The best smart plugs in 2024

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

All of the plugs eventually did what they said they would, but each had a quirk or two that gave me pause – except TP-Link’s Kasa EP25. From installation to implementation, it was fuss-free and reliable. It’s also one of the cheaper plugs on our list at just $13 each (but you’ll usually find it in a four-pack). It works well with both iOS and Android and on all four smart home platforms. The Kasa app has a clean, intuitive design and includes the features you’d expect like timers, schedules, a vacation mode and smart actions (aka scenes). TP-Link makes a wide range of other smart devices, so you could expand your smart home without having to leave the Kasa app.

The EP25 is an updated version of the HS103 that adds HomeKit compatibility, so I was able to control it with both an iPhone and an Android phone. If you also live in a blended OS home, I recommend onboarding with the iPhone first. After tapping the + button in the Kasa iOS app, a HomeKit pop-up will prompt you to add the plug using the QR code from the box. (The code’s also printed on the plug, but that’s harder to access.)

Once set up in HomeKit, it was easy to add the plug to the other smart home apps. Google Home and SmartThings just need your TP-Link log-in details and Alexa uses the Kasa “skill.” Once you’ve added one plug, any future TP-Link devices you incorporate should automatically show up in each app. If you’re only using an Android device, the Kasa app will walk you through using a temporary Wi-Fi network to get the plug online.

After setup, I named the plug and assigned it a room (making sure it was the same in each app to avoid confusing myself). Then I programmed various routines and schedules and asked all three voice assistants to turn the light on and off – everything worked without a hitch. In the weeks of testing, the EP25 never had a connection hiccup, even after I relocated it to the basement, which is the farthest point from my router.

My single complaint is that sharing with another user isn’t supported within the Kasa app. You can share your log-in details with the other person, as the app does support access from multiple devices on one account. But Google Home feels like the best way to share smart home device control, whether that’s between iOS and Android devices or when everyone uses the same OS.

Assistant support: Alexa | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

If you have many Amazon Echo devices and use Alexa to answer your questions, control your music and manage your timers, Amazon’s smart plug makes the most sense. Your Echos and Alexa app already have your details, so you won’t have to create an account, enter your Wi-Fi password or switch to a different app, which makes setup mindlessly simple. In addition to naming your plug, you’ll also want to designate it as a light under Type in the settings menu. That way, when you say, “Alexa, turn all the lights off,” it will act accordingly.

I was impressed with the speed of the onboarding process and how seamlessly the plug blended into the ecosystem, adding another IRL appendage to flex. I still get a small thrill when I say, “Alexa, goodnight,” and all goes dark. However, you won’t be able to use the Alexa smart plug with any other smart home app, which is why it’s best for those who’ve already gone all-in on an Amazon home.

The only other drawback, and it’s not a small one, is the Alexa app’s lack of sharing capabilities. You can create households that let other people in your home access your Echo speakers through their phone, but they can’t see your smart home devices. If you’re the only one who needs app access and everyone else in your home is happy to interact via voice commands only, this plug couldn’t be simpler. At $25, it’s not the cheapest smart plug, but like all things Amazon, it goes on sale fairly often.

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: Yes | Hub required: Only with HomeKit 

Only a handful of Matter-enabled smart plugs are currently available and the Kasa KP125M is the best of what we tried. It works with all four platforms, installs easily and reliably maintains connections. Most Matter devices need to be initialized with a QR code, but this plug also supports Bluetooth onboarding, which saves a step. I set it up through the Kasa app first and because I already had another Kasa plug installed, the process was simplified, automatically prompting me to add the plug with a couple of taps. Adding the device to Alexa, Google Home and Samsung’s SmartThings worked the same way, with each app letting me know I had new devices available to add.

