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.
We’ve narrowed down a list of the best smart plugs for 2019, so let’s jump right in.
Best smart plugs you can buy
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 smart plug 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 smart plugs for Google Assistant or Cortana.
3. Currant Smart Plug
Like the other smart plugs on this list, the Currant plug 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. Syncwire Mini Wi-Fi
The Syncwire Mini is another excellent smart plug that comes with energy monitoring capabilities, works seamlessly with Alexa and Google Assistant, and can easily be integrated into IFTTT routines. While it comes with two outlets, this compact smart plug is designed to keep the second wall outlet free. Each outlet can be controlled separately as well.
5. Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip
If one or two outlets aren’t enough, the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi 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 smart plug 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.
That’s it for this roundup of some of the best smart plugs in 2019, and your first step into transforming your traditional home into a high-tech one.