Do you want the basic benefits of a smart home without investing in specific smart devices for every need—smart window shades, smart air conditioners, smart lightbulbs?
Above L: Belkin’s Wemo Insight Smart Plug (currently $39.99 via Belkin) comes with energy-monitoring and other features. It’s also available for $47.55 on Amazon.
Because it’s the cheapest and easiest way to automate almost any device in your home. You generally can’t use a smart plug to do fancy stuff like dimming the lights or adjusting the temperature on a thermostat.
Why would I want a smart plug?
The compact, HomeKit-enabled iHome iSP8 ($49.99) can be operated with voice commands to Siri and Alexa, and also comes with its own remote.
Nope, and that’s the beauty of it. Want to get the AC cranking before you walk in the front door from work?
Is it hard to install a smart plug?
Above R: The ConnectSense Smart Outlet is larger and pricier than other smart plugs, but it offers two outlets and a USB charging port.
When it comes to smart plugs, does size matter?
Some of the larger smart plugs cover both outlets in a standard duplex wall fixture, rendering the second one useless. That’s where the smaller ones, like the Belkin WeMo Mini, are an improvement.
The iDevices Switch ($29.95) has a side outlet, which means it protrudes less from the wall, and a nightlight that lets you customize the color.
As with any electronic device, new models are arriving on the market all the time. Be sure to choose a plug that will work with your smartphone (many but not all are compatible with both Android and iOS devices).
What should I consider when shopping for a smart plug?
The Wirecutter’s budget pick, the Geeni Energi ($24.99) is fairly new on the scene.
They’re all easy to install and operate.
Are all smart plugs alike?
The well-designed Zuli Smartplug ($59.99) is a good choice for tight spaces, since the plug is on the side.
How much do smart plugs cost?
This isn’t a big investment: Smart plugs start as low as $9 and can go up to $60 for a dual-outlet plug with extras.
Can I have more than one smart plug in my home?
You could install a smart plug in every outlet if you wanted, and even link them on the app to control them all with a single click. When it comes to automatically turning any old appliance into a fairly smart device, the smart plug is a simple solution.