Smart Plugs Are the Cheapest Way to Make Your Home Smart

Smart plugs are becoming more and more popular because they instantly transform your living space into a smart home — sometimes, within just a few minutes. When inserted to an ordinary outlet, smart plugs allow you to control whatever is plugged in (think air conditioners, lights, and TVs) via an app on your smartphone or a smart home assistant like Apple Home Pod, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa. But to find the best smart plug for your home, you want to make sure to find one that's easy to use and works smoothly with the smart devices you already have.

The Engineering Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute tests a range of smart plugs to find the best ones in terms of performance, ease of installation, and compatibility with other devices. Our 2021 top picks for smart plugs are:

• Best Overall Smart Plug: TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Lite
• Best Value Smart Plug: WeMo Mini Smart Plug
• Best Amazon Smart Plug for Alexa: Amazon Smart Plug
• Best Outdoor Smart Plug: Caseta by Lutron Outdoor Smart Plug
• Best Smart Plug for Air Conditioners: iHome ISP6X Smart Plug
• Best Smart Plug for Lights: Bosch Connected Control Wi-Fi Thermostat
• Best Smart Plug Power Strip: TP-Link Wi-Fi Smart Power Strip
• Best Smart Plug for SmartThings Hub: Samsung Electronics SmartThings Smart Outlet
• Best Smart Plug Duo: Konka Smart Plug Duo

How to find the best smart plug for you

To find the absolute best smart plug for your home, consider the following:

• Power: Check the smart plug's power to see how many amps it uses and what it can and can't be used with. Simply put, an amp is a unit of measuring electricity. Lights and smaller smart devices, like the Amazon Echo Show, only draw about one amp, TVs can draw about three amps depending on size, and more powerful devices like air conditioners draw 15 to 20 amps.
• Smart device compatibility: Some, but not all smart plugs work across multiple platforms, so it's a good idea to double check whether or not a smart plug works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit, or any other devices you use.
• Ease of use: Smart plugs make life easier, but it won't be worth it if you can't figure out how to use it!
• Energy-tracking capabilities: Though not a necessary feature, some smart plugs help monitor how much energy (and money) you're using with each device you use.
• Physical footprint: Can you stack your smart plug with another plug in a normal wall outlet? Smaller smart plugs work best for tighter spaces.
• Indoor vs. outdoor: Note that indoor smart plugs operate different from outdoor smart plugs, so make sure to get an outdoor-specific product if you want to use it outside.
• Hub requirement: Some smart plugs can stand alone, but others will require a hub for a seamless experience.

See below for best smart plugs of 2021 hand-picked by the Good Housekeeping Institute. Every plug was a top performer in Lab tests. Browse through our smart plug reviews to find smart outlets to best-selling WeMo smart plugs you can find on Amazon.

Kasa Smart

amazon.com

$9.99

Shop Now

Control light and electronics and set schedules for your devices to switch on and off no matter where you are with the Kasa Smart Plug Lite. It's compatible with both iOS and Android, and the voice control feature works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana for universal use. You can even set timers or countdowns to turn on lights, fans, and humidifiers whether you're at home or not. And unlike most other smart plugs, you don't even need a separate hub to make it work — all you need is to download the Kasa app.

WeMo

amazon.com

$29.00

Shop Now

In our Lab tests, experts found that the WeMo Mini was easy to set up: The smart plug requires no hub, and it uses WiFi to enable wireless control from anywhere. Our experts also appreciated the compact size and the fact that you could fit two in a normal wall outlet, deeming it a great option for smaller homes or apartments. While it lacks energy-tracking capabilities, it integrates with Alexa and Google Assistant and can be programmed to create illusions that you're home even when you're not.

Amazon

amazon.com

$24.99

Shop Now

Use this smart plug to control lights, fans, and appliances even when you're away. It boasts more than 250,000 reviews on Amazon along with a 4.7-star rating. Amazon reviewers find that it works seamlessly with other Alexa-controlled devices, especially the Amazon Echo. The brand claims that setup for this smart plug takes five minutes or less. Start by plugging in the Amazon smart plug and opening the Alexa app, tap "Devices" then the "+" icon, and finish by saying, "Alexa, turn on First Plug" — and you've made your home smart in minutes!

iHome

amazon.com

$23.86

Shop Now

Though it works seamlessly with Siri and the Apple homekit, this iHome smart plug claims to have the broadest smart home platform support, and is also compatible with Google Nest and SmartThings, among others. The Wi-Fi-enabled smart plug lets you control window air conditioners, lights, fans, portable heaters, and other small appliances. iHome's secure keeps you in the know with 24/7 control and notifications for your security.

Lutron

walmart.com

$59.95

Shop Now

No special bulbs are required to get the Caseta to work, this smart plug dimmer is LED, CFL (compact fluorescent), halogen, and incandescent-friendly. The dimmer switch kit is convenient for operating wall and ceiling lights, and it features an in-wall switch and a remote control for your preference. The Caseta uses Clear Connect RF technology to work with other devices without interference and makes setup quick and simple. Our Lab experts note, however, that you do need a separate hub for setup.

TP-Link

amazon.com

$53.99

Shop Now

For multiple smart outlets, Good Housekeeping Institute Lab experts recommend the TP-Link smart power strip. It features six smart outlets, plus you can charge up to three devices via the built-in USB ports. The smart power strip also uses certified surge protection to avoid electronics and appliances from undergoing any sudden power surges that may occur in harsh weather conditions. Users can use voice commands of the Kasa Smart app to control the power strip from any location.

Samsung Electronics

samsung.com

$34.99

Shop Now

Even if you don't have SmartThings Hub, simply download the SmartThings app to transform your home into a smart home. It operates and schedules lights, electronics and other appliances, sends you alerts if any electronics were left on while you're away, and lets you turn your devices on and off even if you're not at home. You can also receive notifications when unexpected activity occurs — this is detected by movement, time, moisture, and temperature.

Caseta Wireless

casetawireless.com

$79.95

Shop Now

This outdoor smart plug is the newest addition to the Caseta smart line. According to the brand, its sturdy construction can protect the core from dust and heavy rainfall. Users can operate exterior lights, inflatables and some motors and pumps via voice command, the Lutron app, or Pico remote control. This smart plug will be available in late March, but you can sign up to be notified of the first drop here.

KONKA

konka-usa.com/

$79.99

Shop Now

When a single smart plug isn't enough and a power strip takes up too much space, this duo outlet serves as the ultimate solution. It's compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa and highlights key features like surge protection, individual outlet control, and even the ability to set timers. The smart plug duo can be used solely on its own, but it also has the capacity to be paired with other smart home products.