A smart plug is the cheapest, easiest way into a smart home — it sits between the wall socket and any lamp, heater or appliance, and lets you switch it on or off from your phone, by voice or on a schedule. The best also track how much electricity a device uses, which is genuinely handy when energy bills matter. They cost only a few pounds, so the main job is picking the right features. These are the best smart plugs to buy in 2026, with UK prices checked on Amazon UK on 15 July 2026 — confirm the current figure before buying.
The Short Version
- Best overall — TP-Link Tapo P110. Reliable, easy to set up and tracks energy use, at £9.00.
- Best budget — TP-Link Tapo P100. The essentials for the lowest price, at £7.99.
- Best value multipack — Tapo P110 (4-pack). Kit out a whole home for less, at £31.00.
- Best for Apple Home — Meross Matter Smart Plug. Works with HomeKit and Matter, at £13.99.
- Best for outdoors — Meross Outdoor Smart Plug. Weatherproof control for the garden, at £33.99.
Best Overall: TP-Link Tapo P110
For most people, the TP-Link Tapo P110 is the smart plug to buy at £9.00. It sets up in minutes over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with no hub required, works reliably with Alexa and Google Assistant, and — the reason to pick it over the cheaper model — it monitors the energy use of whatever is plugged in, showing you in watts exactly what a device costs to run. Schedules, timers and away modes are all in the app. It is compact, dependable and superb value, which makes it our top pick. Check the price on Amazon
Best Budget: TP-Link Tapo P100
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If you just want to switch something on and off remotely, the TP-Link Tapo P100 does exactly that for £7.99. It is the same easy setup and rock-solid app as the P110, with voice control, scheduling and timers, but without the energy monitoring. For lamps, Christmas lights or a coffee machine you want ready in the morning, it is all you need, and at this price you can dot them around the house without a second thought. Check the price on Amazon
Best Value Multipack: Tapo P110 (4-Pack)
Smart plugs are far more useful once you have several, and the Tapo P110 4-pack is the sensible way to buy in at £31.00 — well under £8 a plug. You get four energy-monitoring plugs to spread across lamps, the TV setup, a heater and the washing machine, all managed from one app with schedules and voice control. For anyone starting a smart home properly, or replacing a houseful of timers, it is the best-value route in. Check the price on Amazon
Best for Apple Home: Meross Matter Smart Plug
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Apple households are poorly served by many cheap plugs, which is where the Meross MSS315 comes in at £13.99. It supports both Apple Home (HomeKit) and the new Matter standard, so it slots neatly into an iPhone-based smart home as well as Alexa, Google and SmartThings, and it still includes energy monitoring. If you control your home from an iPhone or want a plug that will work across ecosystems for years, this is the one to choose. Check the price on Amazon
Best for Outdoors: Meross Outdoor Smart Plug
For garden lights, a water feature or festive decorations, you need a plug rated for the weather, and the Meross Outdoor Smart Plug delivers at £33.99. It is IP44 weatherproof with two independently controlled sockets, rated at the UK's 13A, and works with Alexa, Google and Apple Home. Schedule the garden lights to come on at dusk or switch the fountain off from indoors — it brings the same convenience outside without risking a soaking. Check the price on Amazon
Who Should Buy Which?
The right smart plug depends on your setup. For most people, the energy-monitoring Tapo P110 is the best all-rounder, and the 4-pack is the cheapest way to fit out a whole home. If you only want basic remote switching, the Tapo P100 saves a little more. Choose the Meross Matter plug if you run your home from an iPhone or want future-proof Matter support across ecosystems, and the Meross Outdoor plug for anything in the garden, where a weatherproof rating is essential. Whichever you pick, they all work with Alexa and Google, so start with one and add more as you go. For securing the home too, see our best security cameras guide and best video doorbells guide. Check the price on Amazon
How to Choose a Smart Plug
A few things decide the right smart plug. Compatibility comes first: most work with Alexa and Google, but if you use an iPhone you need Apple Home (HomeKit) or Matter support, so check before buying. Energy monitoring is worth the small premium, as seeing a device's draw in watts helps you find what is costing you money. Mind the power rating: UK smart plugs are rated to 13A, or roughly 3,000W, which covers most appliances — avoid imported EU plugs rated at 16A or 3,680W, as they do not fit UK sockets safely. Nearly all use 2.4GHz Wi-Fi rather than 5GHz, so they connect through walls easily and need no separate hub. For gardens, insist on a weatherproof IP-rated outdoor model, and if you are buying several, a multipack is far cheaper per plug. Check the price on Amazon
How This Guide Was Made
This is an editorial buying guide that curates the strongest smart plugs for home automation across budgets, weighing reliability, app quality, energy monitoring, ecosystem support and value. Recommendations are based on published specifications and current UK pricing. Prices change often, so check the current listing before buying.
This is an editorial buying guide based on published specifications and current UK pricing. Prices were checked on 15 July 2026 and change frequently.
