There’s a huge wealth of user-friendly smart home devices that work with one or more of the popular voice assistant ecosystems. And while it might seem intimidating at first, putting a smart home together isn’t all that difficult and doesn’t require you to go out and buy a ton of new smart electronics. For simple stuff like lights and some coffee makers, you can just pop in a smart plug and program away.
While that’s a bit of a simplification, the actual process for most of these plugs is pretty easy. Some need you to set up a separate account to access all the features, but we avoid recommending any that are frustratingly difficult to set up. There’s also a contingent of multi-outlet options in the form of power strips and normal plugs — some even sport built-in surge protection to keep your devices safe from electrical storms and power grid issues. With so many to choose from, we’ve weeded out the bad ones and found the top smart plugs, one of which is sure to be right for your situation.
Part of one of the most popular product lines for both Google and Alexa smart homes, TP-Link’s Kasa EP25 is compact, effective, and reliable. Users almost universally agree that installation and day-to-day control are as easy as can be, a lot of which is due to its streamlined, user-friendly app. It responds to commands almost instantly, and it’s one of the few low-cost options that even supports Apple HomeKit. You’ll notice that we’ve highlighted the four-pack because that’s the only way to buy this class-leading smart plug right now — but we’re confident you’ll be satisfied and find a use for all of them.
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The many-headed monster of TP-Link’s smart plug family, the Kasa HS300, consists of six smart plugs that you can control individually. A set of three USB ports stays on at all times and is perfect for powering or charging devices that run up to 12 watts. Like most Kasa smart plugs and switches, it works perfectly with both Google- and Amazon-centric smart homes and supports custom and premade IFTTT applets. It also is one of the extremely rare smart power strips that boasts surge protection to the tune of 1,710 joules, cumulatively. If you want a bunch of smart plugs but can only spare one outlet, this is the one to get.
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There’s nothing particularly noteworthy or special about the Govee smart plug, but it works well, isn’t difficult to use, and works with most smart devices. Since it comes in a four-pack and is routinely discounted below $30, it’s also hard to beat in value. Setup has just a couple of steps, commands operate quickly, timers go off reliably, and there’s even a manual on/off button in case you’re nearby without a voice assistant listening but want to unplug and move it. While Govee’s smart plugs aren’t exactly standouts, they work great and are as affordable as they get.
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The IP64 rating against dust and water on the Wyze A6 Outdoor is just one thing that makes it the best choice for a lot of different climates. It’s also safe between -4 and 120 degrees and has durable rubber covers to protect either outlet when not in use. But the upsides don’t end there. It’s received Amazon’s Certified for Humans approval, which basically guarantees it’s as user-friendly as anything else you’ll find. And if that’s not enough, it even has an integrated ambient light sensor, so you can program it to dim or brighten your outdoor accent lighting without ever bothering with the Wi-Fi connection or smart controls.
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The TP-Lank Tap P125M is the first smart plug to support all three major smart home ecosystems. In case you haven’t heard of it, Matter (formerly Project CHIP) is an up-and-coming smart home connectivity protocol that promises to bring together the largest competing standards under one easily controlled umbrella. If this sounds like an ambitious project, that’s because it is, and some kinks are still being worked out. Nonetheless, it’s worth considering early adoption if you already use smart devices from multiple platforms. The P125M will continue to become more versatile and easier to use as the greatly simplified standard gets ironed out. It’ll eventually work great for anybody sticking with a single ecosystem.
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The big selling point of Amazon’s Certified for Humans smart plug is its impeccably smooth integration with Alexa voice control. It’s not a huge surprise that Amazon would go out of its way to streamline its own smart plug, and according to the most easily frustrated smart home users, it really does its job as advertised. Anybody already heavily invested in an Alexa-based smart home should keep it in mind for that reason, but power users and smart home veterans might be a little put off by its lack of official IFTTT support.
