How to buy the best smart plug

A smart plug is essentially a plug, but with smart technology that opens up a range of features and functions. 

You plug any device into it, and then you can switch it off and on using an app on your phone or tablet, online via a web portal or just your voice. 

Smart plugs also enable you to set schedules, partially automate devices and even monitor energy use of plugged in appliances.  

Best smart plugs

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How do smart plugs work?

Most smart plugs connect with an app on your smart phone through wi-fi or Bluetooth. Once you’ve connected to the smart plug using the app, you can control it remotely. Smart plugs are best used with simple devices, such as lamps. You won’t see much benefit with anything that requires more than one step to turn on, such as a television or washing machine.

Will a smart plug work with my smartphone?

Most smart plugs have separate apps for Android and iOS users, so there shouldn’t be a problem connecting to the vast majority of smartphones. If you’re using an older version of these operating systems, be sure to check the minimum version requirements before you buy.

That said, we strongly advise that you update your phone’s software to its most recent version. Keeping old versions might be convenient, but it increases your risk of being hacked. If your phone no longer receives software updates, it might be time to consider a new one.

How to connect your smart plug to Alexa

Many smart plugs are compatible with Alexa – Amazon’s virtual assistant. This allows you to control the smart plug using simple voice commands. Usually compatible smart plugs are marked ‘Works with Amazon Alexa’. This means it works with the service, but doesn’t have a built-in microphone – so you’ll need to use your phone or, in some cases, an Echo device.

Connecting your smart plug to Alexa should be simple enough using the app that comes with the plug. The exact menu settings will depend on your smart plug, but you’ll usually find Alexa in Settings. Clicking this should prompt you to sign into your Alexa account, after which you’ll confirm that you want to link the two apps.

Once this is done, you should be able to control the smart plug either through its own app or through Alexa.

How to connect your smart plug to Google, Apple, Philips or Hive devices

Other virtual assistants such as Siri and Google Assistant work in much the same way – all you should need are the correct apps and account details for each. Depending on the plug, you may also need an Apple Home hub or Google Nest device.

Some smart plugs are compatible with other smart home hubs – such as the Hue Bridge or Hive Hub. The main advantage to these is that they allow you to control many of your smart products, like lighting, heating or security, from a single app. These hubs can be pricey though, so you might consider another smart plug if you don’t plan to (or already) use them in other areas of your home. 

What can I do with a smart plug?

Sometimes there’s no real benefit to techifying everything in your home. But in some cases, smart plugs can be a handy thing to have around.

Turn devices on and off with your voice (or an app)

If you’ve ever had to crawl under a Christmas tree to turn the lights on or off, you’ll appreciate this function. It’s also useful for switching off other devices with fiddly controls, or where the plug socket is hidden by furniture. Some apps let you group sockets together to turn multiple devices on or off with a single action.

Set schedules and timers to turn devices on and off when you’re not around

The most commonly touted reason to use this feature is to make your lamps or radio come on occasionally while you’re away from the home, to give the impression somebody is still in. There are other uses though – you could, for example, program it to turn your slow cooker on at a certain time.

Measure how much power your appliances use

Some smart plugs have built-in energy monitoring features, which let you see how much power your devices are using. Want to know how much more efficient your dishwasher’s eco setting is? Or what the energy difference is between a ‘3’ and a ‘5’ on your fridge’s thermostat? Just plug it in, fire up the app and you’re good to go.

How much do I need to spend on a good smart plug?

You’ll see cheap smart plugs selling for as little as £5, while the most expensive we’ve tested could set you back more than £40. The good news is that there are some decent models on the affordable end of the scale.

We regularly see smart plugs with features such as scheduling, voice commands and energy monitoring in the £10-15 range, making this a good price to start looking. More expensive models are usually designed to connect to other smart home products – like security systems, lighting or even your thermostat.

Are smart plugs secure?

In a previous investigation into smart plugs, we’ve unearthed a whole host of issues that could put at risk your security, privacy and even safety.  

This included flaws that could allow hackers to control your smart plug, steal your wi-fi password, work out when you’re likely to be away from home, and even burn your house down.

We test every smart plug for potential security flaws and flag them in our reviews – so you can rest assured that your personal data will stay private.

See our full list of smart plug reviews to find the right model for you.

Which smart plug brands offer the best software and security support?

Software and security support are important considerations when buying a smart plug, dictating how long the brand continues updating the device with new features and security patches, to guard against emerging threats.

We reached out to the biggest brands to find out more about support policies, and only two were clear on updates.

• Humax said it guarantees a minimum of three years of security updates.
• Yale said it will provide two years of support following end of sale when we asked in 2022, but this year it didn't respond.

No other brands, including TP-Link, Philips, TCP and Wiz provided us with specific information on update support periods.

Also notable is Hive, who announced recently it will discontinue Hive security cameras and Homeshield devices. It also did not guarantee a minimum support period.

While you may not be at immediate risk if you're using a device that's unsupported, it's obviously desirable to buy and use a device that you know will receive update support for a decent period of time. For more information, read our guide to smart devices and security.