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You can also group the outlets (perhaps in an “Outside” group), so that one tap of a button on your phone or a voice command turns off both outlets. In the iOS and Android apps, you can name and control each outlet independently so that you know, for example, which one is the strand of twinkle lights and which one is the pool pump (and this makes things easier when you’re calling out commands to Alexa and Google devices). On top it has separate buttons to manually control each outlet. It’s still chunky when compared with an indoor plug, but it is pretty average for an outdoor smart plug. The cord adds an additional 9 inches, when measured from the base of the outlet box to the tip of the three-prong plug. Energy monitoring bumps that up a bit, tracking kilowatt-hours, a measure of power consumption (and a detail that could help you determine how much a device, such as a TV or an air conditioner, is actually costing you each month).Īt 4.3 by 1.5 by 3.2 inches, the EP40 is slightly smaller than its predecessor (and our former outdoor pick), the KP400. Device monitoring allows you to track how much you’re using a device in hours and minutes, and it is becoming a more common feature on smart plugs.

Additional features: Some smart plugs have other interesting features, such as device and energy monitoring.

That’s less of an issue if they support Apple HomeKit, in which case you can control them when you’re away from the house if you have a HomeKit gateway (an Apple TV, a HomePod Mini, or a stay-at-home iPad). That means they may not work if you aren’t relatively nearby. Bluetooth-based smart outlets, by contrast, require you to be within Bluetooth range to control them-often a few tens of feet away or less, depending on how your home is built.

Wireless technology: Wi-Fi–enabled smart outlets are typically the easier and more affordable option because they allow you to connect inside and outside the house without the need for a hub to act as a middleman.

Some plugs also offer compatibility with whole-house systems through SmartThings and IFTTT. The bare minimum should be voice-control integration through Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (Siri), or Google Assistant. This allows a plug to, for example, work with your Echo speaker or a motion sensor.

Smart-home compatibility: Every smart plug offers some level of smart-home support for other smart platforms.

We gave bonus points to outlets that offered additional customization, including the ability to schedule individual days, modes for when you're away or on vacation (the randomness of which can help mimic someone being home), and triggers, like sunrise and sunset or temperature. This means you can set it and forget it, so you don’t need to bark out commands or use the app.

Scheduling: All smart outlets allow you to schedule devices to turn on and off at specific times of the day or week.