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 the outlet on and off at your command from anywhere in your home (or even if 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 really only needs power sent to it for the full experience, 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) ($19, 3-pack) lets you skip getting an app and use Matter to directly connect it to your home hub of choice. Smart plugs are also great for outdoor use, and the Cync Outdoor Smart Plug ($19) is made for the outdoors and has two plugs built into it.
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.
What’s a Smart Plug? What Can They Do?
Smart plugs get plugged into an outlet socket, and then you plug your device of choice (a lamp, a coffee maker, et cetera) into the plug to allow you control over the power flow. The smart plug can connect to Wi-Fi and an app, along with your smart speaker if you have one, to let you control it with automated schedules, the dedicated app, or your voice.
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 that has a simple on-and-off switch you can leave on, and let the smart plug take over 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 abilities in the app, so you can set the smart plug to turn your lights on and off at certain times to appear 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 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 tea kettle won’t heat up until I choose how hot it should become, 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.
Our Favorite Smart Plugs
We’ve tested many smart plugs over the years. These are our favorites.
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 $25: 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.
