At first, smart plugs may seem a bit unnecessary to have in your home, but once you have your first one, you’ll wonder why you never got it sooner. They can automate almost any electrical products in your home, allowing you to access and control them from afar.
What To Look For in a Smart Plug
Different Features
Smart plugs often come with features that each do different things to improve your daily life at home. Before picking a smart plug for your home, you should think about what features you would benefit from.
Some smart plugs come with an App that can be downloaded onto any tablet or mobile device. This App can be used to monitor how much energy in kilowatt-hours (kWh) the devices connected to the smart plug are using each day, week, or month. Energy monitoring can really help to monitor your consumption and keep your electricity bills low.
You can use a smart plug to time your devices to switch on or off automatically. For example, if you plug in a coffee maker, you can set a time for it to switch on and start making coffee each morning as you wake up, saving you time and starting your day off right.
Many smart plugs offer a scheduling feature. This feature is brilliant for morning routines and bedtime routines and can help reduce your energy consumption. If you have an Amazon Alexa or a Google Assistant, you can make it so that the smart plug is activated by phrases such as “Alexa, goodnight” to switch off lights or other devices.
A final feature a smart plug might have is called Away Mode. It’s similar to the scheduling feature in that you can set it to switch on or off at a certain time, but it’s specifically for when you’re away from your home.
For example, if you go on a vacation, you can set the dates you’ll be away from your home and then schedule different times for the smart plug to switch on or off to make it look like you’re still at home.
Compatibility
It’s important to make sure that the smart plug you’re buying is compatible with the voice assistant you have. This will ensure that you can control your devices with your voice, allowing you to get the most out of having a smart plug.
Newer smart plugs can connect directly to your Wi-Fi and can be controlled using a mobile App, so you don’t need to have a voice assistant, but it can be much more beneficial to have one.
Design
Most smart plugs have a similar design, but they are available in different shapes and sizes. It’s important to consider the smart plug design, so you can make sure that it will fit with your outlets.
If you want to use your smart plug close to other plugs, you won’t want to have a big size covering nearby outlets. A smaller-sized smart plug would be a better choice, but you also have to think of the shape. If the shape is wrong, it might not fit next to another plug.
When it comes to colors, there isn’t much variety available. Most smart plugs are available in black or white, but these are great colors that can fit in with any home décor.
The Top 10 Best Smart Plugs
Amazon Smart Plug
The Amazon Smart Plug works exclusively with Alexa and is super easy to set up and use.
It can be plugged into any outlet and can be used to control any device by using voice commands or through the Alexa App.
A scheduling feature allows you to set up any timers or routines for the smart plug to follow. You can also control the smart plug remotely whilst you’re away from your home through the Alexa app.
It has a small rectangular design in order to avoid blocking any nearby outlets, allowing you to plug it in above or below another plug.
Gosund Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plug
The Gosund Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plug is compatible with both Google Home and Alexa.
You can control this smart plug using voice commands or by App without the need for a hub. There’s even an option to create a group with your family so that they can control the smart plug too.
A schedule and timer feature is available through the Gosund App. This App can also allow you to control the smart plug remotely whilst you’re not at home.
This smart plug can fit next to another plug and into any outlet with its compact round design. It’s easy to install and set up to use.
Kasa Smart Plug Hs103p2
The Kasa Smart Plug HS103P2 can be used with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It’s easy to set up, simply plug in and follow the instructions on the Kasa App.
As its compatible with voice assistants, you can use voice commands to activate the smart plug or use the App to control it from anywhere.
This smart plug comes with a scheduling feature and Away Mode, so you can easily set up a daily routine and keep your home looking busy whilst you’re away.
The design is a bit on the bulky side with a rectangular shape, but it will fit perfectly above or below other plugs without blocking the outlets.
T Teckinmini Smart Plug
The T Teckin Smart Plug is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, or it can be controlled using the downloadable Smart Life App.
Voice commands can be used to activate or deactivate the smart plug. Setting up the smart plug is fairly easy, just plug it into an outlet, connect a device, and follow the App’s instructions.
A scheduled timer is included with this smart plug for your daily routines and to help save energy.
This smart plug has a round shape and a power button on the side, making it a great fit for any outlet.
T Teckin 15A Smart Plug
The T Teckin 15A Smart Plug is similar to the Mini version, with the difference being its size and shape. It’s a bit bigger than the Mini, but its rounded rectangle shape allows you to keep a second outlet free.
Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, this smart plug can be controlled through voice commands or the Smart Life App.
There is a schedule and timer function available for your daily routines that can help to save you time and conserve your energy.
This smart plug can be set up easily by following the instructions available through the Smart Life App.
Smart Plug Gosund Wi-Fi Outlet
The Smart Plug Gosund Wi-Fi Outlet is a dual-socket plug that can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. As it’s a dual-socket, you can use it to control one or two devices whilst saving your outlet space.
Voice commands allow you to control the smart plug easily just by using your voice. You can also switch it on or off by using the Gosund App.
A schedule and a timer function allow you to create a daily routine for your devices. These features can be set up by using the App and can be controlled remotely, so you can operate the smart plug whilst away from home.
Smart Plugesicoo
The Smart Plug Esicoo comes in a pack of four smart plugs and can be used with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
This smart plug can be used for any home devices. You can easily manage your devices by using voice commands. Plus, you can also control your devices by using the Only Cloud Intelligence App.
A timer function is available with this smart plug for making schedules, switching devices on or off automatically, and saving your energy.
The smart plug design is small and features a round shape, allowing it to plug into any outlet with ease.
Kmc Wi-Fi Mini Smart Plug
The KMC Wi-Fi Mini Smart Plug is available in a pack of four and is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT without any hub required.
You can easily control the smart plug by using voice commands for a hands-free experience or by using the Smart Life App for remote control away from your home.
This smart plug can be shared with your family so they can operate it from their own devices. There’s also a timer schedule feature that allows you to create any daily routine as well as save on energy.
The smart plug’s small round design allows it to be plugged into any outlet without blocking other plugs.
Treatlife15a Smart Plug
The Treatlife 15A Smart Plug is a heavy-duty smart plug that can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
This smart plug is voice compatible so that you can easily control your devices just by saying a command. You can also control the device remotely by using the App available to download on mobile.
An automated timer can be set up by using the App to automatically switch on/off your home devices and appliances. This smart plug also features Away Mode so that you can discourage intruders whilst you’re away by making it look like you’re at home.
Meross Smart Plug Mini
The final product in this list is the MerossSmart Plug Mini. Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, this smart plug can be controlled just by using voice commands.
An App is available to download so that you can operate the smart plug remotely. Using the App, you can set schedules and timers for your devices to make your daily life easier and to save on energy.
With its small design and rectangular shape, this smart plug allows for two of them to be comfortably stacked on top of each other in the same outlet, saving you on outlet space.
Final Thoughts
Having a smart plug in your home can really help to improve your daily life. They may seem like a small change, but they can really make a big difference. Be sure to look for smart plugs that are compatible with your voice assistant and will help you achieve your daily goals.