A smart plug is a small device that plugs into an electrical outlet and allows you to control any device plugged into it remotely using a smartphone app or voice command. You can use smart plugs to automate your home, save energy, and even make your home more secure.
We are going to review some of the major smart plug players and compare them to see which stands out.
The criteria we will use to help decide what the best smart plug for Australians is:
Functionality, Ease of use, physical size and of course price.
We will assume all products below, use Wi-Fi.
| Meross Smart plug | Arlec (Tuya) Smart plug | Tasmota ATHOM | TP-Link Tapo (Tp110) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice assistants | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Energy monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Size | Large | Medium | Small | Small |
| Ease of use | Easy | Easy-Medium | Easy-Medium | Easy |
| Price | $19.99 (Bulk available) | $21.48 | $19.43 | $27.00 |
| Review | Here | Here | Here | Here |
| Buy | Amazon | Bunnings | AliExpress | Amazon |
In terms of the criteria above, our preference is the Tasmota Athom and then the TP-Link smart plugs. They are small enough to fit multiple plugs next to eachother in sockets, where as the Meross are too large.
Here are some of the things you can do with a smart plug:
- Turn on or off devices with your voice or a tap on your phone.
- Schedule devices to turn on or off at specific times, such as turning on your coffee maker in the morning or turning off your lights when you leave for work.
- Create automations that control multiple devices together, such as turning on your lights and thermostat when you arrive home or turning off all your devices when you go to bed.
- Monitor energy usage to see how much power your devices are using and identify areas where you can save energy.
- Create a more secure home by using smart plugs to turn on or off devices when you’re not home. For example, you could turn on a lamp in your living room to make it look like someone is home while you’re away on vacation.
Smart plugs are a great way to add smart home functionality to your home without having to replace all of your devices. They’re easy to use and affordable, making them a great option for anyone looking to start automating their home.
