The Best Smart Plugs Put You in Control

While a lot of appliances, like TVs, thermostats, and even fridges have gotten the smart tech treatment, chances are the things that get the most use are still pretty old school. Whether it’s a lamp or a coffee maker, there are still a lot of electrical devices that require physically getting up and turning them on or off. While you could try to find smart versions of every single one of your most-used appliances, there’s a simple and affordable solution: smart plugs.

We don’t want to call your electronics dumb, so let’s instead say that the best smart plugs make your other electronics a heck of a lot smarter. Smart plugs are adapters that plug into existing wall outlets, and you can plug any appliance cable into them like you normally would. The smart plug connects to your WiFi network, phone and voice assistant of choice. That way, you can turn appliances on and off from your phone or with a smart home device like Alexa.  Devices and appliances can be scheduled to come on at certain times, too. For example, you can set your lamp to come on at the time you regularly get home, or turn off lights and appliances without getting out of bed.

Plus, if you’ve ever worried that you left an iron running, a smart plug gives you the power to make sure everything is turned off without having to run back home. Being able to control electronics while you’re away is also a good way to cut down on energy consumption.

Best of all, even though most internet-connect smart devices tend to be expensive, even the best smart plugs are super affordable. That makes it easy to outfit your entire home with smart plugs, putting you in total control of your domain.

Before You Buy

Before investing in the best smart plugs, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, most smart plugs will only work with 2.4 MHz wireless networks with a strong signal. If your wireless is weak or spotty, these plugs will struggle to connect. In addition, most smart plugs only work with grounded electrical outlets (the ones with three prongs), so keep that in mind before you buy. Also, some smart plugs only work with specific smart home assistants like Google Home or Alexa, although most will work equally well with both.

Finally, in order to connect your smart plugs to your electronics, you will need to connect them via an app on your phone. If your phone can’t immediately find the smart plug wirelessly, you will need to do some troubleshooting. For customers who aren’t experienced using apps or routers, this can be intimidating.

When selecting the best smart plugs, we looked for products that are easy to install and connect to your devices without too much hassle. Your mileage may vary depending on the strength and quality of your home’s Wi-Fi, but in general, all of the products we picked are fairly easy to use and reliable.