If you want a taste of living in a smart home without investing a lot of time and money, buy a smart plug. They’re inexpensive, easy to set up, and the only wiring you’ll need to deal with is a cord. Just plug one into a socket near the lamp or small appliance you want to control, plug that device into the smart plug, and configure things in the smart plug’s app.
Once the plug is on your home network, you can control it with your smartphone from anywhere you have broadband access, operate it on a schedule, and more. If you have a smart speaker, you can turn the smart plug on and off with a voice command. Incorporate it into a broader smart home system, and the sky’s the limit.
Updated February 9, 2024 to add a link to our Meross Matter Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini review. This smart plug’s primary appeal stems from its low price tag–at the time of our review, you could buy a 2-pack for $34.99–and its broad ecosystem support: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and Matter.
Unlike some of its Matter-compatible competitors, however, this one doesn’t have a Thread radio. It supports Matter over Wi-Fi, instead. And we encountered some setup hiccups with both Matter and with HomeKit. The good news is that Meross eventually issued a firmware update that fixed both problems, and we haven’t encountered any issues since.
Another reason the Meross Matter Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini didn’t make it to our list of top picks is that you can’t stack two of them in a duplex outlet. But you might feel differently after reading our review.
Our top picks in smart plugs
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug-in Switch (2nd Gen) (model D215P) — Best smart plug for most people
Pros
- Supports Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and Matter
- Slim form factor
- Simple, intuitive app
Cons
- Some hiccups during initial HomeKit setup
- No dimmer function (look at Leviton's model D23LP for that)
Leviton continues to make our favorite smart plug, and its second-generation device—model D215P—adds HomeKit and Matter compatibility to its extensive repertoire.
Like its predecessor, this smart plug connects directly to your network over Wi-Fi, so you don’t need to invest in a hub. And its slim form factor means you can plug two of them into the same duplex outlet (one on top of the other, that is).
Apart from not providing dimmer functions, this super flexible smart plug can support up to 15-amp loads, including up to 1500-watt incandescent lighting or 3/4-horsepower motors. It can also be paired with Leviton’s DAWSC Anywhere Switch Companion for 3-way control.
If dimming is on your must-have list, consider Leviton’s second-gen Decora Smart Mini Plug-In Dimmer (model D23LP), instead.
Wyze Plug (two-pack) — Best budget-priced smart plug
Pros
- Very affordable
- Supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT
Cons
- Only tracks usage by time, not energy consumed
- On/off only; no dimming capability
Wyze Labs’ smart plug is one of the least-expensive smart plugs you’ll find, priced at $16.99 as of this writing. In addition supporting Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, it can also be incorporated Wyze Labs’ own increasingly large smart home ecosystem.
Lutron Caséta Wireless Smart Lighting Lamp Dimmer Starter Kit (Model P-BDG-PKG2P) — Best smart plug for power users
Pros
- The included remote controls give this dimmer tons of extra usability
- Overall simple setup and operation
- Compatible with a variety of smart home hubs and gear
Cons
- Requires a wired bridge to integrate with your smart home
- Alexa configuration documentation could be much clearer
- Only works with lamps, not devices such as fans or space heaters
The hub in Lutron’s starter kit can control more than just the smart plugs that come with it. It also supports Lutron’s in-wall dimmer switches and you can use it to schedule and automate Lutron’s line of Serena powered window shades. What’s more, you can incorporate the kit into a broader smart home system, and it’s compatible with Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, too.
TP-Link Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug — Best Matter-certified smart plug
Pros
- Matter certification guarantees broad compatibility and easy setup
- We experience zero operational hiccups
- Physically small and unobtrusive
Cons
- More expensive than non-Matter-certified smart plugs
- No Thread radio on board
- Extremely basic usage history and no energy-consumption monitoring
This is the first Matter-certified smart plug we’ve reviewed, but that’s not the only reason TP-Link’s Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug deserves its designation as the best Matter-certified smart plug. The Tapo P125M is a breeze to set up and use, and its compact form factor ensures that two of them can be plugged into the same duplex outlet. You can expect to pay a little more for Matter-certified smart home products in these early days of the standard, but given that it is the future of the smart home, that expectation is reasonable.
