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The best smart plugs of 2024
Shop our guide to plugs that will turn ho-hum abode into a bonafide smart home in minutes.
Wish you could max out your home with smart gadgets operated with only your voice or phone? Who wouldn't? And, it's not as pricey as you would imagine. In fact, it's downright affordable — if you invest in smart plugs, that is. We found high-quality smart plugs for a very reasonable price, and they can be used for any electrical item you have. These voice-control plugs are easy to use, turning anything you plug in into a smart home device operating within your home’s technology ecosystem. Simply connect your non-smart lamp (or coffeemaker or air purifier or...) to a smart plug, and voila, those everyday items are now synced up to the internet! Then, control your connected devices from anywhere using timers or various apps, cutting down on your energy use and therefore your energy bill. Let's modernize our homes, shall we? You can scroll for our top picks for the for the best smart plugs, all available at Amazon.
Kasa Smart Plug Mini
Best overall smart plug
Amazon Smart Plug
Best Alexa-powered smart plug
Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug
Best outdoor plug
Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300
Best smart power strip
Best smart plug overall
Compatibility: Alexa and Google Assistant | Number of outlets: One | Size: Slim/compact | Extra features: Automated scheduling, vacation mode, timers
Our favorite smart plug by far is the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim. It's slim and compact, so you can easily fit another one on a two-outlet wall plate. We love the easy-to-use app as well.
"Hands down, the best smart plugs we’ve purchased and installed,” writes one five-star reviewer. “We have them installed throughout our home for all of our lamps, and even had several of our indoor Christmas decorations hooked up to them this past year...Being able to also control the lights through the app is nice when you’re out of town so you have even more control of making it appear like you’re home when you’re not.”
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Slim and compact
- Only sold in 2-packs or 4-packs
Other top smart plugs we recommend for 2024
Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit, Samsung SmartThings | No. of outlets: One | Size: Compact | Extra features: Simple setup in minutes, routines and schedules
Alexa compatibility is pretty much de rigueur for smart plugs, but if you want to really be syngergistic about it, then Amazon’s house brand is a no-brainer. It has over 400,000 five-star reviews! “I have owned several different brands of smart plugs, and this one was BY FAR the easiest to set up," says one convert. "I plugged it into an outlet and within a few seconds the Alexa app on my phone recognized it as a new device, prompted me to give it a name, and I was all set! Awesomeness all around. This may seem obvious, but if you are already an Alexa user, this may be the best smart plug to get simply because it integrates so easily with Alexa.”
- Super simple setup with Alexa
- Only works with Alexa
Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit, Samsung SmartThings | No. of outlets: Two | Size: 4.9 x 2.38 x 2.29 inches | Extra features: Scheduling, automation, long-range WiFi
An alfresco smart plug is a genius solution for controlling garden electronics like fountains and string lights. This one features two AC outlets, a waterproof cover and a WiFi range of up to 300 feet. “I bought this to use for my pool pump and it works great so far," says a five-star review. "The setup was easy and flawless, and the ability with the app to set a schedule or turn it on or off manually works perfectly for my needs. I purchased another one for outdoor lights for my Tiki Bar, and if I could give it more stars I would!"
- Rugged and durable enough to be used outdoors
- Short cord
Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant | Number of outlets: Six | Size: 14.17 x 2.49 x 1.48 inches | Extra features: Three built-in USB charging ports, scheduling, automation
Need to power a whole bunch of appliances at once? Three USB charging ports and six outlets make this great for juicing up all of your various devices. It also offers surge protection and energy monitoring for mindful energy consumption. What a deal! A satisfied customer says: "The ease of use of this device is its best feature. I've been using the two outlet plug for a few weeks and liked it enough to purchase the power strip. I liked that enough to order two more, one for my house and one as a gift to my technologically-challenged mother. Alexa integration is seamless. I can say, 'Alexa, turn on the fan' and it happens without having to say, 'Alexa, ask Kasa to turn on the fan.'"
- Six outlets plus three USB charging ports
- Long power cord
- Need to factory reset if WiFi password is changed
Factors to consider when choosing a smart plug
Smart assistant compatibility: Most smart plugs are compatible with Amazon's Alexa as well as Google Assistant, but it doesn't hurt to make sure you're getting the one you prefer. Some, like Amazon's Smart Plug, for example, are only compatible with Alexa and nothing else. Obviously, you should opt for the one that fits with any existing ecosystem. So if you already have Alexa-powered devices in your home, then an Amazon product makes sense. If you have a Google-powered household on the other hand, then getting one with Google Assistant is more important.
Number of outlets: A lot of smart plugs just have the one outlet, but there are a number of multi-outlet options as well.
Size: Most smart plugs are around the same size, and unfortunately most of them do obstruct neighboring outlets. If that's of concern to you, then a power strip might make more sense.
Extra features: All of our picks have a companion app that lets you add additional functionality to the smart plug, like schedules, alarms and remote control capabilities. Some also have two-factor authentication, which is worth considering if you want additional security.
How we chose
These smart plugs were chosen based on a number of criteria including professional reviews, user ratings, price and performance, and personal hands-on experience where possible.
Smart plug FAQs
What are smart plugs anyway?
Smart plugs are essentially Wi-Fi-enabled power adapters. That means that in addition to providing power to your various appliances, they also feature internet connectivity.
What do you use smart plugs for?
Smart plugs have a wide variety of uses! The most common one is simply the ability to remotely turn your appliance on or off with your smart phone or through automation. You can do this via an app, or if you have a smart speaker that's powered by Google or Alexa, you can control your appliances with your voice. Imagine saying, "Alexa, turn on the air purifier," instead of having to walk over to the air purifier every time. Many apps also have a scheduling function, so you can program your plugged-in electronics to turn on and off at certain times of day.
How do smart plugs work?
Getting the smart plugs to work might sound intimidating, but the process is actually very simple. In most cases, all you have to do is install the companion app and the app will walk you through the pairing and installation process. The app is also super useful if you have more than one plug, since you can control multiple devices in a centralized smart home system with just a few clicks.
Will a smart plug work with any appliance?
It depends. In order for the smart plug to work effectively, you need to be able to turn on and off the item with a simple switch. If it's an appliance that requires an additional step to work, then the smart plug won't work as effectively. For example, my coffee maker requires me to dial in a specific cup setting before it can brew coffee. Similarly, my rice cooker requires that I select a specific cook mode before it can cook rice. Those are examples of electronics that won't work that well with a smart plug. But if it's a relatively simple appliance like a lamp or a fan, then a smart plug will work.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
