Forgot to switch off the TV before leaving home? Worried you’ve left the iron on? Don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning to make coffee? A smart plug lets you control almost any electronic device straight from your smartphone or a smart speaker. While they can’t do much more than turn them off or on, there’s plenty of scenarios where these could come in handy. And you won’t have to get rid of all your existing lamps and appliances as you get started on your smart home journey.
Read More: What is a smart home and why should you want one?
We’ve narrowed down a list of the best smart plugs you can get right now, so let’s jump right in.
Best smart plugs:
Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best smart plugs regularly as new ones launch.
1. Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini
The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini is compact enough to not encroach on the second wall outlet. All you need is a reliable Wi-Fi connection (2.4GHz) and you’re good to go. You can control your electronic devices from your phone, using the Kasa app, or with your voice, with the help of Alexa, Google Assistant, or Cortana. You can even schedule when to automatically switch devices on or off and set up scenes using multiple devices.
2. Amazon Smart Plug
The Amazon device adds voice control to any outlet via Alexa. You can set schedules for lights, fans, and other appliances, set up routines, and control everything remotely via the Alexa app. It’s also compact enough to ensure that the second wall outlet is usable. Unfortunately, Alexa is the only supported voice assistant, so you’ll have to opt for other companies on this list for Google Assistant or Cortana.
3. Currant Smart Plug
Like the other devices on this list, the Currant product lets you control your devices with an app or using your voice via Alexa or Google Assistant. You can set up schedules and routines as well. It comes with two outlets that can be controlled separately. A very useful extra here is energy monitoring. A real-time energy meter shows you exactly how much energy an appliance is using and interactive charts let you break down energy usage and costs by the hour, day, month, or year. A Bluetooth version is also available that is ideal of locations with spotty Wi-Fi.
4. Samsung SmartThings Smart Plug
This Samsung device is another excellent product. Using the SmartThings app on your phone, you can use this device to turn lights or lamps on or off automatically that are powered by it, along with other electronic products. It’s also compatible with Google Assistant or Alexa voice commands. It even accepts voice orders via Samsung’s own digital assistant Bixby.
5. Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip
If one or two outlets aren’t enough, this power strip gives you six outlets that can be controlled independently. It also comes with three USB-A ports to charge your smartphones, tablets, and more. You can use voice commands via Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana, or manage everything and monitor energy usage using the Kasa app.
6. Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug
As the name suggests, this Kasa product is ideal for controlling outdoor lights and appliances like landscape lighting, swimming pool pumps, holiday lights, and more. The long Wi-Fi range of up to 300 feet ensures that you won’t have an issue controlling the smart plug while indoors, which you can do via the Kasa app or with Alexa and Google Assistant. It comes with an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance and should stay safe in almost any weather.
7. WeMo Wi-Fi Smart Plug
Our final product on this list comes from WeMo. We put this simple product on this list for one reason only, but it’s a big one. It’s one of the few that actually supports Apple’s HomeKit API. While it also supports Alexa and Google Assistant, iPhone owners can now use their Siri digital assistant to control smart products via this plug. It also has a very compact design that we like as well.
That’s it for this roundup of some of the best smart plugs, and your first step into transforming your traditional home into a high-tech one.