Emporia energy-monitoring smart plug — Best smart plug for tracking energy consumption
Pros
- Outstanding value
- Intuitive and detailed energy-tracking features
- Streamlined, unobtrusive hardware
Cons
- On/off control only; it can’t dim a connected lamp
- No IFTTT or Matter support
- LED can’t be disabled
Whether you have an Emporia Vue power system in place or not, the company’s inexpensive smart plug is a great buy, especially if you want to monitor precisely how much electricity a connected load is consuming.
Wyze Plug Outdoor — Best outdoor smart plug
Pros
- Very affordable
- Individual socket control in hardware and app
- Energy consumption monitoring included
Cons
- Firmware update choked on installation
- Kilowatt-hour-scale usage meter won’t be useful for most users
The Wyze Plug Outdoor isn’t the $10 bargain it was when first announced in December 2020, but it’s still an incredible value. It not only beats the competition on price, it also delivers some features those devices don’t have. You can control its two outlets independently, for example, and thanks to its integrated photo cell, you can program the device to turn its outlets on at sunset and off at sunrise, even if the plug is out of range of your Wi-Fi network (just program while connected to your network and then move it to its final destination—the instructions will be stored in its memory). The plug will also monitor and report on your energy consumption. That’s a lot to offer for a $17 list price.
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Dimmer Plug (model KP405) — Best outdoor smart dimmer
Pros
- Offers the unusual feature of dimming
- Robust construction and IP64 weatherization
- Well priced considering the sparse competition
Cons
- Provides only one outlet
- Needless switching between screens to access dimmer function
- We occasionally experienced delays in state changes
While we’re hard-pressed to think of many scenarios that require smart outdoor dimming (as opposed to a simple on/off plug), the affordable TP-Link Kasa Smart KP405 certainly fits the bill. Arriving with a standard pigtail design, a rubber outlet cover, and a power button on top, the KP405 offers simple setup, sturdy construction, IP64 weatherization (making it ideal for use in rainy and snowy conditions), and an attractive price. On the minus side, you only get one outlet, and navigating to dimmer options in the Kasa Smart app can be a pain. Still, if outdoor dimming is a must, the Kasa Smart KP405 is your best option.
Lutron Caséta Wireless Outdoor Smart Plug — Best outdoor smart plug for power users
Pros
- Part of the comprehensive Caséta ecosystem
- Can be paired with optional remote control
- Also supports pumps and electric motors
- IP66 weatherization
Cons
- Requires Caséta Wi-Fi bridge to unlock all its features
- Provides only one receptacle
- Not Matter compatible
The Lutron Caséta Wireless is one of the best smart home ecosystems available, but it depends on a hub to function as a bridge to your home network and its connection to the internet. If you already have that hub, this outdoor smart plug is your best–in fact, only–choice for controlling outdoor electrical loads. In addition to lights, it can also control small electric motors and pumps. It’s not the right choice if you’re trying to standardize around Matter, but it’s compatible with so many other brands–including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and even Sonos speakers–that the absence of Matter compatibility really isn’t much of an issue.
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (model HS300) — Best smart power strip
Pros
- Six switched AC outlets that can be programmed with complex schedules
- Includes an “away” mode for simulating someone present in a home or office
- Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Microsoft Cortana
- Outlets can be combined in scenes with other Kasa smart-home devices
Cons
- No manual in the box, not even a tiny one
- Power cord is slightly too short for versatile placement
- No Apple HomeKit or Siri support
There’s isn’t a lot of competition in this area, but TP-Link doesn’t just win by default. The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip features six grounded outlets that can be independently controlled and scheduled, plus three fast USB charging ports. It of course offers protection from power surges as well. It might seem expensive at around $80, but it’s actually a pretty strong deal when you compare it to dual-outlet smart plugs that cost about $60.
What to look for when shopping for a smart plug
Smart plugs might seem like a commodity, but they cover a wide range of design styles, capabilities, and compatibilities. If you’re in the market for a smart plug, consider how your environment—and what you plan to connect to the smart plug—matches the following list of features.
