Home automation is quickly becoming something less out of science fiction and more an affordable reality thanks to the rise of devices compatible with Amazon’s Echo and Alexa, Google Home and Apple’s HomeKit. It's easier than ever to control various aspects of your home with your voice or smartphone app, which is why a smart plug could be your key to bridging the gap between old and new tech.
A smart plug will allow you to turn any older electronics into something compatible with home automation apps and devices, rather than having to replace them, allowing you to set timers, operate electronics remotely, use voice commands and much more. We’ve ranked the best smart plugs available to buy in the UK on Argos, Amazon and John Lewis from brands like TP-Link, Philips, Hive and D-Link so you can bring your home into the future without breaking the bank.
Quick List - Top Smart Plugs
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Just like flicking the switch on a plug socket, smart plugs work by turning on and off the electricity to a device via a smartphone or smartwatch app. Many can also be voice activated through Amazon, Google, or Apple home assistants.
You can use a smart plug to turn any electrical device into one that’s compatible with these systems, meaning that you won’t have to get rid of older electronics in order to have an automated home. That way you’ll be able to keep hold of that an antique lamp, period radio, or whatever other older electronic you love.
As with anything involving technology, there are multiple things to consider when looking at smart plugs. You’ll want to make sure that it's compatible with your network and home assistant system of choice, as well as having a strong WiFi connection. To help cut through the confusion, here's everything you need to know.
While all smart plugs will come with a corresponding app so you can control your devices with your phone, you’ll really want to consider using one of Amazon, Google, or Apple’s home assistant systems to get the most out of your smart plug.
Using these systems, you can set up various plans to automate almost everything in your home and all three have a huge amount of compatible devices. It's relatively east to find smart plugs compatible with Amazon and Google systems, but Apple ready plugs are a little harder to find.
The biggest benefit of these systems is that you'll be able to control everything connected to your network with your voice. Most people are familiar with Amazon's Alexa, but there's also Google Home and Apple HomeKit which work in very similar ways. With this, you’ll be able to walk into a room and simply say “Alexa, turn on lamp” and have the lamp turn on.
There are two main ways in which a smart plug works, the most common being via WiFi. Most households in the UK have a WiFi connection, and we’re going to assume if you’re looking at home automation you have one too.
That said, it’s worth making sure that the signal is good enough in the area where you intend to place the plug to ensure that the connection won’t drop while you’re trying to use it. Some smart plugs will even require their own specific hub, which works in a very similar way to a wireless router.
You’ll connect to the hub with your smartphone app or voice assistant, and the hub will then communicate with the smart plugs via Bluetooth. These are less common, but can still be found and could be a good option if the WiFi connection in your home is weak.
Smart plugs aren’t just smart because you can control them with your phone or voice, they can also do a number of other useful things. For example, you can set your own plans and timers to save power, or even monitor the amount of electricity you’re using with certain smart plugs.
The smart plug will measure the amount of electricity which passes through it over a set amount of time, allowing you to see exactly how much power your devices are using. You’d be surprised how much power devices on standby will use, so if you’re interested to find out more, look for smart plugs with energy monitoring capabilities.
As they sit in-between the plug and socket, it's worth thinking about the smart plug's dimensions before buying. While most are relatively thin, they do obviously add some bulk to what would usually be there, which could be an issue if your sockets are hidden away behind furniture or other items.
You may also want to consider a smart strip, rather than a single plug. These are more expensive, but allow you to turn multiple devices into smart devices and prevent the wall socket from becoming too bulky.
Single smart plugs will also work with extension cables, so that's another possible solution to keep your home the way you want it!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Slim | ![]() | The Overall Best Smart Plug for Your Home | |
2 | TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Power Strip|KP303 | ![]() | A Great Choice for Those With Multiple Devices | |
3 | Meross Smart WiFi Plug | ![]() | HomeKit Compatibility at an Extremely Low Price | |
4 | TCP Smart WiFi Plug | ![]() | The Best Bang for Your Buck | |
5 | Philips Hue Smart Plug | ![]() | An Energy Efficient Plug from a Reliable Brand | |
6 | TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug | ![]() | Fantastic Value For Money | |
7 | Hive Active Plug | ![]() | An All Around Winner | |
8 | Eve Energy UK Smart Plug & Power Meter | ![]() | One for Apple Users | |
9 | D-Link Standard Wi-Fi Smart Plug|DSP-W115/B | ![]() | A Good Budget Option | |
10 | Lightwave Smart Socket | ![]() | If You Know How to Replace a Socket, This Could Be For You |
This is hands down the best smart plug on the market, especially as it comes in at the cheaper end of the price spectrum. While not compatible with Apple, it does everything you'd want from a smart plug and has a two year warranty to boot!
