VerdictAI

Buying guide · 2026

Best Smart Plugs

Smart plugs are one of the cheapest ways to add automation to a home, but the right pick depends on which voice assistant you use, whether you want Matter or energy monitoring, and whether the plug is going indoors or outside. This roundup synthesizes what reviewers across Wirecutter, Reviewed, PCMag, CNET, and major smart-home subreddits have said about the leading models, and surfaces where their findings disagree.

Sources behind this synthesis

46 reviewers read. Weighted by trust.

We don’t review products. We read what other reviewers wrote, score each source for trustworthiness, and synthesize the consensus.

How sources are scored →

Trust mix

No flagged sources

Trusted11trustedMixed23mixed

Trusted contributors

ReviewedBest Buy customersr/smarthomer/homeautomation
Show all 17 other sources →
r/homeassistantr/HomeKitr/TPLinkKasar/MatterProtocolYouTube · YouTubePCMagr/SenseYouTube · Is It Good? WATCH BEFORE YOU BUY!YouTube · on walkthroughThe Verger/badreviewerCNETr/UnfilteredReviewsr/amazonprimer/alexaYouTube · Is It Worth The Money?YouTube · Setup and First Review!

By source type

Expert
7
Retailer
3
Community
24
Video
12

At a glance

RankProductBest forAmazon ratingVerdict scorePriceBuy
#1
Kasa Smart Plug, Matter Compatible, Energy Monitoring, Compact Design, 15A/1800W Max…
Kasa Smart
Best Matter / multi-platform
4.42,033
89/100
$24.99Check price
#2
TP-Link Tapo Matter Supported Smart Plug Mini, Compact Design, 15A/1800W Max, Super Easy…
Tapo
Best for Apple HomeKit
4.52,544
87/100
$23.99Check price
#3
Tapo Smart Plug, Wi-Fi in-Wall Outlet, Matter Compatible, Energy Monitoring, 15A/1800W…
Best with energy monitoring
4.5318
83/100
$25.99Check price
#4
Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug, Smart Home Wi-Fi Outlet with 2 Sockets, IP64 Weather Resistance…
Best outdoor-rated
4.617,325
86/100
$19.00Check price
#5
Amazon Smart Plug, Works with Alexa, Simple Setup, Endless Possibilities
Brand: Amazon
Best for renters (no hub required)
4.7571,406
80/100
$24.99Check price

Our top pick

#1 of 5
Top pick · #1Kasa Smart Plug, Matter Compatible, Energy Monitoring, Compact Design, 15A/1800W Max, Super Easy Setup, Works…
Best Matter / multi-platform

Kasa Smart Plug, Matter Compatible, Energy Monitoring, Compact Design, 15A/1800W Max, Super Easy Setup, Works…

Kasa Smart

★★★★★4.4(2,033)89Great

Across the reviewers we read, the KP125M is the most-recommended Matter-era smart plug. Reviewed explicitly called it "the best smart plug we've tested" thanks to its slim form factor, built-in energy monitoring, and Matter support that lets it bind natively to Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings without leaning on TP-Link's cloud.

Price

$24.99

Read review →Check price

The rest of the rankings

#2–5

Frequently asked

5 questions
Do I need a hub to use a smart plug?
No. Every pick here connects directly to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and is controlled through the manufacturer's app plus Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Home. Matter-certified plugs (Kasa KP125M, Tapo P125M, Tapo P400M) can additionally do local control through a Matter controller like a HomePod, Echo, or Nest Hub.
What's the difference between a Matter smart plug and a regular Wi-Fi smart plug?
Matter is a cross-platform standard that lets a single plug work natively in Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings without separate cloud integrations. Reviewed and PCMag note Matter plugs also keep working on the local network if your internet goes down, which non-Matter Wi-Fi plugs typically can't do.
Will an indoor smart plug work outside?
No. Outdoor use requires an IP-rated enclosure. The Kasa EP40 (IP64) and Tapo P400M (IP65) are built for rain and dust; using an indoor plug like the Kasa EP10 or Amazon Smart Plug outdoors is a safety and warranty issue.
Do smart plugs work with Apple HomeKit / Apple Home?
Some do. Matter-certified models like the Kasa KP125M, Tapo P125M, and Tapo P400M work natively with Apple Home. The Amazon Smart Plug is Alexa-only and does not work with Apple Home or Google Home.
Is energy monitoring on smart plugs accurate enough to be useful?
Reviewers including Reviewed and PCMag say the energy-monitoring data on the Kasa KP125M and Tapo P110M/P210M is accurate enough to spot vampire loads and compare appliance draw, though they caution it's not a substitute for a whole-home monitor like Sense or Emporia.