Indoor vs. outdoor
Most smart plugs can only be used inside, since they aren’t weatherproof. (These are almost invariably white in color.) Weatherized switches (almost always black) are clearly denoted as safe for outside use.
Outdoor smart outlets are designed to withstand the elements. They’re just the ticket for holiday and landscape lighting.
Outdoor smart outlets are designed to withstand the elements. They’re just the ticket for holiday and landscape lighting.
Brian Nadel / IDG
Outdoor smart outlets are designed to withstand the elements. They’re just the ticket for holiday and landscape lighting.
Brian Nadel / IDG
Brian Nadel / IDG
Hub requirements
If you need to control the switch through a third-party hub like Samsung SmartThings, that’s one more piece of gear you’ll need to budget for. In many cases, a switch vendor will also offer its own hub as an option, though these can be limited in flexibility and features. Using a hub will also make it easier to interconnect various devices, so if you want to press a single button to turn on both overhead lights and lamps at the same time, a hub’s a great way to get this done.
Wireless standard
As with all smart home gear, smart plugs support one of several wireless technologies, including Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, and/or Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi plugs typically don’t require a hub—your router serves that role—while Zigbee and Z-Wave models do.
You’ll also encounter two proprietary standards: Clear Connect, used in Lutron’s Caséta products; and Insteon, an old-school hybrid of wireless and powerline home networking.
HomeKit support
If you’re looking for compatibility with Apple’s HomeKit devices (and want to tell Siri to turn lights on and off), you’ll need to look for this support, which should be well-labeled on a product’s website and packaging.
An alternative is to look for the Matter logo, as HomeKit is one of the smart home ecosystems (along with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings) that the new Matter standard supports.
Voice assistant compatibility
Many smart plugs work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or both. Support for Apple’s Siri is less common, but not hard to find. If you have Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomePod smart speakers in your home, you’ll love being able to turn sockets on and off with voice commands.
Power limitations
You can’t just plug anything into a smart plug. Most are rated to handle just a few hundred watts of power consumption, which is fine for a lamp or a coffee maker, but you might encounter problems if you connect a hair dryer or a professional blender to one.
Power plug manufacturers tend to bury their maximum wattage ratings in the fine print, so check carefully beforehand if you expect the outlet to support high-draw appliances.
TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip includes six grounded smart outlets in one.
TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip includes six grounded smart outlets in one.
TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip includes six grounded smart outlets in one.
Number of plugs
Designs vary widely here. Some smart plugs replace a single plug, some replace two. Some designs offer two plugs, but only one of them is smart; the other is an always-on pass-through plug. Whichever design you choose, be sure to consider the physical design of the device itself.
Many of these devices—even those with a single-plug design—cover up both wall sockets, which can greatly limit their utility. Smart power strips—which offer multiple, individually controlled smart plugs in a single device—are also entering the market. TechHive recently showered praise on a model from TP-Link.
Grounded or ungrounded
Some smart plugs offer only two-prong, ungrounded power. (This is done in part to dissuade you from attaching heavy machinery to the outlet.) If you need three-prong, fully grounded electricity, be sure to purchase one of the many smart plugs on the market that includes this feature.
Some smart plugs, such as this GE by Jasco model, accept only two-prong plugs and are not directly grounded.
Some smart plugs, such as this GE by Jasco model, accept only two-prong plugs and are not directly grounded.
Some smart plugs, such as this GE by Jasco model, accept only two-prong plugs and are not directly grounded.
Energy monitoring features
Curious as to how much power your connected device is sucking down? Energy monitoring features let you use the device’s mobile app to track power consumption over time, giving you a better argument to use against your wasteful, wasteful children who never turn off the TV.
Integrated dimming
If you’re hooking up a lamp to a smart plug, you can easily turn it into a dimmable lamp if the switch includes an onboard dimmer. These switches include hardware buttons to control dimming directly on the switch itself in addition to app-based control.
Author: Christopher Null, Freelance Contributor
Christopher Null is a veteran technology and business journalist. He contributes regularly to TechHive, PCWorld, and Wired, and operates the websites Drinkhacker and Film Racket.