We bought eight smart plugs. Used them for three months. Returned five of them. Here are the three worth your money, and the reasons the others went back in the box.
What We Tested (And How)
We tested each smart plug for: ease of setup, app quality, responsiveness to voice commands, scheduling reliability, energy monitoring (where available), and whether they stayed connected to Wi-Fi for the full three months without needing a restart. Every plug was tested with both Alexa and Google Home.
1. Kasa Smart Plug Mini (TP-Link) — $13
The one to buy.
TP-Link’s Kasa line has been our go-to for years, and the Mini version is the best balance of price, reliability, and features. Setup took under two minutes through the Kasa app. It connected to our Wi-Fi on the first try and hasn’t dropped once in three months.
Pros: Rock-solid Wi-Fi connection, compact design doesn’t block the second outlet, excellent app, scheduling works perfectly, compatible with Alexa/Google/HomeKit, energy monitoring on the “Energy Monitoring” variant for $5 more
Cons: No built-in power button on the plug itself (app or voice only), the LED is surprisingly bright in a dark room, energy monitoring model is slightly bulkier
Works with: Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, Kasa app
2. Wyze Plug — $10
Best budget pick.
At $10, this is the cheapest smart plug we’d actually recommend. Setup was easy, the Wyze app is decent, and it stayed connected for the whole test period. The compact design fits well in tight outlets.
Pros: $10, compact, reliable connection, easy setup, works with Alexa and Google
Cons: The Wyze app has gotten bloated with upsells for their subscription service. No energy monitoring. Slightly slower response time than Kasa (about 1-2 seconds for voice commands). Wyze’s privacy record isn’t great — they’ve had multiple security incidents.
Works with: Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, Wyze app
3. Amazon Smart Plug — $25
Best if you only use Alexa.
Overpriced for what it is, but it integrates with Alexa more seamlessly than anything else. If your entire smart home runs on Alexa and you don’t want to think about compatibility, this works. Setup is literally one button press in the Alexa app.
Pros: Dead-simple Alexa setup, physically feels well-built, has a manual power button on the side, reliable
Cons: $25 for a basic plug is too much. Doesn’t work with Google Home (at all). Blocks the second outlet in most power strips. No energy monitoring. Only makes sense if you’re all-in on Alexa.
Works with: Alexa only. Seriously, only Alexa.
The Five We Returned
TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug (full-size, $15): Works fine but blocks the second outlet. Get the Mini instead.
Govee Smart Plug ($12): The app is cluttered, and it disconnected from Wi-Fi twice in three months. Not worth saving $1 over the Kasa.
Teckin Smart Plug ($15 for 4-pack): $3.75 per plug is tempting, but three of the four had Wi-Fi connection issues within two weeks. You get what you pay for.
Meross Smart Plug ($18): Works well but expensive for the features. The app is fine but not as polished as Kasa or Wyze. HomeKit support is the main selling point, but if you need HomeKit, get a Kasa.
Tapo Smart Plug (TP-Link budget line, $8): TP-Link’s budget brand works, but the app is more limited than Kasa’s. For $5 less than the Kasa Mini, you’re giving up app quality and long-term update support.
The Bottom Line
Get the Kasa Smart Plug Mini. It’s $13, it works, the app is good, and it stays connected. That’s all you need from a smart plug. If you’re buying several and want to save money, the Wyze Plug at $10 is fine, just be aware of the privacy trade-offs.
Don’t overthink smart plugs. The technology is mature enough that the cheapest reliable option is the right one. Save your smart home budget for things that actually benefit from spending more — like cameras and thermostats.