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Home / Features / Best smart plugs 2024: Alexa, Google, and Siri-powered plugs

Best smart plugs 2024: Alexa, Google, and Siri-powered plugs

From turning your lamp on to upping the ante with energy monitoring, here are the best smart plugs on the market right now

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Looking to buy a smart plug? We’ve rounded up the best smart plug for you right here. Scroll down, see which ones fit your needs, and enjoy making your traditional tech that little bit smarter. Want to turn your lamp on and off without fumbling for the cord? Or do you want to up the ante with energy monitoring or Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant voice support? Whatever your motivation, you’ll find what you need below.

Smart plugs are ideal for bringing smarts to lamps and other non-smart lighting. They’re also great for controlling when things like music systems or smart speakers are switched on. Also, smart plugs are great if you need to leave your house for the weekend and switch everything off at the same time.

What’s the best smart plug?

We think the Tenda SP9 (buy now) is the best smart plug for most people. Requiring no additional hub, fairly priced, and with handy energy monitoring features, it fits the bill for most use cases, with the two-pack making for particularly good value.

Other smart plug recommendations

Best multi-smart plug

The Meross Smart Power Strip (buy now) grants smart powers to more than one item. This is one clever power strip, with support for multiple gadgets, USB charging ports, and compatibility with Alexa and Google Home.

Best Philips Hue smart plug

The Philips Hue Smart Plug with Bluetooth (buy now) makes the most sense if you’re already a Hue household. It can be controlled via Bluetooth if you don’t have an existing hub, though you’ll probably want something a little cheaper if that’s the case.

Best outdoor smart plug

The Meross Smart Outdoor Wi-Fi Plug (buy now) can smarten up your outdoor tech. It’s got Wi-Fi and is IP44 water-resistant.

Best Alexa smart plug

The Amazon Smart Plug (buy now) is the best option if you have multiple Echo devices in your home.


The best smart plugs you can buy today:

1. Tenda SP9

Stuff Verdict

This affordable smart plug has all the features you could need, from app and voice assistant control to energy monitoring

Pros

  • Great value for money
  • All the features you could need

Cons

  • No the sleekest design
  • Google and Alexa but not HomeKit
Tenda SP9 specs
Hub requiredNo
Wi-Fi speed2.4 GHz only
PlatformsAlexa and Google Home

We think Tenda’s SP9 smart plug is one of the better value options currently available. It doesn’t have the sleekest or most compact design around, but it supports a max output of 13A and it can handle appliances up to 2990W, making it a versatile bit of kit.

Keeping life simple, it requires no hub. Instead, it relies on a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, letting you control it remotely via an app or your voice. Alexa and Google Assistant are also supported, letting you turn off connected devices with a mere voice command. We’re a bit disappointed there’s no Siri here, though.

Impressively for this price point, it also has built-in energy monitoring. This enables you to see how much electricity your connected device is using — we find this particularly handy in these energy-critical times.


Best-Smart-Plug-2023-Amazon-Smart-Plug

2. Amazon Smart Plug

Stuff Verdict

The best smart plug if your house runs on Amazon Echo devices – these play very nicely with Alexa

Pros

  • Sleek all wight design
  • Works perfectly with Alexa
  • Simple set up

Cons

  • Only works with Alexa
  • No energy monitoring
Amazon Smart Plug specs
Hub requiredNo
Wi-Fi speed2.4 GHz only
PlatformsAlexa

If you’re a fan of Alexa, then it’ll come as no surprise to hear that Amazon’s Smart Plug is one of the best choices for you. It adds Alexa voice control support to any socket (and device that plugs into it), and it’s simple to set up, with no extra hub required. We found it works seamlessly and reliably.

From scheduling lights, to turning on your coffee machines in the morning, we found this is a handy way to add another string to your Echo device’s bow.


3. Meross WIFI Power Strip

Stuff Verdict

Got a lot of things that need turning off and on remotely? This is the smart plug for you

Pros

  • Compatible with all platforms
  • So many outlets

Cons

  • Physical buttons would be nice
  • Some connectivity issues
Meross WIFI Power Strip specs
Hub requiredNo
Wi-Fi speed2.4 GHz only
PlatformsHomeKit, SmartThings, Alexa, Google Home

If you’re after something particularly robust with lots of flexibility, we think Meross’ smart power strip is the perfect option for you. It’s more than capable of becoming the hub for all of your power and charging needs. It features a whopping six sockets and four USB ports, which we find incredibly useful and versatile.

From consoles and tablets, to TVs and phones, you will become the master of your charging domain, topping up batteries and providing power with terrifying efficiency.

Better yet, the Meross strip works with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. So all voice-controlled bases are covered, while it has built-in surge protection too, for additional peace of mind.


