Smart plugs aren\u2019t the most complicated smart home device<\/a> \u2014 they really just turn stuff off and on \u2014 but they do make life a little easier. Since using smart plugs, I\u2019ve grown accustomed to having the living room lamps click on just before sunset and go off when I say goodnight to Alexa or the Google Assistant\/Gemini (Siri can turn off a few of my lights, but isn\u2019t compatible with all of them). Most smart home device makers have a plug or two in their lineups, but finding one that\u2019s compatible with your chosen ecosystem, that\u2019s easy to set up and reliably connects can involve a little trial and error. That\u2019s why we tried more than a dozen models to find the best smart plugs you can buy right now..<\/p>\n Photo by Amy Skorheim \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Assistant support<\/strong>: Alexa, Gemini, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring<\/strong>: Yes | Matter support<\/strong>: No | Hub required<\/strong>: No<\/p>\n All of the plugs eventually did what they said they would, but each had a quirk or two that gave me pause \u2013 except TP-Link\u2019s Kasa EP25<\/a>. From installation to implementation, it was fuss-free and reliable. It\u2019s also one of the cheaper plugs on our list at just $13 each (but you\u2019ll usually find it in a four-pack) and one of the best Wi-Fi plugs overall. It works well with both iOS and Android and on all four smart home platforms. The Kasa app has a clean, intuitive design and includes the features you\u2019d expect like timers, schedules, a vacation mode and smart actions (aka scenes).\u00a0<\/p>\n TP-Link also makes Tapo smart devices, and now you can control both Kasa and Tapo products<\/a> from the latter\u2019s app. The Tapo app has more features and controls, so I recommend using that one after you\u2019ve set up and linked your Kasa plugs.<\/p>\n The EP25 is an updated version of the HS103 that adds Apple HomeKit compatibility, so I was able to control it with both an iPhone and an Android phone. If you also live in a blended OS home, I recommend onboarding with the iPhone first. After tapping the + button in the Kasa iOS app, a HomeKit pop-up will prompt you to add the plug using the QR code from the box. (The code\u2019s also printed on the plug, but that\u2019s harder to access.)<\/p>\n Once set up in HomeKit, it was easy to add the plug to the other smart home apps. Google Home and SmartThings just need your TP-Link log-in details and Alexa uses the Kasa \u201cskill.\u201d Once you\u2019ve added one plug, any future TP-Link devices you incorporate should automatically show up in each app. If you\u2019re only using an Android device, the Kasa app will walk you through using a temporary Wi-Fi network to get the plug online.<\/p>\n After setup, I named the plug and assigned it a room (making sure it was the same in each app to avoid confusing myself). Then I programmed various routines and schedules and asked all three voice assistants to turn the light on and off \u2013 everything worked without a hitch. In the weeks of testing, the EP25 never had a connection hiccup, even after I relocated it to the basement, which is the farthest point from my router.<\/p>\n My single complaint used to be that sharing with another user wasn\u2019t supported within the Kasa app. That feature is now supported in the Tapo app (to which you can easily add all your Kasa devices). But Google Home has worked best for my family to share smart home device control<\/a>, between iOS and Android devices. It’s even great for families on the same OS.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBest smart plugs for 2026<\/h2>\n
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