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Amazon Certified for Humans
If you’re working with a more complex outdoor lighting setup than most people, the Meross MSS630 is worth a look. Three individually controllable outlets give you plenty of freedom, while support for the SmartThings and Apple HomeKit ecosystems helps it stand out from the crowd. Its IP44 protection rating is just right for most locales, especially in conjunction with three separate physical covers. There aren’t any notable drawbacks, possibly aside from the 10-amp limit per socket — but most modern outdoor lighting won’t need that much.
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Pretty much everybody agrees that Philips Hue lighting is the best in the business, but you can’t use a normal smart plug to connect normal “dumb” lighting to a Hue Hub. Instead, this one gives you a wide range of options for even the most straightforward wall-powered lamp. It won’t give you magical control over an existing bulb’s color, but it will let you integrate the lights you already have into scenes and timed programs alongside the industry leader in smart lighting. Keep in mind that you’ll need an actual Hue Hub to get any use out of it whatsoever.
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The Monster MS400’s appeal lies in its simplicity. There are four smart control-ready AC outlets and two standard USB ports, and that’s pretty much it. It really shines in its remarkably low price (often below $20) and a six-foot cord that’s far longer than most of the competition. Setup isn’t the absolute most straightforward, and you will have to download Monster’s app and make an account, but you won’t have to provide any personal details to do so. Its 1,200 joules of surge protection isn’t exactly massive, but it’s far more than most other smart plugs and power strips.
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Let’s say you have two lamps that you want to equip with voice control, but there’s only one outlet between them. Let Govee Dual come to the rescue, as it combines a pair of plugs into one standard, 15-amp adapter. That means it’s slightly limited in terms of use cases — since you probably wouldn’t be able to pair two kitchen appliances, for example — but it’s perfect for tight spaces lacking electrical connections. And it’s not super expensive, either.
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It’s especially hard to find weather-resistant smart plugs with surge protection, but the PowerUI Outdoor is exactly that. It also stands out due to four outlets instead of the two that most outdoor plugs offer. The IP44 rating means it’s safe in light rain, but take care with where you put this one. It doesn’t have any covers for the outlets, so don’t leave it sitting on the ground while plugged in. Otherwise, it’s an easy-to-use and reasonably priced outdoor smart plug.
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Plug it in!
Two TP-Link Kasa products take our Editor’s Choice and Premium slots, and for good reason. The Kasa control app is widely regarded as the best, with countless satisfied owners able to program their previously dumb appliances to their heart’s content. The EP25 is a standard, one-outlet plug, and the HS300 sports six outlets and three non-smart USB ports. If you want to save money, the Govee four-pack is notably cheaper per unit, and it’s basically just as functional, with only some very minor user interface differences.
On outdoor smart plugs
When looking for an outdoor smart plug, always get one with at least an IP44 rating. That ensures it’s well-built enough to withstand the dust and moisture that goes along with living outside. Also, pay attention to what kind of current each one can handle; most won’t be able to accommodate high-draw devices like water feature pumps. Also, make sure to take good care of your outdoor smart plug, and position it out of the way of heavy rain and drainage routes.
What about Matter?
Under development for years and just recently officially released, the Matter standard aims to combine control of all the fragmented smart ecosystems into one easily managed group. As of publication, the TP-Link Tapo P125M is the only Matter-enabled smart plug to support Alexa, Google Assistant, and Android devices. It’s still a touch difficult to set up on multiple platforms at this point, but that’s understandable since the protocol is still in its early stages. If you want to be on the cutting edge of smart technology, the Tapo T125M offers great single-ecosystem performance and prepares your home to welcome an onslaught of newly unlocked smart devices from other electronics families.
What is Thread?
While it’s slightly different in execution, Thread is similar to Zigbee and Z-Wave in that it’s a non-Wi-Fi, non-Bluetooth wireless protocol meant to minimize network congestion on the 2.4GHz band and ensure consistent, reliable control. Unlike those two still-popular protocols, it’s intended to serve as a critical piece of the Matter standard and help unify smart devices under a single, low-lag, low-overhead communication method. However, no Thread-enabled devices currently support Android, Alexa, or Google Assistant devices. It’s limited to a few nice Apple-only smart plugs for now but will almost certainly see widespread rollout throughout 2023.
Conclusion on Best smart plugs in 2023
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