Smart plugs and home automation buying guide
Smart plugs are the cheapest way into smart homes, and the details are about ecosystems and power limits.
- Check compatibility with your assistant (Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit or Matter) before buying several.
- Check the maximum load: heaters and air conditioners often exceed small plugs' ratings.
- Energy monitoring is useful for finding what uses power in your home.
- Look for local control or an app that keeps working if the maker's cloud is down.
- Wi-Fi plugs need a 2.4 GHz network; some routers hide it by default.
Common mistake: Putting a space heater on a plug rated for lamps.