It has energy monitoring, the response time is fantastic, it's compact, and has protection against overheating. We also think it's worth mentioning again how good the Kasa app is. The initial set up is a breeze, and navigating the various features and settings is nice and easy.
It's well worth considering this smart power strip from TP-Link if you have a number of devices you're looking to use with a smart plug. It represents much better value for money than buying three individual smart plugs and, in our opinion, the Kasa app is the easiest and most comprehensive to use.
TP-Link make incredibly reliable smart and computing products, and this is no different! The response time from your voice activation or app is only a second or two, and the USB ports are a great addition for charging a phone or other portable devices.
If you're a user of Apple's HomeKit, you'll find that most compatible smart plugs tend to come at a premium price. Thankfully, this isn't the case with this offering from Meross and you'll struggle to find a better option for this money if you're an Apple user.
It's also compatible with Amazon and Google products, while being one of the more compact smart plugs on the market. No matter the system you're using, setting up the plug through the Meross app takes minutes and is completely hassle free!
The TCP Smart WiFi Plug is a great option as it packs a number of really useful features into a very compact package. It has a simple timer function, and can even be set to switch on a heater if the temperature drops below a certain level.
While a little thicker than most, it really doesn't take up much space around the socket itself, meaning you'll easily be able to use it alongside any other plugs in a double socket or on a strip.
The first thing to note with the Philips Hue is that it has an A++ energy rating. This means that, while plugged in, the smart plug itself uses very little power. But more importantly, this is one of the best options if you're looking to set up smart lighting around your home due to the multitude of settings and features available.
While it works with the Hue app via Bluetooth, it may be worth considering picking up the Hue Bridge to get the most out of your smart plug. This is also necessary if you want to pair it with Apple HomeKit or the first generation of Amazon Echo and Echo Dot.
If you're after the cheapest good option on the market, look no further! TP-Link's Tapo is easily the best smart plug you can get for under £10, and it works nicely with Google Home and Amazon's Alexa voice systems too.
While the app is a bit basic, it'll happily set up timers for whatever is plugged into the device, which is perfect for setting a schedule for when you're away or going on holiday. For the price, you can't get much better than this!
The Hive Active Plug is a great pickup if you're looking to do a lot more than just turn a few lights off an and on. It's a great choice to automate your heating and hot water, and the Hive app is a a pleasure to use.
It's capable of working with Apple's HomeKit, but you will need an additional Hive Hub for this to work properly. As with other Apple compatible products, this does come with an added expense and the plug itself is on the larger side when compared to others.
It's far more difficult to find smart plugs compatible with Apple HomeKit than those that work with Amazon or Google systems. That's why this plug from Eve is dedicated to the Apple infrastructure. It connects directly to your iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth and effectively monitors your energy usage.
While great for Apple users, it won't be any use for those who use Amazon or Google products. Although not made by Apple themselves, like most Apple products, it's more expensive than other comparable options.
If you're looking for a cheap smart plug, this offering from D-Link fits the bill. It has a simple to use app, all you need to so is scan the QR code and you're ready to go! It also has a neat light running around the device to tell you its status.
Unfortunately, some connectivity issues have been reported when the plug is placed too far from the WiFi router. So, if you do opt for this model, be sure to place it somewhere unobstructed by furniture, or in a room close to your router.
We're well aware of the fact that this probably isn't what you had in mind when thinking of smart plugs, but the Lightwave Smart Socket is worth considering if you know what you're doing with home DIY. It's not as external as a smart plug and we think they look quite smart.
The obvious downside is that you have to fit them into the wall, and you'll also have to pick up a Lightwave hub for them to work properly. Although this may be an investment to set up, it could be a great option if you're looking to really modernise your home.
No. 1: TP-Link|Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Slim
No. 2: TP-Link|Kasa Smart WiFi Power Strip|KP303
No. 3: Meross|Smart WiFi Plug
No. 4: TCP|Smart WiFi Plug
No. 5: Philips|Hue Smart Plug
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