The Best Smart Plugs to Give Any Appliance a Brain

With a smart plug, you get the convenience of a smart home without expensive equipment or potentially prying eyes. They help you automate your home and make certain tasks like turning off the lights a little easier. (We like smart bulbs for this reason too.) Appliances like TVs and lamps can go from mindless to smart as soon as you install an app. We’ve tested dozens of smart plugs over the years, and these are our favorites (along with models we dislike).

Be sure to check out our other smart-home buying guides, including Best Smart Bulbs, Best Security Cameras, Best Smart Speakers, and Best Smart Displays.

Updated April 2024: The TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Mini (TP15) has been added as our new top pick. We’ve also added testing notes on a handful of other models, removed some discontinued picks, and updated pricing throughout. Tester Medea Giordano also contributed to this guide.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.