The best smart plugs are an easy and affordable way to automate pretty much anything. Want to make an old light remote controllable? A smart plug will do that. Need to kill the power to various devices when you go out? Yes, you can do that as well.
One of the big benefits of smart plugs is that they're increasingly affordable, which means you can use them to smarten up devices that would be too expensive to replace with smarter versions. And you can control via apps, via the best smart speakers, or via smart displays for effortless control of pretty much anything.
Smart plugs have an added benefit: they can reduce your energy usage, potentially saving you money. While you read up on how smart plugs can save energy for more information, the quick sum,ary is that you can run them using routines in tandem with the best smart lights and a smart thermostat to minimize your energy usage. And with platforms that support geofencing, you can even switch things off automatically when people are leaving your home.
We’ve taken a look at all the best smart plugs, testing the most popular models from all the key manufacturers. You’ll find options that work with Amazon, Apple HomeKit, and Hive, and you’ll see recognizable brands as well as lesser-known but still quality ones on this list. We'll also tell you whether a smart plug works with Matter, the new standard designed to make smart home tech easier to connect and more widely compatible.
The best smart plugs 2024
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The best smart plug for most people
The Eve Energy smart plug is the best you can buy in our eyes. Simple to use, it keeps track of the energy consumption of the devices plugged into it - and if you provide specific details from the energy provider - the total cost, too.
This smart plug connects over Bluetooth, or Thread and Matter smart home technology. Thread is more stable than Wi-Fi and puts an end to smart home devices failing to respond. And Matter is now included in devices such as Amazon's Echo speakers, enabling you to connect this formerly HomeKit-only product to your Matter smart home.
Compared to the rest of the market it's expensive and its all-white design is simplistic, but don't let that fool you - it’s got plenty of handy features such as the ability to create schedules. And the Matter support is a big bonus that makes it more widely compatible.
Read our full Eve Energy smart plug review
The best cheap smart plug
For some, no-nonsense means straightforward while, for others, it means stripped down. Both descriptions apply here as the WiZ Smart Plug is simple and straightforward to use while being fairly light when it comes to features. It's incredibly easy to use and does exactly what it’s supposed to, thanks to its stable operation and connection.
You’re not going to find any energy consumption monitoring or Apple HomeKit support. And, you can only connect it to the standard 2.4GHz band of a Wi-Fi network, not to mention that setup requires a couple extra steps. That said, considering the cost of the WiZ Smart Plug, those are minor inconveniences (except for HomeKit users).
Thanks to its straightforward and simple operation along with a low price tag, the WiZ Smart Plug is an ideal option for anyone just starting to put together a smart home and just wants something easy.
Read our full WiZ smart plug review
The best smart power strip
For Alexa and Google Assistant-based smart homes, the TP-Link Kasa KP303 smart power strip is a worthy choice if you need several smart plugs in one location. It’s easy to use and even has a handy Away mode that will turn the plug on and off at random time. That's ideal if a radio or lamp is connected to one of the outlets, and you want to to help deter unwanted intruders.
It offers almost all of the functions we’d expect, such as being able to set schedules and even create automations where other TP-Link branded products work in tandem alongside the smart plug. There are also two USB ports on the power strip. Although these aren’t smart, these are still handy if you need an extra outlet to charge your devices, for example.
Like all of the smart plugs in this line-up, the plain all-white design won’t win any prizes for style. It also lacks energy monitoring and HomeKit support. However, it's still a solid contender if you want to smarten your other appliances.
Read our full TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip KP30e review
The best smart plug for Alexa
If your home is all-things Alexa, then opting for the Amazon-branded smart plug makes perfect sense. It may not be the cheapest smart plug on the market, but it integrates well with Alexa routines - making setting up automations for your home a simple task.
The relatively bulky smart plug connects to the internet over Wi-Fi, so it can still be controlled even when you’re not at home and was extremely simple to set-up thanks to a QR code that did the hard work for us.
On test, it proved to be responsive both when controlled by the app or Alexa. There’s no energy monitoring function, neither is there an Away mode to help deter intruders by randomly turning devices on or off. Unsurprisingly, you're out of luck with this smart plug if you want Google Assistant or HomeKit support too, but it’s still a solid smart home device.
Read our full Amazon smart plug review
The best smart plug for lights
After a smart plug purely to bring an internet connection so existing lamps that don’t support smart bulb? You’ll be hard pushed to find a better option than the Philips Hue smart plug. It integrates with any Hue smart lighting you already have in your home, and can be controlled through the Hue app. Even better, it's compact and can be used with Alexa, Google Assistant or HomeKit, and the Hue Bridge it connects to is also Matter compatible.
As smart plugs go, it’s one of the more expensive models we’ve tested. That's especially if you don’t already have a Hue bridge, which ensures the plug can be controlled away from home. It also doesn’t offer any energy monitoring feature either.
That said, it's a great buy for anyone looking to make existing lamps smarter.
