The first time I used a smart plug it changed the game. Before that purchase, I'd had the same issue every year. The power socket for the Christmas tree lights was behind the tree, meaning the only way I could turn it on or off was to crawl underneath the low-hanging branches and try to poke the switch with a stick.

You can imagine how much easier life became once I'd plugged those lights into a smart plug that I could control with my phone. Now every winter, all I have to do is say 'Alexa, it's Christmas' and the lights will come on. Not only that, but my Christmas playlist will start playing too.

A smart plug is a great way to turn your dumb devices into smart ones, too. Wish you had a smart kettle? As long as it has a power switch that will stay depressed, add a smart plug, and you can turn your kettle on from your bed, or even the other side of the world (though I wouldn't recommend doing that). Don't want to walk all the way upstairs to turn on your heated blanket? Add a smart plug, and you can do it from the comfort of your sofa so that your bed is perfectly toasty when you finally climb in.

Smart plugs not only allow you to remotely control the power so that you can turn a device on or off with just a tap of your smartphone, but you can also create schedules, so that your espresso machine will power on at the same time each morning, and you can wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee, or you can turn lamps on and off when you aren't home to fool the local burglars.

Many smart plugs will even monitor your power consumption so you can see just how much it's costing you to leave your TV on standby all the time. If you want to get your hands on one of the most versatile smart gadgets out there, then you have a wide range of options. We've done the hard work for you and narrowed your list down to what we think are some of the best smart plugs out there right now.

Best smart plug overall

The TP-Link Kasa Slim Smart Plug Mini with Energy Monitoring is an upgrade from the previous Smart Plug Mini as it is built with Matter technology, so it does connect to Apple HomeKit. The previous version did not, which allows this to be more universally compatible. It works with popular smart home systems such as Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings as well. You can either use your voice or the apps of these devices or the Kasa app to control it.

The smart plug also includes energy monitoring. This allows you to track how much energy the device that you've plugged into your smart plug is using. It's useful to determine which devices are using the most power; you can then use the smart plug to set up a schedule for these devices to ensure that they're only on when you need them.

Best smart plug for Apple users

If you're an Apple HomeKit user, then the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread is a great option. Thread is a smart home communication protocol that is designed to allow different smart devices to communicate with each other. This allows the Wemo smart plug to be controlled using the Home app on your iPhone, or even by Siri voice commands. You'll need an Apple TV 4K or an Apple HomePod to act as a Thread border router.

Setting up your Wemo smart plug is also incredibly easy. All you need to do is tap your unlocked iPhone on the smart plug, and thanks to the magic of NFC, the setup process will start. Follow the on-screen instructions and your smart plug will be connected to HomeKit quickly and easily. You can also control the smart plug over Bluetooth if you don't have any devices that support Thread.

Best smart plug for Alexa

If you have Amazon Echo devices and are looking for a smart plug that you can easily control with your voice, then you can't go wrong with the Amazon Smart Plug. It's quick and easy to set up through the Alexa app but is designed to work exclusively with Alexa. This means that whilst it will work seamlessly with your Echo devices, you won't be able to control the plug with Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit.

You won't need a hub of any kind, so an Echo or another Amazon device isn't necessary. In addition to being able to control your plug with your voice via Alexa, you can also set up routines and schedules in the Alexa app. So, for example, you could set up a routine to turn on your Christmas tree lights and play Christmas music on your Echo with just a single voice command.

Best value smart plug

If you're looking for a low-cost Wi-Fi smart plug, then the Wyze plug may be just what you need. It's compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT. While it doesn't offer HomeKit support, the smart plug can be controlled via the Wyze app from any smartphone.

You can set custom schedules through the app and group multiple plugs together so that you can control them all with a single tap. It's also possible to control your smart plug remotely, even when you're not at home. If you want to give smart plugs a try, at this price you can't go far wrong.

Best smart plug for outdoor use

Smart home gadgets don't just have to be confined to the inside of your home. There are plenty of smart gadgets that work outside your home, too, such as outdoor lighting or smart lawnmowers. Even if your outdoor gear isn't smart, however, you can make it smarter by the addition of an outdoor smart plug. These are smart plugs that are weatherproof, so it's safe to use them outside to power your devices on and off remotely or on a schedule.

