Smart plugs are the easiest entry point to a smart home. You don’t need a hub for most of them, you don’t need to rewire anything, and the good ones cost less than a pizza. We rounded up 5 picks that punch above their price tag, all under $20, all on Amazon right now.
One thing to know before you buy. If you’re already running a HomeKit, Alexa, or Google Home setup, double-check the compatibility on each plug. Some only work with one ecosystem. The picks below cover most of the main ones.
1
Kasa Smart Plug Mini (4-Pack)
Best Overall, no hub needed, works with everything
9.2
(110,000+ reviews)
No Hub
4-Pack Value
Top Seller
This is the smart plug everyone recommends and the reviews back it up. Compact enough that it doesn’t block the second outlet, works with Alexa and Google, and the 4-pack price makes it cheap to deploy across the house.
2
Amazon Smart Plug
Best for Alexa Users, pairs in seconds with any Echo
8.8
(680,000+ reviews)
Alexa Optimized
Easy Setup
Routines
If you already have an Echo, this is basically plug and play. No separate app to download, no QR code dance. The catch is it only works with Alexa, so skip it if you’re a Google or Apple user.
3
SwitchBot Plug Mini
Best for Energy Tracking, shows real watt usage in the app
8.6
(8,400+ reviews)
Energy Monitoring
Matter Ready
Bluetooth
The one to get if you actually want to see how much energy your space heater or PC is sucking down. The SwitchBot app shows live wattage and daily totals. Also future-proofs you with Matter support, which is the cross-ecosystem standard.
4
Wyze Plug (2-Pack)
Best Budget Option, the cheapest reliable smart plug you can buy
8.4
(25,000+ reviews)
Budget Pick
2-Pack
Solid Reliability
Wyze sells two of these for about $14, which is borderline absurd. Build quality is what youd expect at this price, but they work, the app is decent, and Alexa/Google integration is rock solid. A great way to dip a toe in without spending much.
5
Meross Smart Plug Mini
Best for Apple HomeKit, native HomeKit pairing with no hub
8.5
(48,000+ reviews)
HomeKit
Compact
Multi-Pack
HomeKit smart plugs used to cost twice as much as their Alexa counterparts. Meross changed that. This one pairs directly with the Home app on iPhone, no hub needed, and the price is reasonable for what you get.
What to Look For in a Smart Plug
Three things. Whether it needs a hub (most under $20 don’t), what ecosystems it works with, and the amperage rating. 15A is standard and handles most household stuff. If you’re plugging in something serious like a space heater or window AC, double check that the plug can handle the wattage.
Also worth knowing, most cheap smart plugs are 2.4 GHz WiFi only. They won’t connect to a 5 GHz only network. If you’ve split your bands or you’re on a mesh router, make sure to enable 2.4 GHz before setup.
Want more smart home picks under budget? Check out our smart home beginner’s guide or browse all Tech & Gadgets picks.
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