Thanks for taking your time to read our reviews on the best Smart Plugs that are currently available on the United Kingdom marketplace.
Just below you will see our top list of Smart Plugs. However, we also know you are busy, so if you don't have time to read our full review, we would highly recommend the big selling TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug. This plug is absolutely superb and if you want the a good model at a reasonable price then this is it.
What is a smart plug?
They may look exactly like an ordinary plug or extension lead, but they can connect to your wi-fi and then you can manage your electrical equipment with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri and from an app on your phone. You just plug one into a socket, pair it up with your wi-fi and then you can use it to switch on and off any appliance attached to it. These are the future and I guess most items will come with this type of plug as standard before too long, especially as everything is going electric, even cars need an EV charger now!
When you think of the possibilities, it's easy to see how turning plugs on and off could be useful and really this is just the start of it. Smart fridges for instance will see that your milk is low or out of date and order you some to be delivered. Your phone will know that you are leaving work and heading home. It will check temperature and put the heating on if needs be. This is the future and it's pretty much here now. You can also turn on an air-conditioner unit on your way home from work, for instance.
Just below, we have also completed some summary reviews on each of these, so as you can see which is the best option for you.
TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug
92% buyer satisfaction from over 50,000+ customer reviews
TP-Link is the market leader in this type of product and I find all their stuff to be really good quailty and really easy to use
This plug is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for Voice Control.
It works with any Wi-Fi router without the need for a separate hub
You can control devices connected to the smart plug through the Tapo app on your phone
There is a timer facility so you can set to automatically power electronics on and off as required
You can have different management permissions for family members for multiple controls
I think this is the best you can get and it's also one of the cheapest, for a change. It's fully compatible with all the different voice command systems on the market and the App is really easy to use. Also TP-Link is, in my opinion, the best at what they do. The quality is superb and their devices always work well.
Amazon Smart Plug
94% buyer satisfaction from over 85,000+ customer reviews
The Amazon Smart Plug will work with Alexa and adds voice control to any electrical socket. Very handy indeed!
You can set schedules for lamps, TV's and any other appliances to turn on and off automatically, or control them when you are out.
They are very simple to set up from the Alexa app and work really well by voice commands and through the app directly.
These really are simple in every way. So easy to set up and use, even for the total techo sceptic.
As you can see, these are a massive seller and they get really great reviews. If you have an Alexa then you might be tempted to go for this model but in my opinion there are cheaper models that will do the same thing and also work with other devices like Google or Siri. £25 is expensive for what you are getting!
TP-Link Kasa WiFi Power Strip 3 outlets with 2 USB Ports
92% buyer satisfaction from over 7,000+ customer reviews
Another great TP-Link products that's an extension with 3 smart outlets that can be separately managed
There are also 2 always-on USB ports which are very handy
It works perfectly with Alexa and Google Assistant for Voice Control
and you can control devices connected to the Smart Plug by using the Kasa app on your mobile phone
Again there is a timer facility so you can set to automatically power electronics on and off as required
This is a really handy solution, having 3 sockets that you can control seperately. Perfect for in behind the TV and you get complete control over all those hard to get to plugs. Actually when your TV is on standby it is still using electricity, so great for saving on our ever increasing electric costs.
A games console, for instance will use 5p a day on standby. So that's getting close to £20 a year. It soon adds up. Research shows that over 30% of homes in the UK have more than 1 appliance on standby, that hasn't been used in a year !
Kasa Mini Smart Plug by TP-Link
92% buyer satisfaction from over 7,000+ customer reviews
Again this Tp-link unit works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for Voice Control
Will work with any Wi-Fi router without the need for a separate hub
You can control devices connected to the Smart Plug wherever you use the free Kasa application on your phone
Schedule/Timer the smart plug to automatically power electronics on and off as needed
When you compare the two Tp-link units the Tapo P100 only displays the total runtime per day/week/month, while the Kasa displays the current run time and the daily average per week/month, which is much more information than Tapo. Also the Tapo supports up to 20 schedules at once time, while the Kasa supports 31. That's why there is a difference in the price.
Nooie Smart Plug WiFi Outlet
86% buyer satisfaction from over 5,000+ customer reviews
So these work out around £8 each so they are the cheapest, good quality ones that I would recommend
You can control appliances with your phone with the Nooie app.
This will work with Alexa and Google home
With multiple smart plugs, you can control multiple outlets.
No smart home hub required.
They are simple to use and very easy to set up
A very quick video review
We have looked over all the video reviews and found this great short presentation on these plugs. It gives you an instant idea of what to expect as well as telling you all the features and spec in and easy to understand format.
I hope you enjoy watching it as I always think its much better to see aa item in action rather than just reading about it or seeing pictures. This guy is particularly good at explaining the features and he is well known for demonstrating tools and gadgets.
Smart Plug Buying Guide
Compatibility
You don't need to be building a state of the art smart home to purchase a smart plug. These days they have become the norm, so it’s best to pick a smart plug that will work well and integrate with your other smart devices. If you are an Apple fan, for instance, you’ll not have as many different choices of smart plugs to work with. But if Alexa or Google Assistant is what you use then you will have a few more choices. So you need to check compatability before you buy.
Features
- Voice Control: For me this is essential and not all smart plugs work for voice. Definitely go for something that works with Alexa, Siri on Apple or with Google assistant. Some smart plugs don’t even come with voice assistant and I can't really understand why that is. Using the App alone is fine for scheduling but the really beauty of these plugs is the voice feature.
- Scheduling Ability: Probably half of the benifits of a smart plug is to control your home devices when you are out and about, or switching them on so things are done by the time you get home. The heating in your house is the prime example of this. You should be able to schedule when you want your smart plug to go on and off automatically.
I hope this has been some help to you in deciding which plug you need. Don't forget, we would highly recommend the big selling TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug.
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