Best smart plugs-CNET - CNET

Article updated on November 3, 2024 at 12:23 AM PDT

Make any device in your home a smart device you can turn on and off using just your voice with the best smart plugs.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

When you think of smart devices, you may think of costly technology throughout your home. But, it can be as simple as a smart plug that allows you to turn on fans, lamps and other common home items with your phone or virtual assistant. It's a much cheaper way to make any item a "smart" one rather than buying a specifically smart product.

Read more: Best Smart Home Gifts for 2024

Smart plugs may seem like relatively simple devices, but they can achieve something incredible when connected to another gadget, turning it into a smart device. We can use them to set timers and schedules for devices that lack onboard capability, such as Christmas lights, box fans and the bedroom TV you keep forgetting to turn off before you drift off to bed. (I use them to automatically turn off the TV when I should go to bed.)

A smart plug is a handy way to upgrade the functionality of existing devices, meaning you don't need to replace your TVs, speakers, lightbulbs or coffee makers in order to get the benefits of modern smart home technology. There's no reason why you can't deploy a full fleet of smart plugs around the home, either, especially as most of the best smart plugs are sold in multi-packs to save you a few extra dollars.

Read more: Want to Buy a Smart Plug? Read This First

The best smart plugs do operate a little differently from each other, particularly when it comes to compatibility with Alexa, Google, HomeKit, Matter and other smart home standards, and you'll want to make sure a smart plug can play nice with your broader smart home ecosystem. Some smart plugs come with added features, such as energy monitoring or IFTTT capabilities, too.

CNET has tested countless smart plugs over the years, and we brought in over 10 new models in order to determine the best smart plugs currently on the market. The result is this guide to our top five smart plugs -- starting with the Leviton D215P-2RW, which topped our list thanks to its easy setup and broad compatibility with the most common smart home standards and voice assistants.

Read more: These Smart Plugs Are the Secret to a Seamless Smart Home

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. However that may be changing thanks to Matter, the new universal smart home standard.

We've tested the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini before and, prior to trying out the Leviton smart plug, it was our pick for best overall. It's still a great plug with a small, space-saving design, but it lacks the appeal and compatibility to continue its reign as "best overall."

This smart device works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa via your Wi-Fi network, and the Kasa app (Android and iOS) offers plenty of detailed options for customizing scheduling, away modes and timers.

What you won't get? This Wi-Fi smart plug doesn't offer energy-consumption data, a USB port or HomeKit compatibility. To be fair, most smart plugs can't do all that, either, so don't let that turn you away from this one unless you really need those features. If you're interested in scheduling and using voice control and voice commands, TP-Link's smart plug is a great choice to control a light switch or other connected device.

Speaking of apps, GE's Cync app is nothing short of delightful. The initial smart plug setup took me through a series of simple, step-by-step instructions complemented by soft, home-inspired imagery in the background. The setup also prompted me to connect to Alexa and Google devices, something I had to navigate to within the app or go to a hub to do with other smart plugs.

Once your smart plug is set up, you can control on/off settings from the home screen or tap "Routines" to set a schedule. There are a number of other functions and settings you can play with, such as grouping devices together for simultaneous control or creating "scenes" with custom settings, like turning off a set of lights before starting a movie or changing the smart light bulbs to your team's color on game day.

If it sounds complicated, you can get a user-friendly, eye-pleasing breakdown of how to use all the various Cync features under Settings > App Tutorials.

I'm getting away from the smart plug a bit, but that's because the GE Cync app is clearly intended to incorporate multiple devices and support total home automation. You can use the smart plug on its own, but the app invites you to do much more.

Two for the price of one here. The HBN smart plug is one of the few I've seen with two independently controlled outlets. Even with the extra outlet, the smart plug isn't that much wider than other single plugs, and it's still compact enough to plug something else in above or below it.

I'm sure there are quite a few uses for a dual smart plug, but plugging my Christmas tree lights into one and a corner lamp into the other immediately comes to mind. Currently, I have a light fixture and a fan plugged in and the ability to independently control one or the other is pretty nifty.

The HBN app reminds me of the Leviton app in its user-friendly simplicity. I can turn either switch on or off from the app or by voice command via Alexa or Google. Each outlet is nameable, so you can turn off a single outlet by saying "Alexa, turn off Switch 2," or control both outlets at once by referring to the device name.

You can also create separate schedules for each outlet. Here at home, I've set my fan to come on during these sweltering Southern summer days while the lamp is programmed to come on at night. Again, pretty nifty.

The Emporia smart plug comes with much of the same functionality as other smart plugs -- instant on/off control, scheduling, Alexa and Google compatibility -- not to mention the rounded edges that made the device feel a bit less bulky than others. What stood out most to me was the app's focus on energy monitoring.

From the home screen display, you can see connected devices and their on/off status along with how much energy they are currently using. Tapping the plug or power icons will take you to the on/off settings, or you can tap on the device name to see a graph of your plug's (that is, whatever's plugged into it) energy use over time.

The Management screen lets you prioritize Emporia devices to automatically turn off if you approach a set peak energy demand goal, automatically consume excess solar energy and create a custom schedule. There are other energy monitoring and consumption features, but that's the gist of it.

Emporia's app is certainly useful and informative, but speaking strictly from a standalone smart plug standpoint, it can get mildly in the way of actually using the smart plug. I had to play with it a bit to figure out that "Management > Time-of-use management" was the means to create a schedule, and turning the plug on and off from the Home screen wasn't set as a default.

There's also the consideration of whether or not the thing you've got plugged into your Emporia smart plug is worth the in-depth monitoring. Most smart plug applications are for lamps, nightlights, fans and other fixtures that are relatively low on the energy consumption scale. Still, if you want a smart plug that monitors your energy use and allows for more energy-efficient customization than other plugs, this is the one for you.

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.

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.

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.

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.