Written by Camryn Rabideau, writer and product tester with over 8 years of experience. Her work has also appeared in Forbes Vetted, People Tested and Buy Side from WSJ.
Updated February 28, 2023
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
If you’re looking for budget-friendly ways to expand your smart home, a smart plug or smart outlet is a great choice. These inexpensive devices make it easy to remotely control lamps, fans, and other electronics in your home, making them a must-have for beginners.
However, it can be tricky to choose between a smart plug and a smart outlet. These two devices offer much of the same functionality, but there are a few key differences that should guide your decision.
What is a smart plug?
Smart plugs, such as a two-pack of Wyze Plugs and two-pack of Kasa Smart Plugs, are designed to be plugged into standard electrical outlets, and connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, allowing you to turn power to the plug on and off remotely in the companion app.
You can plug electronic devices like a lamp or fan into your smart plug for remote control. Some of the benefits are that you can set it to an automatic timer or schedule, and also control it through a smart voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant.
However, one of the main benefits of smart plugs are the quick and simple installation, as well as the portability. These are plug-and-play devices, so you don’t have to worry about messing around with electrical wiring to install them.
Today, most smart plugs are also quite budget-friendly, costing less than $20.
The downside of smart plugs can be the fairly clunky design that can be a bit of an eyesore in your room. Newer units are sleeker than older models but are still quite noticeable.
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What is a smart outlet?
Smart outlets like the Leviton Decora Smart Outlet, on the other hand, are designed to replace the regular outlets completely. $35 at Amazon
The concept is still the same—you plug electronics into the outlet and can control them via your smartphone—but smart outlets are hardwired directly into your home’s electrical system. To install a smart plug, you have to turn off the circuit, disconnect the wires from the existing outlet, and reattach all the wires to the smart outlet.
The process isn’t too challenging, but it can be intimidating if you’ve never worked with electrical wiring before.
The main benefit of smart outlets is they have an inconspicuous design. Once installed, they look virtually identical to regular outlets, yet they allow you to remotely control any device you plug in.
Some smart outlets, like the model from Leviton, only have one “smart” plug and the other plug operates regularly, but some models offer smart features in both plugs, allowing you to control two devices separately.
Other smart outlets, such as the Geeni Wi-Fi Smart Outlet, have USB charging ports, as well. $25 at Amazon
The downsides, however, are that smart plugs are more complicated to install, can’t be moved around as easily, and generally cost slightly more than smart plugs.
Smart plug vs. smart outlet: Which one is right for you?
There are benefits to both smart plugs and smart outlets. Both devices offer similar functionality, allowing you to turn electronics on/off remotely, create set schedules, control devices via voice commands, and even monitor energy use—you’ll want to read up on the specific device you’re considering for a full list of its features.
When deciding if a smart plug or smart outlet is better for your needs, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. In general, smart plugs are the way to go if:
- You want a device that’s easy to install.
- You want the option to move the device around as needed.
- You live in a rental.
- You’re not comfortable doing electrical wiring.
- You want the most bang for your buck.
If you decide to go this route, we’ve tested the best smart plugs to help you select the right option for your needs. Our top overall recommendation is the Wyze Plug, which provides a stable connection, scheduling and automation features, and energy monitoring.
On the other hand, a smart outlet might be the better choice if:
- You want a smart plug that’s less noticeable in the room.
- You want a permanent smart fixture in your home.
- You want both plugs on the outlet to have smart abilities.
- You’re comfortable doing basic electrical wiring.
For smart outlets, we recommend the Leviton Decora Smart Outlet, but you can also find similar models from Kasa, Geeni, and Amazon Basics. Shop smart outlets at Amazon
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