Smart plugs aren’t the most complicated smart home device — they really just turn stuff off and on — but they do make life a little easier. Since using smart plugs, I’ve grown accustomed to having the living room lamps click on just before sunset and go off when I say goodnight to Alexa or the Google Assistant/Gemini (Siri can turn off a few of my lights, but isn’t compatible with all of them). Most smart home device makers have a plug or two in their lineups, but finding one that’s compatible with your chosen ecosystem, that’s easy to set up and reliably connects can involve a little trial and error. That’s why we tried more than a dozen models to find the best smart plugs you can buy right now..
Best smart plugs for 2026
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget Best smart plug overall Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25 (4-pack) Assistant support: Alexa, Gemini, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No All of the plugs eventually did what they said they would, but each had a quirk or two that gave me pause – except TP-Link’s Kasa EP25. From installation to implementation, it was fuss-free and reliable. It’s also one of the cheaper plugs on our list at just $13 each (but you’ll usually find it in a four-pack) and one of the best Wi-Fi plugs overall. It works well with both iOS and Android and on all four smart home platforms. The Kasa app has a clean, intuitive design and includes the features you’d expect like timers, schedules, a vacation mode and smart actions (aka scenes). TP-Link also makes Tapo smart devices, and now you can control both Kasa and Tapo products from the latter’s app. The Tapo app has more features and controls, so I recommend using that one after you’ve set up and linked your Kasa plugs. The EP25 is an updated version of the HS103 that adds Apple HomeKit compatibility, so I was able to control it with both an iPhone and an Android phone. If you also live in a blended OS home, I recommend onboarding with the iPhone first. After tapping the + button in the Kasa iOS app, a HomeKit pop-up will prompt you to add the plug using the QR code from the box. (The code’s also printed on the plug, but that’s harder to access.) Once set up in HomeKit, it was easy to add the plug to the other smart home apps. Google Home and SmartThings just need your TP-Link log-in details and Alexa uses the Kasa “skill.” Once you’ve added one plug, any future TP-Link devices you incorporate should automatically show up in each app. If you’re only using an Android device, the Kasa app will walk you through using a temporary Wi-Fi network to get the plug online. After setup, I named the plug and assigned it a room (making sure it was the same in each app to avoid confusing myself). Then I programmed various routines and schedules and asked all three voice assistants to turn the light on and off – everything worked without a hitch. In the weeks of testing, the EP25 never had a connection hiccup, even after I relocated it to the basement, which is the farthest point from my router. My single complaint used to be that sharing with another user wasn’t supported within the Kasa app. That feature is now supported in the Tapo app (to which you can easily add all your Kasa devices). But Google Home has worked best for my family to share smart home device control, between iOS and Android devices. It's even great for families on the same OS. Pros Works with all four major smart home platforms
Solid, stable connection
Affordable
Easy setup Cons Model is four years old at this point $45 at Amazon
Engadget Best smart plug for Alexa-enabled homes Amazon Smart Plug Assistant support: Alexa | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No If you have many Amazon Echo devices and use Alexa to answer your questions, control your music and manage your timers, Amazon’s smart plug makes the most sense. Your Echos and Alexa app already have your details, so you won’t have to create an account, enter your Wi-Fi password or switch to a different app, which makes setup mindlessly simple. In addition to naming your plug, you’ll also want to designate it as a light (if that's the case) under Type in the settings menu. That way, when you say, “Alexa, turn all the lights off,” it will act accordingly. I was impressed with the speed of the onboarding process and how seamlessly the plug blended into the ecosystem, adding another IRL appendage to flex. I still get a small thrill when I say, “Alexa, goodnight,” and all goes dark. However, you won’t be able to use the Alexa smart plug with any other smart home app — but it's not surprising Amazon makes the best Alexa smart plugs for it's own ecosystem. The only other drawback, and it’s not a small one, is the Alexa app’s lack of sharing capabilities. You can create households that let other people in your home access your Echo speakers through their phone, but they can’t see your smart home devices. If you’re the only one who needs app access and everyone else in your home is happy to interact via voice commands only, this plug couldn’t be simpler. At $25, it’s not the cheapest smart plug, but like all things Amazon, it goes on sale fairly often. Pros Dead-simple setup with Alexa
Stays reliably connected Cons Only works with Alexa
Can't share app control $25 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $21 at Best Buy
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget Best Matter Plug Kasa Matter Smart Plug KP125M (2-Pack) Assistant support: Alexa, Gemini, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: Yes | Hub required: Only with HomeKit The Kasa KP125M plugs are best Matter smart plugs we tried. They work with all four platforms, install easily and reliably maintain connections. Most Matter devices need to be initialized with a QR code, but this plug also supports Bluetooth onboarding, which saves a step. I set it up through the Kasa app first and because I already had another Kasa plug installed, the process was simplified, automatically prompting me to add the plug with a couple of taps. Adding the device to Alexa, Google Home and Samsung’s SmartThings worked the same way, with each app letting me know I had new devices available to add. To add the plug to HomeKit, I had to scan the included barcode. The process didn’t work at first and I ended up having to long-press the button on the side to make it enter pairing mode. Unlike some Matter plugs, KP125M doesn’t require a Thread border router. And because it’s also a smart Wi-Fi plug, you don’t need a Matter controller, such as a smart speaker for access when you’re away from home. That said, many of the negative reviews on Amazon have to do with the plug’s poor HomeKit compatibility. In addition to the setup hitch I mentioned, the connection with the HomeKit app and Siri was extremely spotty until I added Apple’s HomePod mini to the mix as a dedicated hub. After that, the reliability improved. The KP125M also provides detailed energy monitoring in the Kasa app. From the home screen, tap on a plug to see stats on its energy usage, along with an estimate of how much that energy will cost you on your next electric bill. You can even enter in your per-kilowatt hour pricing to get a more accurate picture. While we wish there were a way to see the energy usage from all connected devices at once, it’s still a useful insight to have on a per-plug level. It’s important to note that our best overall pick is $7 cheaper and also works with all four platforms. The higher price tag is likely due to the Matter logo on the side. Honestly, I’d call the KP125M plug more of a hybrid Wi-Fi-Bluetooth-Matter plug, which could be why it played nice with every platform. Another Matter plug, the Eve Energy Matter plug, requires you to have a HomePod for HomeKit access, a Nest Hub for Google Home connection and a SmartThings hub to make it work with Samsung’s system. The Matter plug I tried from Meross requires Wi-Fi splitting to properly connect, which is doable, but inconvenient. Pros Works with all four major smart home platforms
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