Smart home devices are replacing our speakers, old lightbulbs, and even our fridges at record speed. But what about the stuff in our houses that isn't smart yet? This is where intelligent plugs come into play.
These nifty devices connect your normal lamp, fan, coffee machine, Kitchen appliance or almost anything else for your smart home for automation and voice control. There are models for every voice assistant. Some even work with all three: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. This is a quick, inexpensive way to get more out of your smart home platform.
Continue reading: Would you like to buy a smart plug? Read this first
With so many options, choosing the best smart plug to turn your newly connected devices on and off requires you to review all of your needs and your home's connectivity settings, whether you want to use voice commands or not the platform on which you control everything - with "all" now including any socket.
We tested dozen of smart plugs from businesses large and small. These are our tips for the best smart plug to get the rest of your home online. We update this list regularly. Smart Home Devices, Here We Come!
Continue reading: These smart plugs are the secret to a seamless smart home
We tested other models
There are dozens of smart plugs available from businesses big and small, and while we haven't tested each one, we've seen a few come through the CNET smart home. Here's a quick look at other notable options.
- Amazon Smart Plug: The Amazon Smart Plug is a flagship of the brand and costs $ 25. It only works with Alexa. Setup is simple, but not as feature-rich as other models. This can be a deal breaker if you're looking for a smart outlet.
- Satechi Dual Smart Outlet: This HomeKit-friendly smart plug is $ 30 and you get two power outlets and a power monitoring feature. There's no compatibility with the Google Assistant and / or Amazon Alexa that doesn't last when they're all in your Alexa app.
- iHome Outdoor: This $ 40 outdoor smart plug works with all three voice assistants, but you only get one power outlet.
- ConnectSense Smart Outlet 2: This 60 dollar giant does it all - energy monitoring, individually controlled sockets, USB connection and LED status lights. However, the price and unattractive oversized design are enough to keep me from recommending it. Everyone loves a smart socket, but nobody likes an ugly one.
- Koogeek: This $ 32 smart plug works fine with HomeKit, but it blocks out adjacent outlets. The integration of Alexa or Google Assistant is not as smooth as we would expect from our connected devices.
- Puregear Pureswitch: This HomeKit-centric smart plug is another great choice for Apple smart homes, but it didn't perform as well in our tests as other HomeKit-compatible devices.
- Eufy Smart Plug Mini: This pint-sized smart plug is only slightly larger than our SmartThings budget mentioned above, and it costs just a few more at $ 23. You also get smarts from Amazon and Google Assistant.
Things to remember
Choosing the best smart plug for you starts with the compatibility of the voice assistant. Choose a plug that works with the voice assistant you are using, whether it's a smartphone, tablet, or other device. You can usually find this information on the product box, website, or mobile app for your voice assistant.
Next, consider where your plug will be placed and whether blocking other outlets in the vicinity is a problem. If so, be sure to choose a connector that is not too large. Most of the "mini" models are space-saving.
Additional functions such as energy monitoring and USB charging provide even more control and convenience. Regardless of which smart plug you choose, delivering everyday products online with a plug is one of the easiest ways to automate and optimize your home.
