The best smart plugs of 2025: Turn your house into a smart home from just £6

Telegraph

20 hours ago

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Smart plugs are fantastic tools for switching on/off your household devices like lamps and kettles remotely, even when you aren't at home. As with all things smart home, there's more choice than ever for consumers. While that's great for innovation, it can also make it difficult to know which products are worth buying.
I've tested a range of smart plugs from leading brands including Tapo, Philips and Amazon to find out which ones offer the best performance, value and features. I've also made sure to cater to a variety of budgets, so while most smart plugs cost between £10 to £15, you'll find some entries here undercut and exceed that amount.
Looking to expand your smart home setup? Read our guides to the best smart bulbs and best smart speakers. If you're in a hurry, you can check out my top five picks below.
The best smart plugs: At a glance:
How to choose the best smart plug
As a rough estimate of how much it's going to cost to run a smart plug over the long term, be sure to check the wattage listed in the specs.
Compatibility across not just your existing ecosystem but any future products you want to buy is crucial. 'Matter' certification offers peace of mind, showing that a plug can communicate with several ecosystems, which makes things a lot easier when setting up automations.
It's also worth factoring in additional costs like a bridge/hub. Most plugs can connect directly to your phone or Wi-Fi, but if a central device is required for an internet connection, then it'll cost you more. Similarly, while smart plugs are fairly cheap on their own, the price can add up if you're installing several at once.
Smart plugs are larger than an average plug and can block access to any nearby sockets that are too close together. Check the size to avoid this. Similarly, button placement is important as you don't want this to be blocked by another device that's also plugged in.
How we test smart plugs
For this guide, six smart plugs were called in for review, but only five made the cut. I tested each smart plug to see how easy it was to set up, and connected each plug via its app or intended ecosystem. Then, where possible, I added it to Apple HomeKit or Google Home. This helped me see how it worked with other devices.
Response times were recorded when using the plug via an app, smart speaker or simply by pressing the buttons on the plug itself. Once set up, I plugged in everyday appliances including hairdryers, lamps, fans and kettles to check for any issues during normal use. All plugs were used over the course of a week to see how they responded to automations and features such as remote access.
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The best smart plugs of 2025
1. Best Buy Smart Plug: Tapo P110M
Score: 9/10
We like: Compact design, Matter compatible, tons of features
If you've already started looking for smart home tech, then there's a good chance you've come across TP-Link, or its subsidiary Tapo. Both brands have a varied range of devices, but if there's one that works brilliantly, it's the Tapo P110M.
The M stands for Mini, signifying the best thing about this model. Unlike a lot of the options, the P110M is one of the few that doesn't encroach on the flick switch and if you're adding the plug to a larger extension lead, then you won't have to worry about it blocking any of the other ports.The left-facing power button should be taken into account, however.
The smaller frame doesn't come at the cost of functionality, as the P110M would respond almost instantly when toggled via the app or via an Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker. The setup process isn't time-consuming, either. It all takes place within the Tapo app and there's a helpful QR code included in the box that allows for easy pairing with Apple Home and Google Home.
The Tapo app is one of the cleanest smart home apps I've come across. All accessible devices are clearly labelled on the homescreen, but there's a section dedicated to quickly setting up automations, not too dissimilar to what iPhone users are familiar with in Apple Shortcuts.
Key specifications
2. Best Value Smart Plug: IKEA Tretakt with Remote Control
There is a standalone version of the IKEA Tretakt smart plug, but this pre-packaged bundle includes a remote control for a little bit more money. For the functionality it brings to the table, the added expense is worth it.
The remote is already wirelessly paired with the plug, so once you insert batteries, it works straight away without needing the app. This makes it a great option for visiting friends or family members.
The smart plug itself is bulky but has the smooth, minimalist design you'd expect from IKEA. The button on top is satisfyingly clicky. The issues start when you move to the smartphone setup.
The IKEA Home Smart app is well-designed, with clear icons and good colour use. However, unlike a lot of smart plugs, you do need a £60 dedicated hub (the Dirigera hub) to set it up.
Once connected, the plug can be integrated into your Apple Home, but when you factor in the need for the hub, the Tretakt becomes one of the more expensive options on the list. If you're looking for easy integration without spending extra, there are better choices.
Key specifications
3. Best Smart Plug for Multiple Devices: Tapo P304M
Score: 9/10
We like: Four unique sockets, surge protection
If there's one problem that can be levied against smart plugs, it's that they aren't great in areas of your home where you rely on an extension lead to power multiple devices. A single smart plug won't give you the flexibility to control multiple devices individually, but that's exactly where the Tapo P304M comes into play.
This ingenious bit of smart home kit has four power sockets that can all be controlled independently, either via the physical buttons on the power strip itself or via your smartphone.
You can name each of the four sockets, so you can specify which appliance you want to turn on or off when communicating with a smart speaker. There's surge protection built in, too.
Just like the Tapo P110M, the P304M is simple to set up via the Tapo app, as well as other smart home dashboards. Responsiveness is also top-notch, with no discernible delay when interacting with the device.
Despite all of the extra tech that the P304M has over a standard extension lead, it isn't much heavier, so it won't be more of a slog to move it from one room to another.
Key specifications
4. Best Smart Plug for Smart Lights: Philips Hue Smart Plug
Philips Hue is the standout brand when it comes to smart lighting. Although its products tend to be on the pricier side, the Hue range has excelled in showing off what's possible with Wi-Fi-connected lighting. If you've invested a decent amount of money into this ecosystem, then you'll want to bring the Philips Hue Smart Plug into the mix.
In the same way that the Amazon Basics Smart Plug is made with Alexa compatibility in mind, so too has the Hue Smart Plug been designed to seamlessly integrate with the Hue app and devices around your home.
This is another smart plug that includes a QR code for quick pairing. As the Philips Hue app was already linked with my Apple Home account for lighting control, the Smart Plug was added automatically to the Home dashboard. This saves you from having to go through two setup processes.
Response times for the plug were impeccable, responding right away to requests from both Alexa and the Hue app. The app itself has a great aesthetic and much like Tapo, it guides you with ideas for automations.
The physical power button is on the left-hand side of the device, meaning it could be obstructed if there's another wall plug placed too close to it. This does feel like an oversight, but it can be remedied by having the plug installed on the left-hand side of an outlet.
Key specifications
5. Best Alexa Smart Plug: Amazon Basics Smart Plug
If you're already using Alexa-powered devices at home, the Amazon Basics Smart Plug is the easiest option to recommend. At £9.99 for one, or £27.99 for a four-pack, it's one of the most affordable smart plugs available.
Set up is quick; it took me under two minutes using the Alexa app. There's a QR scanning code included in the box, so I just scanned it with my phone, switched the plug on and let the Alexa app handle everything else.
The Alexa app isn't as clearly laid out as Tapo's and IKEA's, but everything is kept within the Alexa ecosystem. That makes it simple to set up automations and routines that link your devices together.
The only downside is that response times can be a little bit slower than every other device I've tested. Most plugs react instantly, but Amazon's plug sometimes took up to two seconds to respond. It's not a major issue, but it is noticeable.
Key specifications