning to build a smart home and want something easy should choose the WiZ Smart Plug. It wasn’t expensive, and it’s easy to understand how it works.
THE MOST INTELLIGENT POWER STRIP
3. TP-LINK KASA SMART WI-FI POWER STRIP KP303
The most innovative power strip ever
| SPECIFICATIONS | Dimensions: 10.2 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches / 26 x 6.34 x 3.8cm Wireless connection: Wi-Fi |
| TODAY’S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon(White) |
| REASONS TO BUY | Simple to use+Three smart sockets+Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant |
| REASONS TO AVOID | No HomeKit support-No energy monitoring |
TP-Link Kasa KP303, a bright power strip, lets you connect several smart plugs that work with Google Home or Alexa in your smart home. It’s simple to use, and the plug changes on and off on its own in an “Away” mode. If you plug in a lamp or radio, that’s a great way to keep thieves away.
You can set up events and patterns that let other TP-Link devices work with the smart plug, among other things. It does everything we thought it would.The power strip also has two USB ports. They should be brighter, but these are useful if you need an extra plug to charge your stuff.
This white smart plug may look better than the others in this line. It also doesn’t work with HomeKit and doesn’t track energy use. It’s still a good choice if you want to make your other electronics better.
THE BEST SMART PLUG FOR THE ECOSYSTEM AROUND ALEXA
4. AMAZON SMART PLUG
The power strip also has two USB ports.
| SPECIFICATIONS | Dimensions: 3.2 x 1.5 x 2.2 inches (US) / UK 5.6 x 9.62 x 6.3 cm (UK) Wireless connection: Wi-Fi |
| TODAY’S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon(White) |
| REASONS TO BUY | Simple setup+Compatible with Alexa+Easy to create automations with other smart home devices |
| REASONS TO AVOID | No HomeKit or Google Assistant support-No energy monitoring |
Getting the Amazon-branded smart plug makes complete sense if Alexa is your life. Although it isn’t the most affordable smart plug available, its seamless integration with Alexa routines makes configuring automation for your house a breeze.
The sizeable smart plug is controlled even while you’re not at home because it connects to the internet via Wi-Fi.Setting it up was simple because a QR code did everything for us.
It demonstrated responsiveness in testing using both Alexa and the app. Neither an energy monitoring feature nor an Away mode that randomly turns devices on and off to help discourage burglars is present. It should come as no surprise that this smart plug does not support Google Assistant or HomeKit, but despite this, it is still an excellent smart home appliance.
THE IDEAL INTELLIGENT PLUG FOR YOUR LIGHTS
5. PHILIPS HUE SMART PLUG
The ideal intelligent plug for your lights
| SPECIFICATIONS | Dimensions: 2 x 3 x 1 inches (US) / 6.4 x 6 x 6cm (UK) Wireless connection: Bluetooth |
| TODAY’S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon(White) |
| REASONS TO BUY | Compact design+Integrates with Philips Hue system+Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit and Matter |
| REASONS TO AVOID | Expensive compared to rest of the market-Requires Hue Bridge for control when you’re not close by-No energy monitoring functions |
When an intelligent socket is used only to connect to the internet, what happens to old lamps that don’t support smart bulbs? Finding a superior choice to the Philips Hue smart plug will be challenging. It can be operated via the Hue app and interfaces with any existing Hue bright lighting in your house. Better still, it’s small, works with Google Assistant, Alexa, or HomeKit, and is compatible with Matter on the Hue Bridge it connects to.
It’s among the priciest models of smart plugs we’ve evaluated. This is particularly true if you still need to own a Hue bridge, which guarantees you can control the plug while away from home. Furthermore, it lacks an energy monitoring capability.
Still, if you want to upgrade the intelligence of your current lighting, this is a beautiful purchase.
THIS SMART PLUG IS BEST FOR A SINGLE ECOSYSTEM
6.HIVE ACTIVE SMART PLUG
The ideal plug for a particular habitat
| SPECIFICATIONS | Dimensions: 1.2 x 2 x 3.9 inches (US) / 3 x 4 x 8 cm (UK) Wireless connection type: Wi-Fi |
| TODAY’S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | Small, neat design+Easy to create automations+Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and HomeKi |
| REASONS TO AVOID | Needs Hive Hub or Active Heating-Some hiccups during initial setup |
Initially producing only smart thermostats, Hive has expanded to become a leading brand in smart home appliances ranging from lighting and cameras to locks and plugs. If you want to test bright lighting, It’s one of the cheapest communities to join—it costs less than Philips Hue.
