Best Smart plugs for starting a smart home in 2024
1. BEST SMART PLUG FOR MOST PEOPLE
TP-Link Kasa Mini Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring
PROS
- Good price
- Useful away mode and energy use monitoring
CONS
- You may not need the energy feature
Why we like it: At just under £20 (RRP) for a single plug, this smart plug is great value. It’s easy to install and does a good job of letting you remotely control any appliance plugged into it.
We especially like the “away” mode that switches the socket on and off at random times – hook some of these up to a few lamps and it’s ideal as a burglar deterrent. It can monitor energy usage, too.
How it connects: This plug connects to your router without the need for a separate hub. You can control it via the Kasa app, which can show you how much energy you’re using, and it’s compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant too.
2. BEST SMART PLUG FOR ALEXA OWNERS
Amazon Smart Plug
PROS
- Easy to use with Alexa
- Straightforward app
CONS
- Quite a bulky design
Why we like it: Already have a device with built-in Alexa? We’d recommend the Amazon Smart Plug as your best buy. It’s straightforward to connect if you already have the app.
In our testing, the only downside was that we found it fiddly to set schedules.
How it connects: You just need your wifi and the Alexa app on your phone, from there you can create routines and use voice control with any other device – like a Fire TV or a wireless speaker – that also uses the Alexa app.
3. BEST VALUE MULTIPACK FOR ENERGY MONITORING
Emporia Smart Plug (x4)
PROS
- Affordable energy monitoring
- Quick set up
CONS
- No Apple HomeKit support
Why we like it: The Emporia smart plugs are easy to set up and give you lots of real-time energy monitoring data via the brand’s phone app – all for £12 per plug. But we consider it to be the best option when bought as a multipack of four. That brings the cost of each plug to under £10 – better value than the TP-Link Kasa Mini three-pack, which typically costs £49.99.
The app isn’t attractive, but it lets you see energy use right down to the second (it goes as broad as per year) and you can set schedules so it turns on at specific times.
How it connects: The plug connects to your home wifi without needing a separate hub. It is controlled by the Emporia app and is compatible with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant if you have a smart speaker or a smart speaker in your home. Setting it up took us under five minutes, and that included pairing it to our home’s wifi network and a software update.
4. BEST SMART PLUG FOR ENERGY MONITORING AND APPLE SUPPORT
Eve Energy Smart Plug
PROS
- Great for iPhone users
- Monitors energy use
CONS
- Quite pricey
Why we like it: If you like to keep track of how much energy an appliance uses, this is the plug we’d recommend.
It’s great for Apple users, as the iOS app gives you a detailed breakdown of your energy usage, though there’s no Android app if you have a Samsung or Google device.
How it connects: This one requires a HomePod mini or Apple TV as your home hub if you want to turn it on and off remotely. As it’s Apple-focused, the only voice assistant it works with is Siri too.
5. BEST CHEAP SMART PLUG
TP-Link Kasa Mini Smart Plug
PROS
- Low price
- Simple-to-use app
CONS
- No energy monitoring
Why we like it: We’d pick this for all the same reasons that we’d go for the more expensive TP-Link model, especially as it’s much more affordable and the only thing you’ll miss is the energy monitoring.
We’ve tracked the standby energy usage of our Samsung TV over the past year and haven’t found it uses much at all. Newer TVs and gadgets, no matter the brand, use barely any electricity on standby, so paying extra for your smart plug may be unnecessary.
How it connects: Like the more expensive Kasa plug, this connects to your router and won’t require you to set up an extra hub. You can control it within the Kasa app, and also through Alexa or Google Assistant.
6. BEST SMART PLUG FOR APPLE LOVERS
Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini
PROS
- Affordable price
- Easy to use
CONS
- Not for energy monitoring
Why we like it: After an affordable option that works with Apple’s HomeKit? This one is much cheaper than the Eve Energy plug but still connects to Siri, as well as Alexa and Google Home. It’s compact and offers schedules in the app.
How it connects: It connects to your wifi without a hub and, as mentioned above, has wide compatibility so can be controlled through its own app, all the main assistants, and IFTTT.
7. BEST IF YOU ONLY USE APPLE HOMEKIT
Wemo WiFi Smart Plug
PROS
- Works with Apple HomeKit
- Simple and straightforward
CONS
- Fairly pricey for the features
Why we like it: If you’re only ever planning to use Apple HomeKit, the versatility of other plugs on this list won’t matter to you. Aside from the Meross option, it’s the most affordable HomeKit-compatible option at £24.99.
This simple boxy plug connects directly to HomeKit only and is compact enough that it doesn’t get in the way of your other sockets.
How it connects: Just scan the QR code to add it to the Apple Home app on your phone. You’ll need an Apple TV 4K or HomePod Mini to act as your HomeKit home hub, enabling you to command the plug when you’re away from home.
8. BEST SMART POWER STRIP
TP-Link Kasa WiFi Power Strip
PROS
- Simple and fast
- Affordable price for three plugs
CONS
- No energy monitoring
Why we like it: If you’ve got three plugs near each other that you’d like to smarten up, buying this extension block works out as better value.
On test, it quickly turned devices on or off (within one second) and it has two always-on USB ports for charging phones too, making it a perfect choice to put in your study.
How it connects: Like the plug above, you don’t need a separate hub and it connects via your wifi router. It’ll link up to Alexa or Google Assistant, but doesn’t support Apple HomeKit, and doesn’t have the energy monitoring feature of the Kasa Mini.