4. Oneplug 2-in-1 Smart Plug

Stuff Verdict

Convert a single dumb socket into two smart sockets with this intelligent plug

Pros

  • Built-in surge protection
  • Handy timer function

Cons

  • Quite bulky
  • No HomeKit support
Quick specs
Hub requiredNo
Max. output2.4 GHz only
PlatformsAlexa, Google Home

Oneplug’s 2-in-2 smart plug does exactly what you’d expect. Namely, it converts a single socket into a dual smart socket with minimal fuss. We think that’s very helpful if you’re short on plug space.

Using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (meaning that there’s no need for a hub), this unit also has built-in surge protection, along with the ability to independently control the power of two devices at once.

We also like that it features Alexa and Google Assistant support alongside a handy timer function. It’s a compact yet versatile dual-power solution.


Stuff Verdict

These dinky smart plugs pack all the features you could ever need

Pros

  • Scheduling and timer functions
  • Compact design

Cons

  • No HomeKit support
TP-Link Kasa Wi-Fi Plug Slimspecs
Hub requiredNo
Max. output2.4 GHz
PlatformsGoogle Home, Alexa

This hubless pair of smart plugs from TP-Link uses 2.4GHz Wi-Fi to carry out their duties. Controllable via an app or Alexa/Google Assistant, you can use them to remotely control multiple devices without having to lift a finger.

As with some of the other offerings on our list, the app also has a built-in timer function, letting you create the best schedule to suit your needs. And if that means simulating a raging house party to deter nefarious intruders while you’re on holiday, then so be it.

If you fancy even better value, we’d recommend you get a triple-pack for a little extra.


6. Philips Hue Smart Plug with Bluetooth

Stuff Verdict

If you’ve got a Hue home, and want to control your smart plugs when you’re away – this is the plug for you

Pros

  • Control away from home with Hue Bridge
  • Super sleek app

Cons

  • Expensive
  • You need hub for extra featutes
Philips Hue Smart Plug specs
Hub requiredNot required, but extra features unlocked with hub
Wi-Fi Bluetooth
PlatformAlexa, HomeKit, Google Home

If you’ve already got a Philips Hue setup at home then it makes sense to stick with the brand for all of your smart plug needs, as it’ll comfortably slot into your carefully curated ecosystem with minimal fuss and works with the excellent app.

If you don’t have an existing Philips Hue hub, you can still handily control the smart plug via Bluetooth instead. This does mean you’ll lose Alexa and Google Assistant functionality, though, so we don’t think it’s really worth it.

If you’re a Hue Household then this makes the most sense, otherwise, you’re better off sticking with a cheaper option instead of forking out for the Philips name.


7. Meross Smart Outdoor Wi-Fi Plug

Stuff Verdict

Bring the smarts outside with this weather resistant Wi-Fi plug from Meross

Pros

  • Weather resistant
  • IP44 weatherproof housing

Cons

  • Needs waterproof cover when not in use
  • Only one button for both plugs
Meross Smart Outdoor Wi-Fi Plug specs
Hub requiredNo
Wi-Fi2.4 GHz
PlatformsHomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings

If you’d like to extend your smart home beyond the walls of your abode, then you’ll need a suitable plug capable of shrugging off the odd splash.

This Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant-compatible dual smart plug is IP44-rated, which means it can handle splashes when not in use, saving you from bringing it inside all the time.

If you plan on having things permanently connected to it, then you’ll want to house it in a fully waterproof case/cover for additional peace of mind, letting you enjoy your elaborate koi fountain in peace.


How to choose the best smart plug

The first thing you’ll want to consider when buying a new smart plug, is how many you’ll need. If you’re only looking to control/monitor a single device, then a single one will obviously do the trick. If you want to control multiple devices though, it makes more sense to look at multipacks, as they’re better value for your money. If all of your devices are in the same room, a multi-smart plug extension lead could also be the best solution for your needs.

Once that’s settled, you’ll want to consider your existing setup. Do you already have a Philips Hue bridge at home? If so, a Philips smart plug makes the most sense, as it saves you from needing multiple apps. If you have no preference though, then it might be worth opting for a more affordable option that doesn’t require a hub.

Extras like energy monitoring features are also worth considering if you want to keep tabs on how much power any particular device is using. You’ll have to pay extra for this feature though, so it’s only worth it if you think you’ll make use of it.

Lastly, it’s important to double-check which smart assistants each product is compatible with. The majority of smart plugs work with voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, with a few working with Siri as well. Make sure you check the specs, to ensure maximum compatibility.

Now check out Stuff’s guide to the best smart bulbs for app-controlled lighting, our guide to the best smart home tech and our roundup of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems.

How we test the best smart plugs

We’ve reviewed and tested countless smart plugs over the years, giving us an overview of the very best things to look out for. Where possible, we’ve included products that we’ve personally tested ourselves. Elsewhere, we’ve included products based on their specs and user feedback, and have curated a list of products that should cover most people’s needs.

For more information on Stuff’s rating and review process, read our page on how we test products.

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About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.

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