The best smart plugs make your home more convenient and energy efficient without breaking the bank. Simply plug your existing 'dumb' appliance (like a fan or stick lamp) into this go-between device and attach it to a power outlet. The smart plug will become discoverable so that you can link it to Wi-Fi for remote operation and management. This might look like telling your smart speaker to turn on your fan while you're home or turning off a lamp from your phone while away.
Smart plugs are one of the best smart home devices for their versatility. One of the many ways they can help make life easier is by plugging them into hard-to-reach wall outlets. This lets you effortlessly turn off devices connected to wall outlets behind furniture. Additionally, you can schedule exactly when you want your lights or any other electrical appliance to turn on or off. Some smart plugs let you monitor your energy consumption so you can adjust your habits to save on bills. This could be as simple as setting a schedule to turn off an appliance you often forget about.
We've been testing smart plugs for years, using them to control everything from our floor lamps to Christmas tree lights to coffee makers. And, after putting so many models through our in-home tests, we think the Kasa Smart Plug Mini is the best smart plug for most people. There's not much a difference in price between it and other models we tested, but it does have the most robust app, and it's Matter-compatible, so it'll work with just about any smart home system.
The quick list
It's inexpensive, company, easy to use, and works with Alexa, Google, and Apple, and you can fit two plugs per outlet. What more do you need?
At less than $10 each, these are some of the least expensive — but still very good — smart plugs we've tested.
This outdoor smart plug is tough enough to withstand the elements. You can schedule and configure the two outlets to work together or separately.
Lutron’s plug lets you dim the bulb from any desk or table lamp you plug into it, rather than simply turn the lights on or off. The Starter Kit includes a handy remote, but you can skip that if you want to control it with your voice assistant.
Kasa's smart power strip/surge protector lets you control up to six devices, and it has three USB ports to boot.
Amazon's own smart plug is the simplest to use provided that you have an Alexa smart home setup. This plug instantly pairs with your Alexa account for seamless integration into routines, easy touch controls, and voice commands.
The best smart plugs you can buy today
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Best overall
Now updated with Matter support, the Kasa Smart Plug is the best smart plug overall. As with similar models from Kasa, this smart plug has a small compact design, so we were able to fit two to an outlet. There's a nice large button on the side for manually turning it on and off, and it has a bright LED in one corner, which made it easy for us to check on its status.
We've tested other smart plugs and smart home devices from TP-Link and found them to be safe, easy-to-use and reliable. Plus, the Kasa app has a wide collection of automation features, including scheduling and the ability to control those other TP-Link-brand smart home products. We especially like the fact that it has a vacation mode, so that the plug will turn your lights on and off to make it look like you're home.
This model Kasa Smart Plug is rated for 15 amps, should you want to use it with more power-hungry devices, but most significantly, it has Matter support, so it will work not just with Alexa and Google Assistant, but Apple HomeKit, too.
For the price — you get two for about $20 — the Kasa Smart WiFi Lite is perfect for adding to all your home’s lamps or outlet-powered gadgets.
Best budget
Like all of the Wyze products, the Wyze Plug is affordable connected home gadget that's great for your small light fixtures or coffee maker. A two-pack can cost as little as $15 — that's less than $8 per plug — which is cheaper than many of the best smart plugs are for a single unit. Better yet, if you have the Wyze Bulb, Wyze Cam or Wyze Smart Lock, you can integrate the Wyze Plug with your existing system.
One of the benefits of the Wyze Plug is Vacation mode, which is similar to the Kasa's Away mode. When the Wyze Plug is on this setting, it will turn your stuff on and off your electronics at random, making it seem like you’re home. We also like that the Wyze app has location-based triggers, so you can set your lights to turn on when you're arriving home, and then turn off when you leave.
The only caveat with the Wyze Plug is that it only works with Alexa and Google Assistant, so HomeKit users should look elsewhere.
Best outdoor
The Tapo Matter Outdoor Smart Plug — our favorite among the best outdoor smart plugs — has two outlets on the bottom, each protected by a rubber flap. At the top is a 6.5-inch cord that’s long enough to plug it into an outdoor outlet, but still be able to close your outlet’s door. We especially like that the prongs are at a right angle to the cord; it makes it much easier to close the door.
A few other things make this plug excellent for outdoor use. For one, it's IP65 resistant to water and wind, so you can keep it outside even in the harshest weather. It also has a Wi-Fi range of up to 300 feet — we didn't have a yard this big to test it, and of course you'll need one of the best Wi-Fi routers — but we liked the flexibility it offers.
Apart from the hardware, the best thing about the Tapo outdoor smart plug is its app, which can also control Kasa smart home devices, and let you set some pretty great routines — such as turning your lights on and unlocking your door when you get home. And, because this plug is Matter-compatible, it works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit.
Best for lamps
The Lutron Caseta Dimmer Switch Starter Kit is one of the best smart plugs because it works with any desk or table lamp (and up to 800 different bulbs), making the "dumb" device smart. Unlike a standard smart plug, Lutron’s gadget lets you dim the bulb, rather than simply turn it on or off. The Starter Kit includes a handy remote, but you can skip that if you want to control it with your voice assistant.
Unfortunately, the Lutron Caseta smart wireless kit isn't cheap. For just under $200, you get two plugs, two remotes and the necessary Wi-Fi bridge. Extras plugs cost about $54 each. And, you can only plug in two-prong devices. That said, we believe it’s worth the investment because the kit requires very limited input once you set it up with your smart home routines.
