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Best Smart Plugs [CNET]
Our Experts
David Anders is a senior writer for CNET covering broadband providers, smart home devices and security products. Prior to joining CNET, David built his industry expertise writing for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. In his 5 plus years covering broadband, David’s work has been referenced by a variety of sources including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. David is from and currently resides in the Charlotte area with his wife, son and two cats.
Expertise Broadband providers | Home internet | Security Cameras
Smart home devices are getting more and more common and becoming increasingly affordable. If you’re not quite ready to take the leap to full-on smart devices yet but would like to be able to control multiple devices with your smart home assistant, a smart plug is a good place to start. A smart plug is ideal for your TVs, speakers, lightbulbs, coffee makers and other devices around the house.
The best smart plugs will give virtually anything you plug in — lamps, fans, decorative lighting, night lights and so on — the “smart” treatment by controlling the power to said device. They’re similar to upside-down outlets you can turn on or off from a wall switch. Instead of manually flipping a switch, you use your phone, voice or a preset schedule to control the flow of power.
Read more: Want to Buy a Smart Plug? Read This First
What is the best smart plug overall?
Some smart plugs come with added features, such as energy monitoring or IFTTT (short for “If This, Then That”) capabilities. For the most part, your smart plug’s role is to simplify the control of power to whatever you’ve got plugged in. Although smart plugs serve the same basic purpose, not all of them are the same. Pricing, functionality and compatibility with home assistants like Alexa, Google and HomeKit will vary by device.
CNET has tested more than a few smart plugs over the years. In this most recent round, I tested 10 or so in addition to those we’ve previously checked out.
Read more: These Smart Plugs Are the Secret to a Seamless Smart Home
Best smart plugs of 2024
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I liked the Leviton D215P-2RW smart plug right out of the box. For a smart plug, it has a sleek design. I’m particularly fond of the little corner window that acts as a button to manually turn the device on and off and as an indicator light — features that most smart plugs keep separated. It’s also slimmer than most smart plugs I’ve seen, which is nice if you’re working with a limited space.
Design aside, I found the Leviton smart plug easy to set up, and the app is pleasantly simple. The home screen displays all connected plugs (or other Leviton smart devices) and their status, along with the ability to switch them on or off with a tap. Setting a schedule for the plug was also easy and intuitive.
Another standout feature of the Leviton smart plug: it plays nice with all three of the major smart home ecosystems. I had no problem connecting the smart plug to my Google Home Mini, but I did have to download the Leviton “skill” to connect to Alexa. It’s an extra step, but one that only took about 30 seconds.
Leviton is also compatible with Apple HomeKit (I connected via an iPad, but Homepods and Apple TV devices will do the job better), which is unique for a smart plug, as the majority of them only work with Alexa and Google. Although that may be changing thanks to Matter, the new universal smart home standard.
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There are dozens of smart plugs out there from companies large and small, and while we haven’t tested every single one, we’ve tried out many of the ones you’d come across online or at your local big box store. Here’s a quick look at other notable options. All are compatible with Alexa and Google (excluding the Amazon Smart Plug), but not HomeKit unless specifically noted. Again, Matter could change that compatibility in the future.
- Amazon Smart Plug: A flagship for the brand, the Amazon smart plug costs $13 and only works with Amazon Alexa. While the set-up is easy, it isn’t as feature-rich as other models, which may be a deal-breaker when you’re looking for a smart outlet.
- ConnectSense Smart Outlet 2: This smart plug does it all — energy monitoring, individually controlled outlets, a USB port and LED status lighting. The unattractive, oversized design is enough to keep us from recommending it. Everyone loves a smart outlet, but no one likes an ugly one.
- Enbrighten Dual Smart Plug: Like with the HBN smart plug, I appreciated the extra outlet. The Enbrighten version is significantly wider and doesn’t allow for individual control of each outlet, at least not in any way that I could easily figure out. It’s also priced a bit higher than the HBN dual outlet at $22.
- Govee Smart Wi-Fi Plug: The round design is nice and blends in with my wall plate perfectly while leaving plenty of room for another plug. Nothing else really stands out about the plug, unfortunately, but if you want a simple, cheap (currently $13) plug that doesn’t scream “I’m a smart plug,” this is a good choice.
- Philips Hue Smart Plug: The Philips Hue app reminded me of GE’s Cync app in that the setup was simple and there’s the potential to connect multiple devices under whole-home automation. For a single smart plug, this one is fairly expensive at $35, and it doesn’t sport any unique features to justify the cost.
- Wyze: We like the Wyze Smart Plug primarily for its low pricing. The Wyze does all the basic functions of a smart plug and will only set you back $20 for a two-pack. The bargain price is nice, but if you only need one plug, there are cheaper options.
- Vont Smart Plug [Out of Stock]: Your standard smart plug. Nothing special, but nothing that would turn me away from using it, either. If you can catch it on sale, or perhaps in a value-priced two-pack, this smart plug can be a decent, budget-friendly addition to your smart home.
- WeMo [Out of Stock]: We previously featured this smart plug as “Best for HomeKit” in spite of other shortcomings like a less-than-impressive app. Yes, the smart plug works well with a HomeKit setup along with Alexa and Google, but so does the more user-friendly Leviton plug.
Why use a smart plug?
Smart plugs are one of the cheapest and simplest ways to add smart technology to non-smart devices such as lamps, nightlights and fans.
A smart plug will give you control over the flow of power to plugged-in devices via an app on your phone or using your voice when paired with a compatible home assistant like Alexa or HomeKit.
Smart plugs also enable you to create schedules to automatically turn the device on or off at specified times. Some plugs come with other features such as energy use monitoring, but conveniently turning your devices “on” or “off” is the main purpose of a smart plug.
Which smart plug should I buy?
When choosing the best smart plug for your needs, start by identifying which voice assistant you’ll be using, if any. Most plugs are compatible with Alexa and Google, but finding one that is compatible with HomeKit may be more of a challenge. Most smart plugs will display online and/or on the box which voice assistants are compatible with the device.
Next, compare the size and style of each smart plug. Most smart plugs are compact, but some can be rather bulky and may block access to other outlets. Some are rectangular, others may have rounded edges or a circular shape, which tends to blend in better with the wall plate. Pick the one that best fits your home’s style and space.
Extra features like energy monitoring and USB charging can add even more control and convenience, but consider how often you may use these added features before paying a higher price for a smart plug that does more than you need it to.
Do smart plugs save energy?
Smart plugs themselves do not lower energy consumption, but the use of a smart plug is a great way to control and potentially lower your energy use. Setting a schedule for a light to turn off at a certain time, for example, will keep it from staying on continuously.
Some smart plugs, such as the Emporia Smart Plug, feature energy-use monitoring along with automatic settings to turn devices on or off depending on your energy consumption. Again, the smart plug itself does not save energy, but using a smart plug and taking advantage of its features can help keep your energy use in check.
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