To add the plug to HomeKit, I had to scan the included barcode. The process didn’t work at first and I ended up having to long-press the button on the side to make it enter pairing mode. Unlike some Matter plugs, KP125M doesn’t require a Thread border router. And because it’s also a Wi-Fi plug, you don’t need a Matter controller, such as a smart speaker for access when you’re away from home. That said, many of the negative reviews on Amazon have to do with the plug’s poor HomeKit compatibility. In addition to the setup hitch I mentioned, the connection with the HomeKit app and Siri was extremely spotty until I added Apple’s HomePod mini to the mix as a dedicated hub. After that, the reliability improved.

The KP125M also provides detailed energy monitoring in the Kasa app. From the home screen, tap on a plug to see stats on its energy usage, along with an estimate of how much that energy will cost you on your next electric bill. You can even enter in your per-kilowatt hour pricing to get a more accurate picture. While we wish there were a way to see the energy usage from all connected devices at once, it’s still a useful insight to have on a per-plug level.

It’s important to note that our best overall pick is $7 cheaper and also works with all four platforms. The higher price tag is likely due to the Matter logo on the side. Honestly, I’d call the KP125M plug more of a hybrid Wi-Fi-Bluetooth-Matter plug, which could be why it played nice with every platform. Another Matter plug, the Eve Energy Matter plug, requires you to have a HomePod for HomeKit access, a Nest Hub for Google Home connection and a SmartThings hub to make it work with Samsung’s system. The Matter plug I tried from Meross requires Wi-Fi splitting to properly connect, which is doable, but inconvenient. The promise of Matter is faster and simpler connectivity – needing multiple pieces of additional equipment and workarounds seem to miss that point.

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

None of the smart plugs we recommend block the second outlet, but the Meross Wi-Fi dual smart plug takes that convenience one step further by combining two outlets into one. This lets you independently control two different devices at once like a combo of a lamp and fan, a humidifier and your coffee maker, or whatever else you’d like to lend some smarts to. It also works with all four major platforms, so it should smoothly integrate with whichever assistant you’re already using.

Setup starts with the Meross app, though if you’re using an iPhone, you’ll see a suggestion to set up with HomeKit first. The plug has a QR code for communicating with Apple’s system, but that didn’t work for me, so I followed the prompts to use a temporary Wi-Fi method and connected successfully. As for Google and Amazon, each of their apps should automatically detect it and cue you to add it once you’ve completed the initial setup in the Meross app. Setup with Samsung involves entering your Meross email and password.

While the Meross app is required for setup, it’s not the most compelling app for programming routines and schedules. You’ll likely get a better experience using whichever of the major smart home platforms you prefer. When I tested moving the plug to a new position in my house, it reconnected instantly. Then I put it in the basement, which sometimes has spotty Wi-Fi, but it had no trouble working as intended. Should you ever want to operate the unit manually, there are two buttons on the front with arrows pointing to the outlet each controls.

My only qualm was the default name Meross assigned to each outlet within the app. I would assume the left plug to be called “Switch 1” and the right “Switch 2,” but it was reversed on my unit. That’s really not an issue as most people would rename the switches to match the plugged-in devices, but it still struck me as odd. Also, getting Siri to understand which switch I was asking to operate was complicated, until I renamed the entire plug and each switch within the Apple Home app. But in my experience, Siri is still working out its smart home assistant kinks, so I don’t blame Meross for this.

The plug is just $17 and, considering its wide compatibility and consistent connectivity, it’s easy to recommend, particularly if the number of outlets in your home isn’t as plentiful as you’d like.

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

Emporia’s smart home ecosystem extends to EV chargers, solar equipment and whole-home energy monitors. The company’s smart plugs are small potatoes by comparison, but they pack similar energy supervision to give you a picture of how much power a plugged-in appliance is drawing over time. In the case of an LED lamp, that draw is going to be miniscule — but the device can give you insight into bigger loads such as those from a humidifier or even a small space heater (the plug can handle 1500 watts at 120 volts with a max load of 15 amps). A four-pack goes for around $35, which puts each plug below the cost of many plug-in power meters. So for less money, Emporia’s plug can gather stats and stop idle devices from vampiric energy drains.

