Best Smart Plugs and Outlets

Best overall
Wemo Smart Plug
Wemo Smart Plug
  • pro
    Easy to use
  • pro
    Affordable
  • pro
    Excellent compatibility
Best for customization
Kasa Smart Plug Mini
Kasa Smart Plug Mini
  • pro
    Excellent scheduling options
  • pro
    Affordable
  • pro
    Energy monitoring
Best in-wall Z-Wave outlet
GE Enbrighten Outlet
GE Enbrighten Smart Outlet
  • pro
    Z-Wave compatible
  • pro
    In-wall installation
  • pro
    1 controllable outlet
Best lamp dimmer
Lutron Caseta Lamp Dimmer
  • pro
    Voice control with smart bridge
  • pro
    Dimming features
  • pro
    Both smart switch and plug
Best Outdoor Smart Plug
Wyze Plug Outdoor
  • pro
    Affordable
  • pro
    Water-resistant
  • pro
    Surge protection
pro

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Like many automated devices today, smart plugs, smart switches, and smart outlets come packed with features like voice control, energy usage alerts, and programmable scenes and schedules. But the best smart plugs and outlets are the ones that do the job so well, you don’t even know they’re there. We looked for smart plugs and outlets that offer superior control and compatibility but won’t hog your socket space or stick out like a sore thumb.

The Wemo Smart Plug may be compact, but it’s mighty in terms of reliability and design. It’s one of the easiest smart plugs to use and has voice command control across the widest variety of platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and IFTTT.



Compare the best smart plugs and outlets

Product
Best for
Price
Occupies entire outlet
Energy monitoring
Programmable schedules
Smart home compatibility
Learn more
Wemo Smart PlugWemo Smart Plug
Best overall
Icon Yes  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Amazon, Apple, Google, IFTTT
Kasa Smart Plug MiniKasa Smart Plug Mini
Best for customization
Icon Yes  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Amazon, Google, IFTTT, SmartThings
GE Enbrighten OutletGE Enbrighten Smart Outlet
Best in-wall
Z-Wave outlet
Icon No  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightVia hub
Hub required:
Z-Wave
Lutron Caseta Lamp Dimmer
Best lamp dimmer
Icon Yes  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightVia bridge
Bridge required:
Amazon, Apple, Google, IFTTT, SmartThings
Wyze Plug Outdoor
Best outdoor smart plug
Icon Yes  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Amazon, Google, IFTTT

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Reviews: Best smart plugs and smart outlets

1. Wemo Smart Plug: Best overall

Best overall
Wemo Smart Plug

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Wemo Smart Plug is small, but it leads the pack as one of the most reliable and versatile products on our list. If you’re concerned about space, its low-profile, compact design means it takes up only one socket in the outlet.

pro
Pros
pro Easy to use
pro Compact design
pro Programmable schedules
pro Away Mode randomizes lights
pro Compatibility with most platforms
con
Cons
con Slightly more expensive price
con No web browser control
con No energy monitoring

Image: Cathy Habas, SafeWise

Just plug it in, download the app, and connect to your Wi-Fi network, and you can access programmable schedules and remotely control a wide variety of devices from lamps to air conditioners.

Although no home hub is required, this compact smart plug does integrate with most platforms. You can also control devices with voice commands via Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. Wemo’s standout feature is called Away Mode, and it randomizes lights to make it look like someone is home. Overall, the Wemo Smart Plug packs a lot into a little package.

2. Kasa Smart Plug Mini with Energy Monitoring: Best for customization

Best for customization

TP-Link is a trusted brand for networking products, so it’s no surprise to see its Kasa Smart Plug Mini with Energy Monitoring shows up on our list. While it takes up more outlet space than the mini version, the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug gives you some fantastic features as a result.

pro
Pros
pro Superior scheduling and customization
pro Affordable price
pro Energy usage monitoring
con
Cons
con No Apple HomeKit compatibility

Image: Cathy Habas, SafeWise

Easy, intuitive programming options let you make schedules and set up timers for automatic shutdown on the app. Controllable from anywhere on an Android or iOS device, this plug also has an away mode to create the appearance of someone being home.

One of the advantages of this TP-Link Kasa smart plug is the energy monitoring it provides. Detailed information about your energy usage enables you to lower your bills by shutting off devices that use the most power. While no home hub is required, you can use voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Unfortunately, there's no Apple HomeKit support on this smart plug.

3. GE Enbrighten Smart Outlet: Best smart outlet

Best in-wall Z-Wave outlet
GE Enbrighten Outlet

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you want a plug that blends into your home seamlessly, a smart outlet is a better solution. While it does have to be hardwired, the GE Enbrighten Smart Outlet looks exactly like a standard wall outlet.

pro
Pros
pro Normal outlet appearance
pro Create scenes via hub
pro Compatible with any Z-Wave hub
con
Cons
con More expensive price
con Hardwired installation
con No energy usage monitoring

If you have a Z-Wave-compatible smart hub, you can remotely control devices and appliances connected to the GE smart outlet, as well as schedule events and create scenes.

