The Best Smart Plugs to Give Any Appliance a Brain

If you need a smart plug made to withstand the elements, we like this one from Cync. I used it for controlling my outdoor Christmas decorations, as well as year-round string lights. It's lovely being able to control them without going outside, especially on those nights when I tucked myself into bed before remembering they were still on. This has a cord that plugs into the wall, so you get two smart outlets while only taking up one AC outlet in the wall.

Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa

I am once again reminding you that Matter can help fix your compatibility worries. But if you want a smart plug you're certain will play well with Siri and Apple Home, Meross's plugs are my go-to. Meross's MSS110 smart plug costs more than our other picks, but is designed with Apple HomeKit in mind while also being compatible with Google and Alexa. It behaves like everything else–you're just paying extra for those HomeKit powers, and you will need an Apple HomePod, HomePod Mini, or Apple TV to act as your smart home hub. You can set it up directly in the Home app, similar to setting up an Apple product or a Matter-compatible product, so you don't need the Meross app to use it.

Works with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings.

★ A Matter version: Meross's latest plug, the Matter Smart Plug Mini ($14), is a Matter-compatible plug that is also compatible with Amazon and Google. But I don't love the shape as much; the round form factor blocks any outlet below it. If you aren't worried about that, though, it's another solid choice for HomeKit and Matter.

TP-Link's Kasa line of mini smart plugs is a favorite of ours here at WIRED. They perform the same as the larger plugs, but in a compact body that's easier to stack with others. If you use just one, it won't obstruct the second outlet at all. The app is pretty simple to navigate; there are scenes, timers, and schedules you can program to your liking. Away mode turns the plugs on and off randomly during the time you choose, without needing to set timers and schedules, which can potentially confuse burglars into thinking you're home, like in Home Alone. (A few of our other picks have this setting too.)

WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu has also been using the larger version of these plugs, the HS103 ($13), for years on his lamps, Christmas lights, and fans with no issues. There's also the EP25 ($23) version of that offers energy monitoring.

Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa

These compact plugs from Nooie are easy to set up and manage. In addition to regular schedules and timers, Nooie also includes a loop timer. The example the app gives is a fish tank oxygen pump that needs to go on for 10 minutes every hour—you can set the loop timer to turn the plug on for 10 minutes and turn it off for 50. Like TP-Link's Kasa, Nooie also has a travel mode for turning lights on at random times to mimic someone being home.

The app includes two-factor authentication and a child-lock feature that disables the power button—it can stop a curious kid from turning off appliances. If you're connecting to the Google Home app to use it with Google Assistant, you'll see both “Nooie” and “Nooie Home” when you search to pair the service; choose the latter.

Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa

Look, any Matter-compatible plug (like the one we recommend above) is just as easy to add to your Alexa as Amazon's own Smart Plug. But if you aren't interested in mixing ecosystems and want to guarantee you'll never ever need another app (which Matter plugs also guarantee!), this smart plug is fine. The timers and schedules aren't as easy to navigate, and you have to set up a routine to turn the plug on or off, but if you use Alexa with other devices, this won't be any different. Alexa Guard works like vacation or travel mode on the other plugs, where it turns off and on automatically to make it look like you're home.

Works with Amazon Alexa

There are many smart plugs out there with similar features and designs, so buying one might come down to price and brand. Here are some others we like.

• Ezviz T30-B Plus for $8: Ezviz is another inexpensive and easy-to-use brand we think you'll be happy with. Like most others on this list, it works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
• Cync Smart Plug for $15: We haven't tried this particular version, but we did use an older one when the brand was still C by GE, and we liked it. The new app is super simple to use and controls all your products. It works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
• Eve Energy Strip for $100: Eve's sleek black-and-silver casing will fit right in with your Apple aesthetic, and it also works with HomeKit. But it's very expensive and only has three outlets, despite its size.
• Hubspace Defiant Smart Indoor Plug for ($10): This is made by Home Depot's smart home ecosystem, and it works fine, besides needing a little more effort to plug something into it. It works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

Not all plugs are created equal. Here's what you should be wary of purchasing.

• Eve Energy for $40: I want to like this plug—it's a popular energy monitoring pick, and it has Matter support so you can connect it to other ecosystems like Amazon and Google. But if you connect via Matter to a different ecosystem, you lose out on the energy monitoring, which is the only reason you'd spend $40. You also need a HomePod or Apple TV for energy monitoring to work.
• Wemo Mini for $40: This is actually a popular plug that some of our readers like. But WIRED staffers who own it have not had much luck. Editor Julian Chokkattu says his plug worked OK for a while, but after his Wi-Fi went out once, he failed to get the Wemo Mini to connect to the app again, rendering it useless.

Before shopping for a smart plug, you'll need to keep a few things in mind.

• What are you going to use it for? Not all devices automatically start when you turn the power on. For example, some coffee pots and window AC units need you to hit a “Brew” or “Cool” button for them to fulfill their intended function. Devices that turn on with the flick of a switch, like lamps, TVs, and window fans, are the best choice for smart plugs.
• Keep size in mind. Smart plugs are thick and bulky. If you plug one into a socket, you might not be able to fit something else into your second socket. We'll mention if we think a plug we like might block a plug above or below it, and while mini plugs are the safest bet for size, they still could spill over into multi-outlet setups. Rounder plugs tend to be more likely to block an outlet below it, while mini plugs are usually (but not always) the best bet not to block a double outlet.
• You might need an app. If the plug isn't Matter-enabled, you usually need to install an app to set up the smart plug. This is how you control it and find more granular settings, like the ability to set schedules and group several smart plugs into one category. If you want to use many smart plugs in your home, you'll have an easier time if you buy them all from the same manufacturer. Most of these plugs also work with Google Assistant or Alexa, so once you set up the app and connect them to your preferred voice assistant, you may not need to use the app anymore. If you choose one of our Matter-enabled recommendations, you shouldn't need an app at all to set up the plug and connect it to your voice assistant of choice.
• You might experience connection issues. If your Wi-Fi or power goes out, you may have to reconnect your smart plug. Some plugs automatically restore the last setting once the power comes back.