Last year, Emporia issued a preemptive recall on its plugs for a potential fire risk. They worked well enough before the recall to earn an honorable mention in an earlier iteration of this guide, but the updated plugs are now faster to connect. A finicky setup prevented us from fully recommending it before but now, that kink has been worked out. In addition to useful monitoring, easy setup and reliable connections to Alexa and the Google Assistant, the plugs’ comprehensive app can also incorporate Emporia’s other equipment, should you ever decide to add those devices to your home’s power grid.

My main concern with the Cync plug is the way the scheduling works within the proprietary app. Instead of programming when an outlet should turn on, you tell it when it should turn off. Despite my best efforts, I could not figure out how to program the Cync-connected lamp to come on at sunset, as I did with every other plug. Other than that, the app is very elegant, set up is easy and reliability is spot on. It only works with Alexa and Google Home, not HomeKit or SmartThings, but at $15, it’s a couple bucks cheaper than the Wyze plug that has the same compatibility.

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

Wyze’s indoor version wasn’t one of the top picks for this guide, not because there was anything wrong with it — connection was quick, the app is clean, and the plug works well with both Alexa and the Google Assistant — other plugs simply had other features that made them stand out. But when it comes to an outside version, the Wyze Plug Outdoor wins. For one, it’s cheaper than most at just $18, yet it offers the longer, 300-foot range that more expensive plugs do. Setup was quick using the Wyze app, which has you set up an account and enter your Wi-Fi password. You’ll be prompted to name each of the two outlets (for reference, when looking at top of the device, the one on the left defaults to “Plug 1” the one on the right is “Plug 2”). What you name them in the app will carry over to the Alexa or Google Home app.

After a few months of playing around with smart plugs, I find Alexa (in my case an Echo Dot) to be the most reliable way to control them. But if you want to use the Wyze app instead, you’ll find a clean interface with useful features like a vacation randomizer and usage stats. The scheduling is a little confusing and requires you to select the device from the home page, then tap the settings gear, then Schedules, then turn on Schedule 1, then you can program the times you want. There’s an option to turn it on or off at sunset or sunrise but unfortunately, you can’t set it to trigger, say an hour before sunset like you can with other apps. But again, using a smart home platform from Amazon or Google bypasses those minor inconveniences entirely.

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: HomeKit function is better with a HomePod

For those who rely on Siri to manage their smart home, the TP-Link Kasa EP40A reliably adds outdoor control to your world. The device looks like most smart plugs designed for outside spaces, with two downward-facing receptacles on the body and a short cable leading to a three prong plug. Unlike others, the plug head exits the cable at a right angle, so the unit hangs flat against the wall. That keeps things neater, but can get in the way of other items that might need access to the outlet.

Setup is the same as with indoor Kasa plugs: download the app, create an account and add the device. You won’t be asked to scan a QR code to connect with Alexa or Google Home — just go to the respective app and the device should pop up after it’s set up with Kasa. For Homekit, you’ll need to scan the code, which is printed on a postage stamp-sized sticker in the box, and also on the back of the plug itself. It took a few attempts to get connected to HomeKit, but nearly every time I initialize a smart home device with Apple’s ecosystem I hit a similar snag, so I don’t blame the plug.

Once connected, I was able to ask Siri to turn on the holiday lights. (I even asked the Google Assistant to shut them off and Alexa to light them up again and assistant switching was glitch-free.) HomeKit maintained the connection and responses were quick. When I moved the plug from the garage to the side of the house, Siri found it quickly and no re-install was necessary. If you want to use the Kasa app instead, you’ll find user-friendly controls and a straightforward scheduling feature, though, if you’re not planning on using the plug with HomeKit, I’d recommend saving the $12 and going with Wyze’s option.