Smart home appliances are replacing our speakers, old light bulbs, and even refrigerators at a record pace. But what about things in our homes that aren’t smart yet? That’s where smart plugs come in.
These great devices connect your regular lamp, fan, coffee machine, a kitchen appliance or almost anything else in your smart home for automation and voice control. There are models for each voice assistant. Some even work with all three: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. It’s a fast and affordable way to make the most of your smart home platform.
Read more: Want to buy a smart plug? Read this first
With so many options, choosing the best smart plug to turn on and off newly connected devices means you’ll need to look at all your needs, your home’s connection settings, whether you want to use a voice command and the platform you use to control everything – with “everything”, including now any wall outlet you choose.
We have tested dozens of smart plugs from large and small companies and these are our selections for the best smart plug for the rest of your home online. We update this list from time to time. Smart home appliances, here we come!
Read more: These smart plugs are the secret of a smart home with no problems
Chris Monroe / CNET
TP-Link’s Cash register product line for smart homes includes this space-saving smart plug. It works with Google Now and Amazon’s Alexa via your Wi-Fi network, and the Kasa app (Android and iOS) offers plenty of detailed options for customizing your schedule, vacation mode, and timer.
What won’t you get? Power consumption data, USB port or HomeKit compatibility. Still, if you’re interested in scheduling and using voice control and voice commands, the TP-Link’s smart plug is a great choice for controlling a light switch or other connected device. Read our review of TP-Link Smart WiFi Plug Mini Cash Register.
Tyler Lizenby / CNET
With only $ 15 for two packages, the Wyze Plug packs a punch. We tested it at CNET Smart Home and the setup was simple. The Wyze plug works with Google Now and Amazon Alexa and comes with a physical on / off switch on the side of the plug. There is no USB port on the side for recharging.
The voice commands in our testing worked well, and the size and design of the plugs prevent interference from other sockets. A power lag has been observed with the Wyze app, but the results may vary depending on the strength of the Wi-Fi network.
Molly Price / CNET
The WeMo Wi-Fi smart port is affordable and comes with native Google Now, Alexa and yes, HomeKit compatibility.
The WeMo app is not our favorite app and you won’t get power monitoring using the WeMo Wi-Fi smart plug. Those shortcomings aside, the design of this space-saving smart plug and the solid compatibility of the HomeKit make it easy to recommend to users in Apple’s ecosystem. Read our WeMo Wi-Fi Smart Plug review.
The iDevices Outdoor switch is a great way to automate outdoor lights, fans, lamps, switches or other electronics in the yard. This external smart switch works with Google Now, Alexa and HomeKit via your Wi-Fi connection and includes power monitoring and remote control.
Although you will get two outlets, you cannot control them individually. If this is mandatory for you, we would recommend checking out the TP-Link Cash Register Outdoor Smart Plug, which works with Google and Alexa and has an excellent companion app. Read our review of iDevices Outdoor Switch.
Other models we tested
There are dozens of smart plugs from large and small companies, and while we haven’t tested each one individually, we’ve seen a lot of them come through CNET Smart Home. Here is a brief overview of other important options.
- Amazon Smart Plug: A major leader for the brand, the Amazon smart plug costs $ 25 and only works with Alexa. Although setup is simple, it is not as feature-rich as other models, which can be a break in business when looking for a smart outlet.
- Satechi dual smart socket: This HomeKit smart plug costs $ 30, and you get two outlets and the ability to track energy. There is no compatibility with Google Now or Amazon Alexa, which will not be possible if you are all in the Alexa app.
- iHome Outdoor: This smart $ 40 outdoor plug works with all three voice assistants, but you only get one outlet.
- ConnectSense smart socket 2: This $ 60 behemoth does it all – power monitoring, individually controlled outlets, a USB port and LED status lighting. However, the price and unattractive oversized design are enough to stop me from recommending it. Everyone loves a smart outlet, but no one likes an ugly one.
- Koogeek: This $ 32 smart plug works well with the HomeKit, but blocks adjacent outlets. The integrations of Alexa or Google Now are not as smooth as we would like to see on our connected devices.
- Puregear Pureswitch: This HomeKit-focused smart plug is another solid choice for Apple smart homes, but in our testing it didn’t perform as well as other HomeKit-compatible devices.
- Eufy smart mini plug: This smart pint-sized plug is only slightly larger than the above budget for SmartThings and costs just a few dollars more at a price of $ 23. You’ll also get Amazon smart devices and Google Assistant.
Watch this:
There are three reasons why you need a smart plug
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Things to remember
Choosing the best smart port for you starts with voice assistant compatibility. Choose a plug that works with any voice assistant you use, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or other device. You can usually find this information on the product box, on the website, or in the mobile application of the voice assistant.
Next, consider where your plug will be placed and whether the concern is blocking other adjacent outlets. If this is the case, choose a plug that is not too large. Most models described as “mini” will save space.
Additional features such as power monitoring and USB charging can add even more control and comfort. No matter which smart plug you choose, bringing everyday products online with a plug is one of the easiest ways to automate and smarter your home.