The Best Smart Plugs and Power Strips for 2024

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Smart plugs (and power outlets) are an easy and affordable way to turn ordinary appliances, lighting, and any other electronics into smart home devices that you can control straight from your smartphone and, in many cases, your voice. Although installing and using these plugs is relatively simple, choosing which one is right for you is no easy task, so we're here to help. We've been reviewing smart plugs for more than a decade. TP-Link’s Kasa KP125M is our top pick because it works with almost every smart home platform, reliably responds to voice commands, and keeps track of how much energy your connected devices use. Whether you want a more permanent, hardwired smart wall outlet or a weatherproof model you can use outside to smarten your pool pump or holiday decorations, our list of the best smart plugs has many excellent options.

What Is a Smart Plug, and Where Can You Use It?

Let's make this clear: Whether they're marketed as smart switches, smart outlets, or any variation thereof, smart plugs are ultimately plug-in outlets (or power strips). These devices plug directly into a wall outlet or traditional power strip and offer an outlet you can plug other things into for automation. You don't gain or lose any outlets in the process—you're simply making an existing outlet smart by connecting it to your home Wi-Fi network.

With that in mind, the first thing to consider is where you want to place your smart plug. While most are svelte enough to fit next to one another in your typical wall outlet, not all of them are, and power strips are a different story entirely. If you have a crowded power strip, it's important to consider the plug outlet's location. For instance, some feature outlets on the side. Whether this layout is easier or more difficult to access depends on the type of power strip you're using.

Note that some smart plugs are exclusively for the inside of your home. Others that can withstand the elements are a better choice for your backyard or porch.

What Does a Smart Plug Do?

Once you're sure a smart plug fits properly in your home, it's important to consider what it can do. Every plug we've tested lets you use your phone to control power—so if you've plugged in a lamp, for instance, you can turn it on or off no matter where you are. And most smart plugs also offer some form of scheduling. If you simply want to turn your connected coffee machine on at the same time every weekday morning, you can do that with any of the plugs on this list.

Scenes (this is the term most often used, but it might vary) let you program several devices to interact with each other. Some let you program scenes based on conditions such as temperature, humidity, and sunrise or sunset times. Others have preset "away" scenes for when you're on vacation, that turn connected devices on and off to make it look like someone is home. Scene options vary from plug to plug, so it's good to keep in mind what automation options fit your lifestyle.

If you're concerned about the environment or hoping to save a few bucks, look for a plug that supports energy monitoring. Just keep in mind that the energy data collected isn't uniform across all plugs. Some provide a detailed breakdown of how long your device has been on over the entire day, your daily average "on" time, your (estimated) monthly and daily power costs, and your average power usage in watts. Others simply give a cursory overview of the hours you use over a set period or don't report power usage at all.

Features aside, installation and app design are also major factors. Luckily, pretty much all the plugs we've tested are easy to install—you basically just plug them in and connect them to an app on your phone. App quality, on the other hand, varies. We take a close look at each plug's companion app in our reviews and consider its usability in our rating.

Are Smart Plugs Worth the Money?

Ultimately, the best smart plug for you is the one that easily interacts with the products you already have, especially any smart speakers and smart displays. For example, if you like Siri or are an avid iPhone user, you can get the best experience from a plug that supports Apple's HomeKit protocol. Similarly, if you already use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, make sure to get a plug that supports your voice assistant of choice.

Some plugs feature native support for a particular brand of smart home products, while others can interact with nearly anything via IFTTT. We've noted which features each plug supports in the chart below to help you determine which one best fits your needs.

So, if you can't settle on a family of smart light bulbs or you don't want to shell out big bucks for a set of new connected kitchen appliances, consider connecting the products you already own with a smart plug. Whether you're just dipping a toe into smart home tech, enhancing your rental unit, or creating custom IFTTT applets, smart plugs make it simple and affordable to automate just about anything in your home.