A smart plug is the most underrated device in any smart home. For $7, you can voice-control any dumb device, set schedules, and monitor energy usage. No hub, no complicated setup, no subscription.
If you only buy one smart home device after your speaker, make it a smart plug. Here's which ones are worth your money in 2026.
Why Smart Plugs Are the Best Starting Point
A $200 smart light system gives you… lights you can turn on with your voice. Cool, but limited.
A $7 smart plug gives you voice control over literally anything with an on/off switch:
- Coffee maker that starts brewing when your alarm goes off
- Space heater that turns on 20 minutes before you wake up
- Christmas lights on an automatic sunset-to-10pm schedule
- Fan that turns off after you fall asleep
- Old lamp that's now a smart light (without buying smart bulbs)
The difference between a $7 smart plug and a $15 smart bulb? The plug works with everything. The bulb only works with that one light.
Best Smart Plugs Compared
| Plug | Price | Works With | Energy Monitor | Size | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasa Smart Plug Mini (EP10) | $7 each (4-pack: $27) | Alexa, Google | No | Small | Best Value |
| Amazon Smart Plug | $13 each | Alexa only | No | Medium | Best for Alexa |
| Kasa Smart Plug (EP25) | $10 each (2-pack: $20) | Alexa, Google | Yes | Small | Best with Energy Monitor |
| Wyze Plug | $8 each (2-pack: $16) | Alexa, Google | Yes | Small | Runner-Up |
| Eve Energy | $35 each | HomeKit, Matter | Yes | Small | Best for Apple |
1. Kasa Smart Plug Mini (EP10) — Best Overall Value
At $7 per plug in a 4-pack, this is the plug I recommend to everyone. Setup takes literally 90 seconds in the Kasa app: plug it in, open the app, connect to WiFi, done.
It works with Alexa and Google Home. The Kasa app is surprisingly good for a budget brand — clean interface, reliable schedules, and grouping multiple plugs is straightforward.
What it doesn't have: Energy monitoring. If you want to see how much power a device uses, get the EP25 instead.
Size matters: This plug is small enough that it doesn't block the second outlet. Some smart plugs are so chunky they cover both sockets. The EP10 doesn't.
2. Amazon Smart Plug — Best if You're All-In on Alexa
If you have Echo devices everywhere and don't care about Google Home compatibility, this plug is dead simple. It's the only plug I've tested where setup is literally "plug it in and Alexa discovers it automatically." No app download, no WiFi configuration.
The catch: It only works with Alexa. If you ever switch to Google Home, these plugs become paperweights. At $13, it's also nearly double the price of the Kasa EP10 for fewer features.
Buy this if: You want the absolute easiest setup and you're committed to Alexa forever.
3. Kasa Smart Plug EP25 — Best with Energy Monitoring
Same as the EP10 but with energy monitoring built in. You can see real-time power consumption and monthly usage in the Kasa app.
This sounds like a niche feature, but it's genuinely useful for:
- Figuring out if that old space heater is destroying your electric bill
- Confirming that your appliances are actually off (some draw power even when "off")
- Setting up alerts when energy usage spikes unexpectedly
At $10 per plug, the $3 premium over the EP10 is worth it if you're plugging in anything that uses significant power.
4. Wyze Plug — Runner-Up
Wyze makes solid budget products, and the Wyze Plug is no exception. $8 per plug, works with Alexa and Google, includes energy monitoring.
Why it's not #1: The Wyze app has more features but is also more cluttered. Kasa's app is simpler and more reliable. Also, Wyze has had privacy issues in the past with their camera products, which makes some people hesitant about their smart home ecosystem.
If you're already using Wyze cameras, getting their plug makes sense for a unified app. Otherwise, go with Kasa.
5. Eve Energy — Best for Apple HomeKit
Apple people, this one's for you. The Eve Energy works with HomeKit natively and supports Matter, so it'll work with any platform eventually. It also tracks energy consumption with detailed graphs.
The price hurts: $35 per plug. That's 5x the cost of a Kasa EP10. You're paying the Apple ecosystem tax.
Buy this if: You use Apple HomeKit exclusively and want everything in one app. Skip this if you're on any kind of budget.
Smart Plug Ideas You Haven't Thought Of
Most people plug in a lamp and call it a day. Here are some setups that actually change your routine:
The morning coffee trick: Plug your coffee maker into a smart plug. Fill it with water and grounds the night before. Set a schedule: turn on at 6:45 AM, turn off at 7:30 AM. You wake up to fresh coffee every day.
The "did I leave it on?" fix: Plug your hair straightener, curling iron, or space heater into a smart plug. Set an auto-off rule: turn off if on for more than 60 minutes. Never worry about it again.
The away mode: When you're on vacation, schedule lamps on smart plugs to turn on and off at random times. Makes it look like someone's home. Cheapest security system you can get.
The kid bedtime enforcer: Plug the TV or gaming console into a smart plug. Schedule it to turn off at 9 PM. "I didn't turn it off — it just turned off by itself." (Use this power responsibly.)
What NOT to Plug Into a Smart Plug
Smart plugs have wattage limits, usually 15 amps / 1800 watts. Don't exceed this.
Safe: Lamps, fans, coffee makers, phone chargers, TVs, small heaters
Not safe: Full-size space heaters over 1500W, window AC units, power tools
Never: Anything that could be dangerous if turned on unexpectedly (like a stove or iron that doesn't have an auto-shutoff)
The $27 Smart Plug Starter Kit
Buy the Kasa EP10 4-pack for $27. Here's how to use all four:
- Bedroom lamp — "Alexa, goodnight" turns it off
- Coffee maker — Auto-on at 6:45 AM weekdays
- Living room lamp — Sunset schedule, auto-on when it gets dark
- Holiday lights / fan — Seasonal use, schedule as needed
Four plugs, four daily annoyances eliminated, $27 total.
Dana Park has a smart plug on her coffee maker, her bedroom lamp, and — she's not proud of this — her cat's automatic feeder. She believes the $7 smart plug is the single best return-on-investment in any smart home.