Read our full Lutron Caseta Dimmer Switch Starter Kit review.
Best power strip
You’ve probably caught on to our trust in TP-Link’s offerings. To reiterate, many smart plugs are not as secure or easy to use as advertised, so there’s something to be said for TP-Link’s consistency and versatility. For example the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip is six smart plugs built into one (with three USB ports to boot). You can control each connected device individually using the Kasa app, Alexa or Google Assistant, or buttons on the device itself.
Better yet, the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip has a surge protector built in, which most individual smart plugs (and most of the best smart plugs) lack. That said, at $79 for the unit, it's a bit pricey compared to other options. However, it’s worth it for spaces where you have several appliances set up, like in a home office or entertainment center.
Best for Alexa
The Amazon Smart Plug is simple, compact, and a great value purchase for a low price. It comes packed with all the features of Alexa, including compatibility with routines, schedules, timers, and other advanced automations. With either the Alexa app or any of the best Alexa speakers, you can control the Amazon Smart Plug from wherever you are in your home.
We like that the Amazon Smart Plug has a physical on/off button and an LED to indicate its status. That way when someone is around who doesn’t have access to your Alexa app, or isn’t as familiar with smart home devices, the connected appliance can still be controlled. We'd love this smart plug even more if it were compatible with voice assistants besides Alexa, though. Perhaps Google Assistant and Siri could be added down the line, but we’ll have to see.
Also tested
If you’d like a smart power strip for less, our favorite choice is the Teckin Smart Power Strip. With four outlets and four USB ports, it can accommodate as many devices as some surge protectors can. But at only $29.99, it's less than half the price of its upscale competitors.
The Teckin Smart Power Strip also offers more features than most of the other best smart plugs. Using the Teckin Smart Plug app, you can remotely monitor and control your appliances, and can control and schedule each outlet individually. You can set each outlet to turn on or off based on various environmental factors such as time, temperature, humidity, sunrise and sunset or the actions of other smart-home devices.
How to choose the best smart plugs for you
Before you decide which smart plug is best for you, here’s some things you need to consider:
1. Will it block my other outlet? Some smart plugs are chunkier than they look in the pictures, so make sure you check and measure out the dimensions. Some are so sizable, that they can block alternative outlets. If you want a smaller design, check out TP-Link's HS105, the iHome ISP6X, and the Belkin WeMo Mini. These designs are small enough that they won’t block secondary outlets.
2. Will it work with more than Alexa? Smart connectivity and voice control are brilliant features to have — nothing’s more convenient than asking Alexa to switch off your lights, and watching technology do the rest. But, if you don’t have Alexa, make sure the smart light you’re looking at can connect to the alternatives, such as Google Home. Some brands, such as iHome, can also work with Apple Homekit.
3. Is the app any good? The less premium smart plugs come with less intuitive apps, which can make it difficult to schedule and control your smart plug. We’ve even come across apps which aren’t fully translated into English. You might want to download your intended smart plug’s app before you purchase to see what you’re dealing with.
Using one of the best smart plugs with a mesh router
Unlike with the best Wi-Fi routers, the best mesh Wi-Fi systems often combine their 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands into one network. This isn't a problem with other devices but many smart plugs and other smart home devices only work on the 2.4 GHz band. If you've encountered this problem, there is a fix that might work.
Most mesh routers allow you to create a guest network using the 2.4 GHz band. This way, you can connect any smart plugs or other smart home devices to your mesh network that don't support the 5 GHz band. For instance, I recently had to do this when testing out the Roku Indoor Camera SE to get it to work on my own home network.
How we test the best smart plugs
Reviewing a smart plug isn't as simple as plugging it in. Well, it almost is. In addition to making sure the plug actually turns on the thing that's plugged into it, we also evaluate the plugs on several factors:
Design: Can you fit more than one plug into an outlet? Does it have a physical on/off switch or indicator lights?
Setup: How easy is it to connect the plug to your Wi-Fi network, and to its app?
Scheduling: How robust is the scheduling feature in the app?
Features: Are there any other features that distinguish the plug from others?
Smart Home Connectivity: How many other smart home systems does the plug work with? Alexa and Google Assistant support should be a given.
We consider indoor as well as outdoor smart plugs to find the best for every circumstance. If you're just interested in the latter, check out our list of the best outdoor smart plugs. For more info on our testing process, check out the how we test page for Tom's Guide.
Features to look for in the best smart plugs
- Energy Monitor
Some smart plugs will record and display the energy use of an appliance on your phone. In doing this, you can see how much certain appliances are costing you on a daily basis, including in its standby mode, and you can find ways to cut back and save money. Here are 12 essential tips for saving on your energy bill. - Dimmer
A dimmer setting is also available on some smart plugs, such as the Lutron Caseta Dimmer Plug as mentioned above. This is a great feature if the smart plug is intended for lighting as it gives you much more control than just switching on and off. - Timer/Scheduling
Most smart plugs come with a timer. Using this, you can schedule when you want the appliance to switch on and off — great for switching on the lights when you’re on vacation. - Create zones
Some smart plugs can create zones by connecting to groups of smart plugs. Using this, you could control several power points in a room at once — for instance, you might want to switch off all of the downstairs lights once you’ve gone to bed. - Connect to other smart devices
Some smart plugs can also connect and communicate with other smart devices through IFTTT, which has its uses. For example, you can set it up so that if your smart doorbell picks up a potential burglar or someone is trying your smart lock, the smart plug will switch on the lights so it looks like you’re home.