Setting up and operating the Hive Active plug is easy once you have a Hive Hub or Hive Active Heating thermostat. Using the Hive app on your phone, you may activate the plug,Connect it to a Hive sensor or switch, or set a daily plan up to six times. It is also compatible with HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Alexa.
Not only is the Hive Active Plug relatively compact, but it’s also one of the most understated—if not fashionable—options out there. You might need to persevere, though, since we had some early set-up issues.
HOW TO SELECT THE IDEAL SMART PLUG
There are many factors to consider when selecting the finest smart plug before deciding on a specific model.
Consider the installation process of the smart plug first. While some smart plugs replace your current outlets, the majority connect to your current outlets. Putting in these smart plugs is cool, but you might need to hire a pro if you need to learn how to do it yourself.
It’s essential to know how many outlets a smart plug has before you use it. A power strip with up to four smart outlets built in will be cheaper if you want to use your phone to run more than one thing close by.
Consider keeping an eye on how much power a device that is linked to the smart plug is using. If so, put in your energy bill information and see if the smart plug can figure out how much it will cost.
Some smart plugs use Bluetooth to talk to your phone, but you can only use them when they’re close by. To make sure you remember to turn off electronics, get one with built-in Wi-Fi or one that connects to the internet via a bridge and receives orders from the cloud. This way, you can be away from home and still turn it on or off.
Check to see if a model is compatible with the voice assistant you currently use in your house and whether it will work with other smart home appliances, such as intelligent lighting, video doorbells, and home security cameras. Voice helpers only sometimes work with smart plugs.
FAQ
HOW DO SMART PLUGS OPERATE, AND WHAT ARE THEY?
If you have a smart plug, you can use your phone to turn an outlet on or off even when you’re not there. They can connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and some use the internet to send the order. You can handle them with an app on your phone.
There are two types of smart plugs: the most basic and popular type plugs into an existing power outlet; companies that make these plugs include Philips Hue, We-Mo, Amazon, and even IKEA.
As an alternative, decide to swap out your old power outlet for a smart one. Nevertheless, fewer types of this kind of smart plug will be available to you, and replacing them will require access to your home’s wiring, necessitating the services of an expert. See our article, “What is a smart plug and how can it stop your fear of leaving the coffee maker on?” for more information.
FOR WHAT PURPOSES IS AN INNOVATIVE, HELPFUL PLUG?
A smart plug can turn on any device and let you control it with an app. If you need to remember to turn off your hair straighteners before you leave the house, or if you want to make coffee without getting out of bed, this could help.
It may be used with any item with a standard plug and connects to an existing power outlet; the applications are virtually limitless. Another valuable use for smart plugs is monitoring how much energy an appliance consumes. The companion app lets you view the figure, which is typically displayed in Kwh. Nevertheless, you may also factor in Discover how much power costs and give this energy use a monetary value with specific smart plugs.
DO SMART PLUGS CONTRIBUTE TO ENERGY SAVINGS?
If you forget to turn off the power, smart plugs can save you money.. Like, if you leave your laptop to charge all the time, it will use power.even when the battery is fully charged. Or you frequently forget to turn off the radio, side lamps, or lights when you leave a room. If so, the solution might be to use a smart plug.
DOES ALEXA (AND OTHER VOICE ASSISTANTS) WORK WITH SMART PLUGS?
If you forget to turn off the power, smart plugs can save you money. Let’s say you leave your laptop to charge all the time,
You can also automate your home so that many smart home devices work at the same time when you give them an order or certain events happen.Let’s say that your home security camera sees someone moving. Then, a smart plug connected to a DAB radio could turn on, making it look like someone is home.
Bear in mind that not every voice helper can work with smart plugs. If you already have a smart home, ensure the model you buy will work with it.
HOW THESE SMART PLUGS WERE TESTED
We assess how simple it is to install and operate each smart plug to determine the most available ones. We evaluate their responsiveness to smartphone control when we are nearby and away from home. We also verify whether voice assistants are compatible with each model, whether they are compatible with Google Assistant, Siri, or Alexa, and how well these assistants react to requests about smart plugs.
There are also extra features like energy tracking and “Away” modes that change the plug randomly to make it look like the room is filled. We also check how long each design lasts and if it has any extra features.. Also, we look at any extras that come with the smart plugs, like hubs, and see if you must read a lengthy manual to figure out how to use them.
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