A smart plug is a pretty handy gadget, but for a while, they were touted as a device you could add to anything to turn it smart. That's true to a certain degree; you can use a smart plug to add instant power control to any outlet, letting you turn it on and off at your command from anywhere in your home (or even when you aren't there). The TV can now turn off on command, the lights will automatically flip on at 5 pm, and a simple coffee maker or appliance can essentially run itself if all it needs is power.
If you're looking to control something simple that only needs power sent to it, then we've found some of the best smart plugs to do that for you. TP-Link's smart plugs have been my favorite for years, and the TP-Link Tapo Matter-Certified Smart Plug Mini (P125M) ($25, 3-pack) lets you connect it to your home hub of choice using the Matter protocol. Smart plugs are also great for outdoor use; the Cync Outdoor Smart Plug ($17) is designed for this purpose and includes two built-in outlets.
Uncertain if a smart plug can solve your dumb device problems? Read on for all of our tips on what smart plugs are really for, how to best use them, and how to tell if they're a fit for your device. While you're at it, be sure to check out our other smart-home buying guides, including Best Smart Bulbs, Best Security Cameras, Best Smart Speakers, and Best Smart Displays.
Updated April 2026: The Ikea Grillplats Smart Plug is a new pick in this guide, and we've added a new section about energy monitoring.
Table of Contents- What's a Smart Plug? What Can They Do?
- What Devices Work Best With Smart Plugs?
- What Devices Don't Work Well With Smart Plugs?
- What Else Can Smart Plugs Do?
- Our Favorite Smart Plugs
- Honorable Mentions
- Can You Control Smart Plugs Away From Home?
- What Should You Not Plug Into a Smart Plug?
- Are Smart Plugs or Smart Bulbs Better for Making a Lamp Smarter?
- How Does WIRED Test Smart Plugs?
What’s a Smart Plug? What Can They Do?
Smart plugs attach to an outlet socket, and then you plug your device of choice (a lamp, a coffee maker, et cetera) into the plug to control the power flow. The smart plug connects to your home Wi-Fi, letting you manage it with automated schedules, a dedicated app, or your voice via a smart speaker, if you have one.
Controlling the power flow to a device can let you switch on lamps around your house at a certain time or turn them off without leaving your bed. It can also let you turn on simple coffee machines or turn off the TV for you. But for many devices, sending power back to the device doesn't necessarily turn it back on.
What Devices Work Best With Smart Plugs?
A smart plug is a great fit for a device with a simple on-and-off switch you can leave on, letting the smart plug handle the on-and-off part. The best example is a lamp with a manual switch, and it's my most frequent use of a smart plug around my house. I also really like outdoor-specific smart plugs for “dumb” outdoor lights and decorations (like my Santa Claus inflatable that hangs off my balcony), though I've now switched to permanent outdoor lights that have controls akin to a smart bulb.
Smart plugs also have scheduling capabilities in the app, so you can set them to turn your lights on and off at certain times to make it look like you're home, or have all the lights and TV turn off automatically at 11 pm to force yourself to go to bed. (I do this, but I just tell Alexa to turn it back on. Maybe one day I'll go to bed on time.)
I've used my smart plugs with a TV to turn it off, but sending power back to it doesn't actually turn it back on, so it wasn't as useful to me at the time. Now, with a 3-year-old, that could be a handy way to claim that the TV is broken so that I don't have to watch another episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the umpteenth time.
What Devices Don’t Work Well With Smart Plugs?
Smart plugs aren't a great fit for devices that require you to push buttons or select a mode for it to work after the power is already sent to it. My electric teakettle won't heat up until I choose how hot it should get, for example, so I can't use a smart plug to start my morning routine, as some people recommend. Many coffee machines work the same way. As mentioned above, the TV is another example that won't turn on when power is restored; I would still need to find the remote to turn it on and choose what I want to watch.
What Else Can Smart Plugs Do?
If controlling your “dumb” devices and lights isn't a huge interest for you, you can also use smart plugs to track your home's energy usage. It's a great option if you're curious about where your energy consumption is coming from, and if you're trying to intentionally use electricity at the best times of day for higher-consumption items. I'm testing the Kasa EP25 ($23) next for this guide, with that use in mind.
Our Favorite Smart Plugs
We've tested many smart plugs over the years. These are our favorites.
Photograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistSave to wishlist
TP-Link
Tapo Matter-Certified Smart Plug Mini (P125M)
$25 $23 (8% off)Amazon (3-Pack)
$50Best Buy (3-Pack)
The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (TP15) has everything I'm looking for in a smart plug: a small form factor that doesn't block other outlets, Matter compatibility, and easy setup. The Matter aspect means you can skip getting the TP-Link app and set it up directly with home hubs like Google, Alexa, and Apple.
Works with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Matter
Courtesy of CyncSave to wishlistSave to wishlistCync
Outdoor Smart Plug
$17Home Depot
If you need a smart plug made to withstand the elements, we like this one from Cync. I used it for controlling my outdoor Christmas decorations that aren't already smart (it's permanently attached to my inflatable Santa), while my smart string lights are plugged in next to it. It's two outlets hanging off a cord, so it's easy to plug into recessed outdoor outlets.
Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
Photograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistSave to wishlistIkea
Grillplats Plug
$8Ikea
If you're looking for a smart plug that connects easily to your Apple ecosystem, Ikea's new smart plug is the answer. Ikea recently relaunched its smart home line with all Matter-compatible devices, and the Grillplats plug is one of many new options. I paired it with an Ikea Dirigera Hub ($110), which I then connected to my Apple Home app so I could control my devices with Siri. It's much more affordable than the Meross option I used to recommend, and it's nice to see Apple-compatible options get cheaper. The Ikea app does give you less information than Meross does, though: There's no history section to see when your smart plug turns on and off.
Courtesy of TP-LinkSave to wishlistSave to wishlistTP-Link
Kasa Mini Smart Plug EP10
$10Amazon
TP-Link's Kasa line of mini smart plugs is a favorite at WIRED. They perform the same as the larger plugs but in a compact body that's easier to stack with others. If you use just one, it won't obstruct the second outlet at all. The app is pretty simple to navigate; there are scenes, timers, and schedules you can program to your liking. WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu has also been using the larger version of these plugs, the HS103 ($14), for years on his lamps, Christmas lights, and fans with no issues. There's also the EP25 ($23) version, which offers energy monitoring.
Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
Honorable Mentions
There are many smart plugs with similar features and designs, so choosing one might come down to price and brand preference. Here are some others we like.
Alexa Smart Plug for $20: Look, any Matter-compatible plug (like the one we recommend above) is just as easy to add to your Alexa as Amazon’s own Smart Plug. But if you aren't interested in mixing ecosystems and want to guarantee you'll never, ever need another app (which Matter plugs also guarantee!), this smart plug is fine. It's expensive for what it is, though.
Cync Smart Plug for $15: I haven't tried this particular version, but another WIRED reviewer used an older one when the brand was still C by GE and liked it. The new app is super simple to use and lets you control all your products. It works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and Cync is a big favorite of mine for smart bulbs.
Eve Energy Strip for $110: Eve's sleek black-and-silver casing will fit right in with your Apple aesthetic, and it also works with HomeKit. But it's very expensive (and has only risen in price) and has only three outlets, despite its size.
Hubspace Defiant Smart Indoor Plug for $11: This is part of Home Depot's smart home ecosystem, and it works well, though it does require a little more effort to plug something into it. It also works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Meross Wi-Fi Smart Plug Mini for $52 (4-pack): This was my previous HomeKit and Siri pick. It's a good smart plug, but it costs more than others, and you can get a similar experience for much cheaper with the Ikea Grillplats if you're just looking for Apple compatibility. However, the Meross app provides historical details about the plug's operation that the Ikea app does not.
Roku Indoor Smart Plug SE for $12: Roku's smart-home ecosystem is made by Wyze, so it's the same product with some extra compatibility. Roku’s version works with Roku Voice, so if you have a Roku Voice Remote you use with a Roku player (can I say Roku six more times?) you can use that to command your smart plug.
Wyze Smart Plug for $30 (2-pack): This used to be my budget pick, but now that it's $15 per plug (a two-pack for $30 total), it's been moved to an honorable mention. It's still a great, reliable plug that works with Amazon and Google, if you're a fan of Wyze.
FAQs
Can You Control Smart Plugs Away From Home?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronYes, smart plugs connect to Wi-Fi to allow you to switch them on and off away from home, so long as they're successfully connected to Wi-Fi and a hub, if necessary.
What Should You Not Plug Into a Smart Plug?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronDon't plug in anything that will still need to be turned on after power is established to the device. I also don't recommend plugging in major appliances or putting it behind something so heavy that you won't be able to reach it if you needed to reset it or wanted to remove it.
Are Smart Plugs or Smart Bulbs Better for Making a Lamp Smarter?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronPersonally, I prefer smart bulbs (see our guide to those here) since you'll get many more options, including control over the lamp's color and brightness, and can even sync some bulbs to music. Plugs are a better option if you have a lamp that won't work with standard light bulbs or if you just want simple on-and-off controls.
How Does WIRED Test Smart Plugs?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronSmart plugs aren't a super-complicated item, but they should integrate easily and quickly with your existing smart home ecosystem. My main test is always to determine how easy a plug is to set up and use in my everyday life, so I can tell you if it would be easy to use in yours.
I test smart plugs by setting them up with both the associated app and via the smart home interoperability standard Matter, if available, to compare ease of setup. After setup is complete, I plug a lamp into the smart plug—usually a table lamp near my desk or a floor lamp in the living room. I also keep an eye out for whether it takes too much manual effort to plug something into the smart plug, if it isn't secure when plugged in, or if it blocks other outlets. Then I connect the smart plug with different voice assistants to check compatibility and response time, and use the plug in my everyday routines for about a week.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.