GE’s Enbrighten does require a Z-Wave certified gateway, and it’s compatible with Z-Wave home hubs such as Aeotec Smart Home Hub. But because it’s not compatible with Zigbee, it won’t connect to Alexa without an Amazon hub like the Echo. It also lacks the energy usage features and “away mode” options of the smart plugs we recommend.

4. Lutron Caseta: Best lamp dimmer

Best lamp dimmer

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Whether it’s to strike a mood or conserve energy, if you want to turn the lights down low, you’ll need a smart switch with dimming features. Fortunately, the Lutron Caseta Lamp Dimmer serves as both a smart switch and a smart plug. 

pro
Pros
pro 3-way dimming
pro Wireless remote control
pro Compatible with Google, Alexa and Apple
con
Cons
con Requires smart bridge
con No energy monitoring
con More expensive price

Just put in the socket and connect up to two lamps for dimming function that you can control through voice commands or a smartphone app. The Caseta dimmer is compatible with Amazon, Apple, Google, Nest, and more, although it does requires a smart bridge.

5. Wyze Plug Outdoor: Best outdoor plug

Best outdoor plug

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Most of the smart plugs and outlets we’ve mentioned are for indoor use only, but the Wyze Plug Outdoor is a weather-resistant smart plug specifically designed for the great outdoors. 

pro
Pros
pro Water resistant and surge protection
pro Energy monitoring
pro Two independently controlled outlets
con
Cons
con No Apple Homekit compatibility

Water-resistant and equipped with surge protection, the Wyze Plug Outdoor is an excellent solution for holiday lights, sprinklers, and barbecues. You can set up timers and control it remotely on the Wyze app as well as use voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Things to consider before you buy

Power: Identify what lights or appliances you want the smart plug to handle, and make sure the one you choose is up to the task in terms of wattage and functionality.

Design: Determine the outlet you’ll want to use, other nearby devices, and available socket space. For constricted spaces you may need a mini, stackable version to avoid cord congestion.

Schedules and scenes: These customizable options vary from product to product, so pay attention to how the features are described. Schedules allow you to set on and off times while scenes are more sophisticated functions that let you control a group of lights.

Compatibility: You’ll want to select a smart plug or outlet that works with your existing automation platform. If you don’t have a home hub, stick to smart plugs or outlets that are widely compatible so you don’t have to worry about issues down the road.

Water-resistance: Smart plugs designed to handle outdoor electronics and devices need to be weatherproof and offer additional protections like surge control to avoid potential hazards.

FAQ

These two terms get used interchangeably, but an outlet and a plug are not the same.

  • A smart plug is a device that plugs directly into the socket in an outlet and lets you operate whatever electronic is plugged into it with an app.
  • A smart outlet functions similarly, but it’s designed to be hardwired into the wall in place of a traditional outlet.

It depends. Most smart plugs and outlets can be controlled on an app without a home hub or smart bridge. But if you want to use voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, you may need a home hub or a bridge to make it compatible so the two can “talk” to each other.

Check out our best smart home hubs guide to find a platform that's compatible with your existing connected devices.

The terms smart hub and smart bridge are often used interchangeably because both devices perform the same function. They allow various smart devices without Wi-Fi chips to bridge or connect with the internet and communicate with one another.

  • Smart bridges are typically smaller and plug directly into the router in your home.
  • Smart hubs like Amazon Echo or Google Nest Hub connect to the network wirelessly.
  • A smart gateway performs an entirely different function. It’s a device or appliance that connects to your internet and creates a bridge between your fiber, cable, or DSL connection to your home network. Smart gateways usually combine the functions of both a modem and a router.

If you have mad skills and a Raspberry Pi, you can take on the challenge of designing your own smart plugs, but it’s not advisable for beginners. Smart plugs are relatively inexpensive, and there’s no reason to hack together a system piecemeal.

How we picked the best smart plugs and outlets

We sifted through reviews of countless smart plugs and outlets to determine which products made the cut. Recommendations from experts also informed our decision, as well as brand reviews from the Better Business Bureau.

The methodology we stick to means we not only inspect popular products but also scour the research to determine safety, reliability, and value.

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimers

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided "as is" and is subject to change or removal at any time.

†Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

Kaz Weida
Written by
Kaz is a journalist who covers home security, parenting, and community and child safety. Her work and product testing in the security and safety field spans the past four years. You can find Kaz in HuffPost, SheKnows, Lifehack, and much more. Her degree in education and her background as a teacher and a parent make her uniquely suited to offer practical advice on creating safe environments for your family.

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