The Kasa Outdoor Dimmer not only lets you power on devices such as outdoor lights, but if you have compatible dimmable bulbs, you can also control their brightness too. Using routines, you can have your outdoor lights come on at sunset, and then slowly dim over the course of the evening. Using Alexa or Google Assistant, you can control your outdoor power with your voice, too.

The bottom line: What is the best smart plug?

If you're looking for a smart plug that can do pretty much everything you want, then the TP-Link Kasa Matter Smart Plug Slim is our top choice. It's compatible with Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. On top of that, it offers energy monitoring to help you keep track of your power usage. If you're looking for a low-cost smart plug without any bells or whistles, then the Wyze smart plug will do a good job.

How I chose the best smart plugs

When selecting this list, I tried to ensure a good mix of smart plugs that were compatible with various popular smart home systems, such as Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home. I also aimed to choose plugs that would work with gear that people may already have, such as Echo devices, or Apple HomePods.

Finally, I wanted to ensure that I included a range of communication protocols such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi, and Matter.

How can I control my smart plug?

Most smart plugs offer their own dedicated apps that you can use to turn your smart plug on or off, set up schedules for when to turn on or off, or even monitor how much energy the device connected to the smart plug is using. Some plugs, such as the Wemo smart plug in this list, will only work with a specific smart home app, such as Apple Home.

Most smart plugs will also offer the ability to control the power using a voice assistant such as Alexa or Siri.

Does my smart plug work with my voice assistant?

Different smart plugs are compatible with different voice assistants. Whilst some smart plugs will work with all the major voice assistants, many will not be compatible with them all. You should look for a smart plug that explicitly states that it is compatible with the voice assistant that you use, such as Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Many plugs will work with Alexa or Google Assistant, but not all plugs are compatible with HomeKit, so if you're an Apple user, be sure to check that the plug you're buying will work with the Apple Home app. Some smart plugs require a Home hub such as a HomePod or Apple TV 4K in order for you to be able to control them.

How does my smart plug communicate with other smart home devices?

There are a number of different ways that your smart plug may communicate with other smart home devices. Many smart plugs use Wi-Fi and can be controlled via an app, even if you're away from home. Some smart plugs use different communication protocols such as Z-Wave or Zigbee which will often require a dedicated hub. There are also smart plugs that use the Thread protocol; these can be controlled from a device such as an Apple TV 4K or an Apple HomePod.

You should be aware of the communication protocol that your smart plug uses before you make your purchase; if you buy a Zigbee smart plug, for example, then you may find that you need to purchase an additional hub to make it work. Some devices, such as the Amazon Echo Hub, do offer direct Zigbee support, although this doesn't work perfectly with all Zigbee accessories. If in doubt, a Wi-Fi smart plug is the safest bet.

FAQ

Q: How can I control my smart plug?

Most smart plugs offer their own dedicated apps that you can use to turn your smart plug on or off, set up schedules for when to turn on or off, or even monitor how much energy the device connected to the smart plug is using. Some plugs, such as the Wemo smart plug in this list, will only work with a specific smart home app, such as Apple Home.

Most smart plugs will also offer the ability to control the power using a voice assistant such as Alexa or Siri.

Q: Does my smart plug work with my voice assistant?

Different smart plugs are compatible with different voice assistants. Whilst some smart plugs will work with all the major voice assistants, many will not be compatible with them all. You should look for a smart plug that explicitly states that it is compatible with the voice assistant that you use, such as Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Many plugs will work with Alexa or Google Assistant, but not all plugs are compatible with HomeKit, so if you're an Apple user, be sure to check that the plug you're buying will work with the Apple Home app. Some smart plugs require a Home hub such as a HomePod or Apple TV 4K in order for you to be able to control them.

Q: How does my smart plug communicate with other smart home devices?

There are a number of different ways that your smart plug may communicate with other smart home devices. Many smart plugs use Wi-Fi and can be controlled via an app, even if you're away from home. Some smart plugs use different communication protocols such as Z-Wave or Zigbee which will often require a dedicated hub. There are also smart plugs that use the Thread protocol; these can be controlled from a device such as an Apple TV 4K or an Apple HomePod.

You should be aware of the communication protocol that your smart plug uses before you make your purchase; if you buy a Zigbee smart plug, for example, then you may find that you need to purchase an additional hub to make it work. Some devices, such as the Amazon Echo Hub, do offer direct Zigbee support, although this doesn't work perfectly with all Zigbee accessories. If in doubt, a Wi-Fi smart plug is the safest bet.