Smart plugs are among the hottest products on the smart home market, but it can be difficult to know which model is best for your budget, needs, or ecosystem. Here are some of the best smart plugs you can buy today.

Best Smart Plug Overall: Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim

A subtle and compact design, future-forward Matter compliance, and automatic energy monitoring are just a few of the features that make the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim the best smart plug you can buy. This smart plug connects through Wi-Fi and works with Apple, Alexa, and Google ecosystems, among others.

Its compliance with the Matter smart home standard means that it will work with any Matter-compliant ecosystem, too. Best of all, it will save you from downloading another controller app. The Kasa smart plug is a great option if you're sticking to a budget because its power protection feature allows you to limit the total energy usage of heaters and other devices.

Best Smart Plug for Alexa: Amazon Smart Plug

If you're looking for a simple setup device that is completely integrated with the Alexa app, the Amazon Smart Plug might be the right fit for your home. This smart plug features a compact single-outlet design, making it an excellent fit for even the coziest homes.

To use the Amazon Smart Plug, you'll need a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. You don't need a hub for setup, and adding the smart plug to your Alexa app only takes three steps. This smart plug lives up to Amazon's reputation, and it will make tasks like starting coffee every morning or controlling lights while you're away simpler than ever.

Best Smart Plug for Google Home: Roku Smart Home Plug

There's no better bang-for-your-buck smart plug than the Roku Smart Home Plug, which boasts a fantastic reputation, seamless Google Assistant integration, and one of the lowest price points on the market. You can purchase two of these smart plugs at a very affordable price point, using them to control devices separately or to power up a room all at once.

Like other smart plugs, the Roku Smart Home Plugs offer an impressive level of control over your household. With the Roku app, you can set schedules for your plugs, put them in a custom vacation mode, and even change the on/off status of specific smart plugs with your phone. You don't need a hub to use this smart plug, so the setup is as simple as it can be.

Best Smart Plug for Apple Homekit: Meross Smart Plug

If you want an affordable, high-quality smart plug that you can add to Apple Homekit without a hub, you might love the Meross Smart Plug. This plug sells in a pack of four at a very affordable price, but it doesn't compromise quality for cost: it is constructed from PC flame retardant material and is ETL and FCC-certified.

In spite of its cost, the Meross Smart Plug also offers a tantalizing variety of premium features. You can set it on a schedule or sync it with sunrise and sunset, and voice control with Apple Homekit and Apple Watch is also supported. Since you don't need a hub for setup, the only thing you need to use this smart plug is a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection.

Best Bluetooth Smart Plug: Govee Smart Plug

Last but not least is the Govee Smart Plug, which is ideal for any household that wants to control its smart technology through Bluetooth. Pairing the Govee Smart Home app with an assistant like Alexa or Google Home gives you plug-and-play functionality, and once setup is complete, its comprehensive voice control support will make managing your electronics a breeze.

Like other smart plugs, the Govee Smart Plug features a compact horizontal design that doesn't block other outlets. The plug itself is FCC and ETL-certified and constructed from flame-retardant materials. You'll need the Govee Smart Home app to use and manage your new smart plug, but the quality of the app itself makes it worth installing.

FAQ

Q: What does a smart plug do?

Smart plugs allow you to manage whether devices are powered on or off using schedules, timers, smart home apps, or even voice assistants. Their potential is essentially as limitless as your imagination. For example, you can sync your house lights with the sunrise and sunset or ensure that your coffee maker turns on before you wake up for work every morning.

Q: Do I need a smart home hub to control a smart plug?

You don't need a smart home hub to control a smart plug, but some require one. Before buying a smart plug, research its requirements and determine whether it needs a hub. Most smart plugs can connect to your network through 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and can be controlled through smart home apps.

Q: Do I need a smart plug with smart lighting?

You don't need a smart plug to use smart lighting. Smart plugs allow you to power devices by placing them on a schedule, syncing them with sunrise and sunset, or controlling them with your voice or through a smart home app. Smart lights have these features built-in, so they can be plugged into regular outlets. If your smart lamp features color options but doesn't support smart power management, you can pair it with a smart plug to add that feature.

Q: Can a smart plug make a "dumb" product smart?

A smart plug can make a "dumb" product smart. Smart plugs are used to control the power that goes to another device in a smart way. For example, you can make your coffee maker smart by scheduling your smart plug to power it on before you wake up for work each morning. You can also put lamps on schedules, automatically run a fan, or power on other assorted devices from your phone.