Do you want to transform your home into a smart home at an affordable price? If yes, we have the perfect solution for you in the form of some best smart plugs of 2021.
Instead of spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on expensive smart home devices, you can simply use a smart plug to make your ordinary device smart.
Smart Plugs + Ordinary Home Devices = Smart Devices
It does not give complete smart functionality to the devices, but you can still use some of the smart functions with smart plugs.
Smart plugs help you control the electronic devices in your home with your smartphone and voice assistants.
You can download the respective app on your phone and control the smart plug with it. You can switch off and on the device connected to the smart plug.
Apart from controlling the devices remotely, you can use voice assistants like Alexa, Google Voice Assistant, and Siri to control them.
What is a Smart Plug?
It is a plug with internet connectivity. You can plug it into an outlet in your home and connect small devices with it. After that, you can operate the devices remotely using your phone or voice assistants.
Most people, who cannot afford smart devices, use smart plugs. It helps you make an ordinary device smart.
For example, you can connect your ordinary coffee maker to a smart plug and operate it, giving voice commands.
Smart plugs are not only convenient to use but help you to save energy as well. These are energy efficient plugs which helps you to cut down energy bills.
Apart from that, you can use smart plugs for security purposes as well. Many people use it to connect the alarm system remotely. It will help you to keep the house safe and secure.
7 Cool Things You Can Do With A Smart Plug
Smart plugs can be fun to use. You can do many cool things with these plugs. Here are 7 cool benefits of using a smart plug in your home.
Automate Christmas Lights: You can connect the Christmas lights in your home to a smart plug. It will help you to automate the lights. You can operate it with your phone as well as voice commands.
Track Energy Consumption: Smart plugs help you to track energy consumption. You can check which device consumes more energy and replace it to save on energy bills.
Home Security: When you are away from home, you can still keep it secure by switching on the lamp via remote control and timer. It will prevent burglars from entering your house.
Turn on the Coffee Maker: You can turn on the coffee maker while still in bed. When you reach the kitchen, you will get freshly brewed coffee.
Control Temperature: You can control the temperature by giving voice commands to the fan, AC, and heater.
Halloween Prank: Smart plugs are perfect for Halloween prank. You can use it to scare your friends or create a scary scene.
Control Lights: You can control the lights in your home. If you are too lazy to get up and switch off the lights, you can use your phone.
Top 10 Smart Plugs of 2021
The sheer number of smart plugs available in the market is enough to intimidate you. However, it would be best if you considered all the factors before buying a smart plug.
If you don’t want to undergo the hassle of looking through all the options available on the internet, you can buy any of these best 10 smart plugs.
These smart plugs are tried and tested. We are going to differentiate these smart plugs to make a choice easier for you and answer questions like Which is the best smart plug? Are all smart plugs the same? and more.
You can use this Comparison Table to compare all the best smart plugs in the market. It will help you to make an easy buying decision and pick the most worthy one from the list of best smart plugs of 2021.
| No. | Smart Plug | Price | Compatibility |
| 1 | Ikea Smart Plug | $28 | Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant |
| 2 | Eve Energy | $39.95 | Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant |
| 3 | TP-Link Kasa HS105 Smart Plug | $22.99 | Alexa and Google Assistant |
| 4 | Hive Active Plug | $34 | Alexa and Google Assistant |
| 5 | TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug | $117 | Alexa and Google Assistant |
| 6 | Belkin WeMo Switch | $39 | Alexa and Google Assistant |
| 7 | Amazon Smart Plug | $24 | Alexa and Google Assistant |
| 8 | Gosund Smart Wi-Fi Plug (4) | $27.99 | Alexa and Google Assistant |
| 9 | Teckin Mini Smart Outlet (4) | $25.99 | Alexa and Google Assistant |
| 10 | Aoycocr Mini Smart Plug (2) | $17.99 | Alexa and Google Assistant |
Smart Plugs with Alexa, Apple Home Kit, Google Assistant Compatibility
Most people either have Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple Home Kit ecosystems in their home. It helps them to connect all the smart devices with one common platform. If you are looking for a smart plug that is compatible with these three ecosystems, here are some popular choices.
Ikea Smart Plug
It is by far the best and ideal smart plug available online. You can buy it from your local Ikea store or online via the Ikea website. It is a part of Ikea’s smart home devices. You can use this plug to connect multiple home devices.
You can download the Ikea Smart Home app on your phone to operate this plug. It comes with a timer feature. You can also set a timer for the device to turn on and off. This plug is compatible with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. You can use it by giving voice commands. You will get an additional switch to turn on the plug and switch it off. It is affordable and energy-efficient.
Eve Energy
Eve Energy is another smart plug you can use. The best thing you this smart plug is that it is compatible with Apple Home Kit. There are only a few smart plugs that can work with Siri, and Eve energy is one. You can use this plug to track energy consumption.