Read our full Philips Hue smart plug review
The best smart plug for a single ecosystem
Hive began as a manufacturer of smart thermostats, but has grown into one of the biggest names in smart home devices of all kinds, including lights, cameras, locks and plugs. It's one of the most affordable ecosystems to get into - cheaper than Philips Hue, if you're interested in trying smart lighting.
The Hive Active plug requires either a Hive Active Heating thermostat or Hive Hub, but once you have that, it's simple to set up and use. You can create a schedule (with up to six time slots per day), trigger the plug using the Hive app on your phone, or link it to a Hive switch or sensor. It also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit.
The Hive Active Plug is also relatively small, making it one of the most discreet (if not stylish) options available. However, we did run into some initial hiccups during set up[, so you may need to persevere.
Read our full Hive Active smart plug review
How to choose the best smart plug for you
When choose the best smart plug for you, there are a number of aspects that should be considered before plumping for a particular model
Start by thinking about how the smart plug is installed. Most smart plugs simply connect to an existing outlet, but there are some available that replace your existing outlets. These smart plugs look stylish, but they require much more DIY expertise, so you may have to employ a professional.
With smart plugs, it's also important to consider the number of outlets a smart plug offers. The majority will have one, but if you have several devices close together than you want to control from your smartphone, a power strip, which can have up to four smart outlets in one device, will be a more cost effective solution.
Also consider if you need the ability to monitor how much energy a device connected to the smart plug is using, and if so, does the smart plug work out the subsequent cost if you enter your energy tariff details, too.
Some smart plugs connect to your smartphone using Bluetooth, but that means you’ll only be able to control them if you’re close by. However if you’re the forgetful type that struggles to remember to turn devices off, a model with Wi-Fi built-in or that uses a bridge to connect to the internet and relay instructions from the cloud, will ensure it can be switched on or off even if you’re no longer at the property.
Not all smart plugs integrate with all voice assistants, so check if a model is compatible if you already use a voice assistant in your home and whether it will integrate with other smart home devices you already own such as home security cameras, video doorbells and smart lights.
Frequently asked questions about smart plugs
What are smart plugs, and how do they work?
Smart plugs allow you to power an electrical socket on or off from your smartphone, even when you’re not at home. Some use Bluetooth to allow you to use an app on your smartphone to control them, while others connect to Wi-Fi and use internet access to relay the command.
Smart plugs come in two styles; the simplest and most common versions plug into an existing power outlet, with the likes of Amazon, Philips Hue, We-Mo, and even IKEA producing this design of smart plug.
Alternatively, opt for a smart outlet that replaces your existing power outlet. However, you won’t have as many models of this type of smart plug to choose from, and you’ll need to access your home’s wiring to replace these, which will mean calling in a professional. Find out more in our article What is a smart plug, and how it can stop your fear of leaving the coffee maker on?
What is a smart plug good for?
A smart plug is ideal for making any standard appliance smart so it can be controlled from an app on your smartphone. Perhaps you want to be able to brew your coffee without having to get out of bed, or perhaps you’re forgetful and are looking for a way to switch your hair straighteners off after you’ve left the house.
It connects to an existing power outlet and can be used with any appliance that has a standard plug on it - the possibilities are endless. Smart plugs can also be useful for monitoring how much energy an appliance is using. The figure, which is usually in Kwh can be viewed in the companion app. However, some smart plugs also allow you to add the energy cost and work out a monetary value for this energy usage too.
Do smart plugs help you save energy?
Smart plugs can save you money, but only if you’re the sort of person that forgets to turn off electrical devices. For example, if you leave your laptop constantly on charge, even when the battery is full it will continue to use energy, or perhaps you regularly forget to lights, side lamps, or the radio off when you leave the room? If so, then using a smart plug could be the answer.
Do smart plugs work with Alexa (and other voice assistants)
Many smart plugs will work with Amazon Alexa, as well as Google Assistant and Siri so you can use your voice to control the gadgets, either by asking a smart speaker or smart display, or by using the voice assistant on your smartphone or tablet.
You can also create automations controlling several smart home devices at once with one command, or when a certain situation happens. For example, if your home security camera detects motion, a DAB radio connected to a smart plug could switch on to give the impression that there’s someone at home.
It’s worth noting that not all smart plugs work with all voice assistants, so if your smart home is well established, make sure you opt for a model that integrates with your current setup.
How we tested these smart plugs
To identify the best smart plugs you can buy right now, we evaluate how easy they are to install and control. We assess how responsive they are to being controlled from a smartphone, both when we’re away from home and close by. We also check which voice assistants each model integrates with and whether they integrate with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri, and how effectively Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri respond to commands related to the smart plug.
We also evaluate each design on how durable it is, and any extra features such as energy monitoring and Away modes that control the plug at random times in a bid to simulate occupancy. We also assess any extra kit such as hubs that’s also available for the smart plugs and consider whether it requires reading a thick instruction manual before use.
