Best smart plugs (2026): 1 to buy, 1 cheap, 1 to skip
Get the Tapo P110M: it works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home without a hub, and shows how much power things use. Buy the US version in the US and the UK version in the UK; they are different plugs.
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The short answer
Philips Hue Smart Plug
Skip: needs a Hue Bridge
- Researched
- $39.99 / £34.99, and Hue says voice assistants need a Hue Bridge. Three to four times the Pick's price.
$39.99/£34.99Hue US & UK stores, checked 3 Oct 2026
What matters
Three things decide a first smart plug. It has to work with the voice assistant or phone you already use. It should not need a hub. And it has to be the right model for your country, because US and UK plugs are different products.
MatterOne plug joins Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home or SmartThings. Switch later without replacing it.
No hubWi-Fi plugs connect straight to your router. Zigbee and Thread plugs need a bridge or border router.
RegionUS plugs are 15 A, 1800 W. UK plugs are 13 A, 2990 W. Buy the one sold in your country.
More on what matters
| Verdict | US model | UK model |
|---|---|---|
| PICK | Tapo P110M (US version, 15 A) | Tapo P110M (UK version, 13 A) |
| BUDGET | Tapo P125M (15 A) | Tapo P100 (13 A) |
| SKIP | Hue Smart Plug, UPC 046677552343 | Hue Smart Plug, EAN 8719514342323 |
Every Tapo plug here uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only. Most home routers broadcast it, but if setup fails, check that your router's 2.4 GHz band is switched on.
Compare the picks
| Verdict | Model (US / UK) | Works with | Hub needed | Energy monitoring | Price (US / UK) | How judged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PICK | Tapo P110M / Tapo P110M | Matter, Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, SmartThings (both) | No | Yes | $23.99 for 2 / £9.99 | Researched |
| BUDGET | Tapo P125M / Tapo P100 | US: Matter, Alexa, Google, Apple Home. UK: Alexa, Google | No | No | $11.99 / £7.99 | Researched |
| SKIP | Hue Smart Plug / Hue Smart Plug | Alexa, Google, Apple Home, Matter, via Hue Bridge | Hue Bridge for voice | Not listed | $39.99 / £34.99 | Researched |
Specs from each maker's own US and UK product pages; see Sources. Prices from TP-Link's US store, Tapo's UK store and Philips Hue's US and UK stores, checked 3 Oct 2026. They change often and may be lower elsewhere.
Our verdicts
PICK
Tapo P110M (US and UK versions)
ResearchedThe best first plug for most people.
Why it’s good
- Works with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home and SmartThings through Matter, no hub
- Energy monitoring in both the US and UK versions
Watch out for
- US store sells it only in 2- and 4-packs, and the UK version is fairly wide (51.5 mm) for double sockets
BUDGET
Tapo P125M (US) / Tapo P100 (UK)
ResearchedThe cheapest single plug in the Tapo range in each country, using the same app as the Pick.
Why it’s good
- Lowest up-front cost: $11.99 or £7.99 for one plug
- No hub; same Tapo app, schedules and timers as the Pick
You give up
- Energy monitoring in both countries; in the UK, Matter and Apple Home too
SKIP
Philips Hue Smart Plug
ResearchedHue is a big name and its plug is easy to find, but it is the wrong first plug. It costs $39.99 / £34.99, three to four times the Pick. It talks over Bluetooth and Zigbee, not Wi-Fi, and Hue's own spec sheet says voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home) need a Hue Bridge. Without one you can still switch it from the Hue app over Bluetooth, but not by voice. Hue's store sells the Bridge Pro at $149.99 / £129.99. Hue also lists no energy monitoring. It makes sense only if you already own a Hue Bridge.
How we chose
Show how we chose
We compared eight plugs sold in the US, the UK or both: Tapo P110M, P125M, P100 and P105, Philips Hue Smart Plug, Amazon Smart Plug, Meross MSS115 and Eve Energy. Must-haves were no hub, support for at least Alexa and Google, and a model page and in-stock store listing in each country. Amazon's and Meross's plugs could not be confirmed on a UK store page, so they could not get a verdict. We then weighed Matter support, energy monitoring and price per plug.
Tested means we used it ourselves. Researched means we judged it from specs, independent tests, safety rules and owner reports, without using it. We never mark a researched pick as tested.
Questions
Do I need a hub for a smart plug?
Not for Wi-Fi plugs like the Tapo models here; they connect straight to your router. Zigbee plugs such as Hue need a Hue Bridge for voice control, and Thread plugs such as Eve Energy need a Thread border router, like some smart speakers and streaming boxes.
What does Matter mean on a smart plug?
Matter is a shared standard. A Matter plug can be added to Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home or SmartThings, so you are not locked in if you change speakers or phones later.
Can I use a US smart plug in the UK, or the other way round?
No. The plug shape, voltage and current ratings differ (US 15 A at 100–125 V, UK 13 A at 220–240 V). Buy the model sold in your country.
Will it work with my iPhone and Siri?
The Tapo P110M (both countries) and the US Tapo P125M list Apple Home support. The UK Tapo P100 does not; it works with Alexa and Google Assistant only.
Can I plug a heater into a smart plug?
Only within the plug's rating: 15 A / 1800 W for the US Tapo models and 13 A / 2990 W for the UK ones. Check the heater's wattage on its label first.
Sources
Show the sources
- Tapo P110M (US) product page, accessed 3 Oct 2026
- Tapo P110M (UK) product page, accessed 3 Oct 2026
- Tapo P125M (US) product page, accessed 3 Oct 2026
- Tapo P100 (UK) product page, accessed 3 Oct 2026
- Philips Hue Smart Plug (US) product and spec page, accessed 3 Oct 2026
- Philips Hue Smart Plug (UK) product and spec page, accessed 3 Oct 2026
- Hue Bridge Pro (US) and Hue Bridge Pro (UK), accessed 3 Oct 2026
- Eve Energy (Thread border router requirement), accessed 3 Oct 2026
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