Tested by Alex Rivera
Smart Plugs & Energy Monitors: Best Picks (2025)
Updated October 2025
The best Smart plugs and energy monitors give you control over idle loads and visibility into which appliances quietly drive your bill. For this 2025 update we prioritized Matter and Thread reliability, energy tracking accuracy, and smooth automation in Alexa and Google Home. New to these standards? See the Connectivity Standards Alliance overview of Matter and the Thread Group’s explainer on Thread. Readers see the best results pairing plugs with a smart thermostat and checking state utility rebates before buying. If lighting is your main goal, our Smart Lighting Setup Guide explains how motion, contact, and time-based scenes cut wasted watts. For lamp-specific control, see smart switches vs bulbs for when a plug makes more sense than rewiring.
What We Measured
Each product was evaluated for reliability, ease of setup, and power measurement accuracy using a calibrated outlet wattmeter as our reference. We logged continuous readings for one week under typical household use — lamps, routers, and kitchen appliances — and noted the deviation in watt-hour reporting.
- Scheduling reliability: Did automations trigger on time after router restarts or firmware updates?
- Power tracking accuracy: Compared plug or monitor readings to an inline wattmeter with ±1% tolerance.
- Network stability: Observed reconnection behavior on Thread, Matter, and Wi-Fi devices.
- Cross-platform integration: Tested with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home under the Matter standard.
- Latency: Verified on/off delay in local scenes over Thread and Wi-Fi networks.
Our tests reflect real household usage rather than lab conditions.
The Best Smart Plugs Picks Compared
| Device | Type | Matter | Energy monitoring | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Kasa KP125M | Smart plug | Yes | Yes | Dependable schedules, charts are clear enough |
| Wemo Smart Plug with Thread | Smart plug | Yes | No | Very fast on/off, compact capsule |
| Meross Matter Plug (MSS315) | Smart plug | Yes | Yes | Budget pick, solid daily stats |
| Emporia Vue 2 | Circuit monitor | N/A | Per circuit | Great dashboards, CSV export |
| Sense Home Energy Monitor | Whole home NIALM | N/A | AI detection | Excellent long-term trends |
Hands on picks
TP-Link Kasa KP125M (Matter)
KP125M continues to be the safe “first plug.” In long-term schedules it hit sunrise and bedtime scenes consistently and stayed paired after router reboots. Several community reports note energy readings landing within a few percent of dedicated meters; we saw similar deltas when averaging over a week. Matter onboarding was straightforward and once added to the home fabric, control worked across apps without juggling cloud accounts.
Accurate readings, dependable schedules, and smooth Matter onboarding. Great baseline for lamps, media gear, and chargers.
Pros
- Good accuracy for a plug
- Schedules survive network hiccups
- Compact housing fits dual outlets
Cons
- App charts are basic vs Emporia
Wemo Smart Plug with Thread
As a fast on/off actor for lamps or coffee makers, Wemo’s Thread plug is snappy. Thread routes around crowded Wi-Fi and it joined our border routers without fuss. There are no built-in energy charts, which is fine if you just want rock-solid scene execution and a compact body that avoids blocking adjacent outlets.
Thread networking keeps scenes snappy and reduces Wi-Fi congestion. A simple, fast actor when you do not need energy charts.
Pros
- Very quick scene changes
- Compact size
- Matter compatible
Cons
- No energy monitoring
Meross Matter Plug (MSS315)
Meross threads the needle on price and performance. Matter setup was straightforward and simple schedules did not drift. Accuracy trailed Kasa slightly in short tests, but daily and weekly charts were good enough to spot vampire loads on chargers and set auto-off timers for media gear.
Affordable Matter plug with usable energy stats and stable schedules for lamps, consoles, and small appliances.
Pros
- Low cost entry to Matter
- Simple charts for daily usage
- Reliable basic automations
Cons
- Accuracy trails Kasa slightly
Emporia Vue 2 (Circuit Monitor)
Emporia’s clamp-based monitor delivers per-circuit visibility, which is where real savings show up. The app is data-rich with exportable CSVs, alerts for spikes, and a clean breakdown of always-on loads. Many readers use a few smart plugs to validate odd circuits Emporia highlights, then build routines around what they discover.
Emporia Vue 2 (Circuit Monitor)
Per-circuit monitoring surfaces problem loads and informs automations. Strong dashboards, useful alerts, and simple CSV export.
Pros
- Deep circuit level data
- Good alerts and exports
- Clear install guide
Cons
- Electrician recommended for some panels
Sense Home Energy Monitor
Sense uses waveform analysis to identify devices over time. It takes patience. Readers commonly report that the first month is about building a baseline, with useful detections appearing gradually. The long-term trend view is excellent for spotting behavior changes, peak events, and phantom loads. We like pairing Sense with a couple of smart plugs on suspected devices to confirm detections.
AI-based device detection with excellent long-term trends. Great for spotting phantom loads and tracking seasonal changes.
Pros
- Insightful trend analytics
- Helpful peak alerts
- Polished app
Cons
- Device identification takes time
How to choose
- Matter and Thread: Choose these for low latency and painless multi-platform control. Thread also reduces Wi-Fi congestion.
- Monitoring depth: Smart plugs track single devices. Circuit monitors show where to focus. Whole-home monitors reveal patterns across seasons.
- Safety first: Check max load ratings. Avoid space heaters on simple plugs unless the plug is specifically rated and supports local overload protection.
Setup and integration
Group plugs by room in Alexa or Google Home, label clearly, and build arrival and bedtime routines in your Smart Home Hub 2025. Coordinate with thermostat away modes from Ecobee vs Nest and use insights from lighting automations to cut idle loads without sacrificing comfort.
FAQ
Are energy readings accurate?
Good plugs land within a few percent in our comparisons. Circuit monitors are best for large loads. Whole-home AI improves with time and confirmation via spot-checked plugs.
Can smart plugs control space heaters?
Only if the plug is rated for the current draw and supports thermal protection. Many space heaters are not recommended on simple plugs. When in doubt, use a dedicated thermostat or a relay rated for the load.
Do I need a hub?
Matter reduces brand-specific hubs. Thread border routers in speakers or hubs improve responsiveness and reliability.
