We love smart plugs, they enable you to take almost any old piece of home electronics and make it smart. From lamps to heaters and everything in between, a simple smart plug lets you turn them on and off over the Wi-Fi. What’s more, you can set up automation so that lamps turn on at sunset, for example, making them really handy bits of kit.
Many smart plugs are also compatible with smart home devices and ecosystems like Amazon Echo and Google Home or Apple HomeKit so you can control them with your voice or have them in a central app alongside your other devices in your home.
Here’s our choice of the best smart plugs on the market, at the moment.
Our Top Pick: Best Smart Plug
Amazon Smart Plugs
1. Best Buy
A great plug that works with Alexa like a dream.
- Great Alexa integration
- Easy scheduling
- Won’t work with Google home
The Amazon Smart Plug is designed to work with Alexa, so you only need the Alexa app to get it up and running. You’ll then be able to remotely control the electronics plugged into the Amazon Smart Plugs, use voice control from Alexa devices, as well as set schedules for routine operations, such as turning the living room lamp on at 7 pm.
If you decide to move on from the Alexa platform to Google Home, for example, the Amazon Smart Plug won’t be compatible with Google Home voice control. You’ll still be able to remotely control the plug through the Alexa app on your smartphone, though.
Ikea Smart Plug
Ikea Smart Plug
2. Runner Up
A well priced and versatile option from the furniture giant.
- Remote on/off switch
- Wide range of third-party support
- No away from home control
The Ikea Smart Plug is part of the furniture giant’s Home Smart range of devices (previously Trådfri), which includes smart lighting. You’ll need the gateway to connect the Ikea Smart Plug to your home network, as well as either the Control Outlet or a separate bridging device, but you can connect multiple plugs to the gateway and the controlling device.
Once connected, the Ikea Smart Plug can be controlled remotely from your smartphone through the Ikea Home Smart app and you can schedule electronics plugged into the Smart Plug to turn on or off at set times. The Ikea Smart Plug also works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.
TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug
3. A Top Pick
Smart features like an Away mode and the Eve energy integration make TP-Link’s plugs worthy contenders.
- Monitors energy usage
- Away mode
The TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug will allow you to turn your electronics on or off from your smartphone, anywhere you have an internet connection, but it will also allow you to monitor the energy usage of anything plugged into it from your smartphone like the Eve Energy.
There is also an Away-Mode on this smart plug, allowing you to turn devices on and off at different times to imply someone is home even if they aren’t.
The HS110 Smart Plug works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and it is compatible with devices running Android 4.1 or higher and iOS 8 or higher. Like all smart plugs, you just need to plug the HS110 into a normal plug socket, followed by the device you want to control into the smart plug.
Hive Active Plug
4.Strong Contender
If you’re in the Hive ecosystem, its plugs are a natural addition, with scheduling and good control options.
- Six daily time slots
- Broad ecosystem
The Hive Active Plug requires the Hive Hub if you don’t have Hive Active Heating in order to connect it to any other Hive devices you have and allow you to control it with your smart device, be that a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Once connected, you’ll be able to turn any electronics plugged into it on or off remotely, as well as schedule up to six time slots a day to mimic someone being home.
Like some other smart plugs on this list, the Hive Active Plug is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant meaning you’ll be able to control your electronics with your voice through an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, like the Amazon Echo or a Google Assistant -enabled devices like Google Home.
Hive also has bulbs and sensors within its smart home portfolio if you want to expand beyond plugs.
Bosch Smart Plugs
5.Also Great
Size does matter when it comes to plugs, and being able to fit two plugs into one double-socket is something that Bosch have managed superbly.
- Power consumption monitoring
- Compact design
The Bosch Smart Plug will connect any electrical device you plug into it to the Bosch Smart Home System. Through the Bosch Smart Home app, you’ll be given an insight into the power consumption of the individual devices and you’ll also be able to individually control them and program them day-by-day with a time switch.
Its compact design means it should mean both sockets on a double socket can be used simultaneously still and although it doesn’t offer Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant control, there is a manual override function on the plug if your smartphone isn’t handy.