All you need to do is tap on the remote to make this device work. You can also give voice commands to this device. It also works with Google Assistant and Alexa. It comes with a door and window sensor, which helps you keep the house safe and secure.
Smart Plugs with Google Assistant and Alexa Compatibility
If you don’t have Apple Home Kit, you can choose any of these best smart pugs. These smart plugs don’t need Apple Home Kit to work. They are compatible only with Google Assistant and Alexa.
TP-Link Kasa HS105 Smart Plug
TP-Link is a popular brand of smart plugs. You will get plenty of smart features with this device. You can download the Kasa app on your smartphone to use this plug remotely.
If you want to use voice control, you can use Alexa as well as Google Assistant. It is compatible with both. If you already have Kasa smart devices in your home, you can use this smart plug.
Hive Active Plug
Hive is a popular smart device brand. You can use various Hive smart devices. To use this plug, you need Hive Hub. Apart from that, you can also control this smart plug with your phone or laptop’s help. It will help you to operate the devices connected to the plug remotely.
You can also use the mimic feature to turn on and off the devices to portray that someone is home. This device is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.
TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug
The HS110 is another popular smart plug by TP-Link. You can use this smart plug to switch on and switch off any device remotely. You can use your smartphone to control the plug. Apart from controlling the devices, you can also track energy usage. It comes with a special feature called “Away Mode.”
You can use it to switch on and off the lights in your home at a specific time. This smart plug is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. It is also compatible with android and iOS devices. All you need to do is connect this plug to an outlet and connect any device with it.
Belkin WeMo Switch
This smart home device is compatible with android and iOS devices. You can use this smart home plug to convert any ordinary device into a smart device. All you need is an internet connection to operate this smart plug. It will connect with the Wi-Fi in your home to run.
You can also use Google Voice Assistant and Alexa to give voice commands. You can use any ordinary device with it.
Moreover, you can use this device to connect multiple switches. You can connect multiple devices with it. You can easily plug it into any standard socket in your home. This device is effortless to install. You can install it via the app.
Smart Plug with Alexa Compatibility
If you already have Amazon Echo at your house, you can use any smart plug which is compatible with Alexa. Here is the best smart plug which works with Alexa.
Amazon Smart Plug
This one is compatible with Alexa. All you need to do is download the Alexa app to use this smart plug. Once you plug any device into this plug, you will be able to operate it remotely. You can use the timer feature to set a timer for the devices to work.
You can control this plug remotely via the Alexa app on your phone. Moreover, you can also use it with the Alexa voice command. It is no compatible with Google Assistant.
Best Combo Smart Plugs
If you want to connect multiples devices with smart plugs, you need to buy more than one plug. To get the best deal, you can go with a plug that come in a pack of 2 or 4. Here are some of the best combo deals in the market.
Gosund Smart Wi-Fi Plug (4-Pack)
If you are looking to buy multiple smart plugs at an affordable price, this is the best one in the market. You can use these 4 plugs to connect four different devices simultaneously in your home. It is compatible with Alexa as well as Google Assistant. You can use it to set the timer as well as operate it via remote and voice commands.
Teckin Mini Smart Outlet (4-Pack)
It is another 4-Pack smart plug. You can use the companion app to use this device. It also supports voice commands using Alexa and Google Assistant. You can use the timer option in this plug. It is affordable and works just fine.
Aoycocr Mini Smart Plug (2-Pack)
Aoycocr Mini is another combination smart plug. It is an affordable and efficient smart plug with multiple features. You can use the Smart Life App to control it from your phone. It is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can give group access so that more than one person can use it. It comes with a timer.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Smart Plug in 2021
If you want a smart plug for a specific use, you need to consider certain factors while buying it. Here are the essential factors you need to consider to successfully choose the best one.
Compatibility: The first thing you need to check is the smartphone and voice assistant compatibility. It should be compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. It should be compatible with the smart ecosystem in your home. Moreover, it should also be compatible with android and iPhone.
Timer: You need to check the timer factor as well. Some plugs give you the option of setting a timer. You can schedule it for any time.
Additional Outlets: If you want other outlets with smart functionality, you can go with plugs with different outlets.
Energy Tracking: Buy a plug that tracks energy consumption and gives you a full report.
Surge Protection: Choose a smart plug with a surge protection feature. It will help you to protect the device as well as the plug.
Dimming: You also need to check the dimming feature. You can use this feature to dim the lights instead of switching them off.
Indoor/ Outdoor: You need to check the type of smart plug as well. If you want it for outdoor use, go with an outdoor plug.
Size and Cost: You also need to consider the size of the plug. It should fit the outlet. Apart from that, you need to check the cost as well. Most smart plugs range from $20 to $50.
These were the 10 best smart plugs of 2021 for a more comfortable remote work lifestyle. These plugs are affordable and the best ones on the market. You can use these plugs to control the devices in your home remotely.
