You don’t have to replace all your old appliances and devices to create a smart home. All you need is a few smart plugs, and you will be able to control almost anything in your house with an app or a smart speaker. Then you can schedule your coffee maker to turn on before you get up in the morning or tell Alexa to turn off the lights when you go to bed. Here is our list of the best smart plugs on the market, including the best smart plugs and smart power strips for Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit.
What is a Smart Plug?
Smart Plugs allow you to control your lamps, air conditioner, or anything else that plugs into a power outlet. All you have to do is download the companion app, and you will be able to turn anything on or off from anywhere in the world or using simple voice commands.
None of these smart plugs require a hub, but they all allow you to set a schedule for any of your appliances and devices. All you need is a stable WiFi connection, but they all work on the 2.4 GHz (gigahertz) WiFi band. So, you will be able to use them with almost any WiFi router, old or new.
Amazon Smart Plug: Best Smart Plug for Alexa
If you already have Alexa devices, such as Echo smart speakers or a Fire tablet, the Amazon Smart Plug will be one of the best additions to your smart home. Even if you just have the Alexa app on your phone or computer, you can control this plug from anywhere in the world.
Since this plug was designed by Amazon, you don’t need to deal with any third-party apps. Just plug it in, and the Alexa app will immediately detect this smart plug. Then you can give it a unique name that your Echo devices will recognize every time.
Once you set up this compact plug, you will be able to control it with voice commands, create schedules, and set up an away mode. However, this plug is not compatible with the Google Assistant or any other smart ecosystem. So, if you use other smart assistants, or you plan to, this is not the best plug you can get.
If you have an Alexa device, check out our list of other devices that work with Alexa.
Kasa WiFi Plug (HS100): Best Smart Plug for Google Home
If you use the Google Assistant, the Kasa WiFi plug (model HS100), is the best smart plug you can get. While it is not made by Google, this plug is featured as one of the recommendations on the tech giant’s smart home store. It should only take a few minutes to connect this smart plug to the Google Assistant.
Like other plugs in this list, you can control the Kasa WiFi plug with the app with voice commands, create smart schedules, and set up an away mode. You can also group your smart devices and set up “scenes.” These scenes will let you turn on all your lights when the sun rises, or dim all your lights when you tell Google you’re ready to watch a movie.
This plug is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Microsoft Cortana.
WeMo Mini Smart Plug (F7C063): Best Smart Plug for Apple HomeKit
The second-generation WeMo Mini smart plug is the best choice for Apple HomeKit users. This plug is easy to set up. All you have to do is scan the QR code on the back of your device or set it up with the WeMo app. Then you can use the Apple Home app or Siri to control your plug. That means you don’t have to use a third-party app to control this plug.
With its slim design, you can easily fit two WeMo Mini plugs in one outlet. It is even certified for electrical safety, high-powered devices, and overload protection. This plug is also compatible with Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, and IFFT.
Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300): Best Smart Power Strip
The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip gives you the ability to control up to six devices at once. Each socket in this smart power strip can be controlled independently, or you can group them all together to turn everything on or off at once. That makes this the perfect power strip to use for all your home theater devices or everything on your desk.
With the companion app, you can also monitor your energy usage, and shut off any power-hungry devices. This power strip has ETL certified surge protection, and it comes with three USB ports, so you can easily charge your phone or other devices. Plus, the angled head means allows you to stuff this power strip behind any piece of furniture.
This smart power strip is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana.
$79.99
Kasa Smart Outdoor Plug (KP400): Best Outdoor Smart Plug
If you want to control your outdoor lighting or other devices, you’re going to want something durable. The Kasa Smart Outdoor Plug comes with an IP64 dust- and water-resistance rating. That means you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged by dust or rain. Plus, it has been certified by the ETL to meet “quality, health, environmental, safety, and social accountability standards.”
No matter how big your yard is, the 300-foot WiFi range of the Kasa Smart Outdoor Plug means your connection will never drop off. Plus, unlike other smart plugs, it comes with two outlets. You can control each outlet independently or easily group them together to make seasonal lighting easy.
This plug is compatible with Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, IFFT, and Samsung StartThings.
Wemo Insight: Best Smart Plug for Monitoring Energy
While it might cost a little extra, the Wemo Insight Smart Plug might end up saving you money in the long run. This plug gives you a detailed report of how much energy your devices and appliances are using. The report provides real-time details about how much money your energy consumption cost for each plug, along with how long the device has been powered on.
This plug is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, the Google Assistant, and IFFT.
Wallflower: Best Smart Plug for Stoves
Have you ever left home and worried that you forgot to turn the stove off? With the Wallflower Smart Plug, you will get alerts when you leave an area with the stove on. While it can’t turn your stove off, it can give you added peace of mind, especially for older loved ones living on their own.
This 220-volt plug works with almost every stove and turns it into a smart device. It will send alerts to your phone when your stove is turned on or when someone forgets to turn it off. You can even set a timer that plays a loud beep when your stove has been turned on too long.
If you’re looking for other ways to make your home smarter, check out our list of the best smart home devices here.
This article has been updated with more accurate information.
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