Best Outdoor Smart Plugs for 2024
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Smart plugs are an easy and inexpensive way to make your home more functional. With the shopping season approaching, these can make for a for your loved ones. These relatively simple devices can make almost any appliance a little smarter. An outdoor smart plug is a convenient purchase for anyone using wired appliances -- like patio lights, bug zappers, outdoor speakers or electric grills -- in their backyard. If you are in the market for one, we've put together this list to help make your choice easier.
A smart plug is essentially a regular power socket, except you?re able to control it from a distance, using an app or digital platform to check what devices are plugged in, whether plugs are still activated and whether you want to switch them off entirely.
Particularly in modern smart homes, it?s a very handy way of keeping track of different devices and making sure you don?t neglect to turn off items that shouldn?t be running overnight. Not to mention the benefits of a smart ecosystem where you can set custom schedules, switch on certain appliances alongside each other and even use voice commands to activate or control your devices.
But these outdoor smart plugs are also designed to be weather resistant and unfazed by rainy days, and there?s a lot to be said for switching an outdoor appliance on or off from the comfort of the indoors.
So whether you?re looking to use Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri to command your smart home, we?ll have the outdoor smart plug for you.
What to consider
There are few things you'll need to decide when shopping for an outdoor smart plug. Which voice assistant do you use? How many outlets do you want? Some models just have one outlet and some have two. With these questions answered, you'll be on your way to picking the plug that works best for your setup.
Hide our expert take $18 at Amazon $25 at Target Pros Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Two individually controllable outlets
Affordable price
Great app Cons No HomeKit compatibility
No energy monitoring $18 at Amazon Best overall TP-Link Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug $18 at Amazon $25 at Target TP-Link's Kasa app is easy to use and Kasa devices are quick to set up. The Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug offers two outlets that can be controlled individually, and is rated to operate in temperatures from minus 4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. You can choose from voice commands, schedules, timers, scenes or sunrise/sunset modes, as well as an Away feature that randomizes powering outlets on and off. Kasa products work with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, so you'll be able to ask your voice assistant of choice to turn on your lighting. At less than $30, it's a reasonably priced smart plug for your outdoor space. Read our TP-Link Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug review. Photo Gallery 1/1 Hide our expert take
Show our expert take $20 at Amazon $20 at Walmart Pros Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Waterproof and weather-resistant
Compact design Cons Only one outlet
Not HomeKit-compatible
Setup isn't always easy $20 at Amazon Best single outlet option Braumm Outdoor Smart Plug $20 at Amazon $20 at Walmart If you're looking for a single outlet option, Braumm's model works with Google Assistant and Alexa to control one device. The $20 list price is a bit high given that you're only getting a single outlet to control, but it's weatherproof and rated for minus 4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, so if a single outdoor outlet is all that you need, it'll get the job done. In addition to status, timers, scheduling and scenes, the app also provides weather information, a handy addition for any outdoor device. You can also share control with other users if they also download the Braumm app to their mobile device. Photo Gallery 1/1 Show our expert take
Show our expert take $18 at Amazon $18 at Amazon Best budget plug Wyze Plug Outdoor $18 at Amazon This $18 device from Wyze is about as affordable as outdoor smart plugs get, but it boasts some promising features -- especially for the price. The Wyze Plug Outdoor includes two 15-amp outlets you can control independently. It's rated IP64 for protection against water and dust at a temperature range of minus 4 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You can control the Plug Outdoor with physical buttons, voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or through the Wyze app. You can also set the plug to run on various automations, such as dusk-to-dawn sensing, vacation mode, custom schedules and triggers based on other devices. Unlike most smart plugs, the Wyze Plug Outdoor includes energy monitoring. You'll be able to receive alerts when energy thresholds are exceeded and view consumption history in the app. Photo Gallery 1/1 Show our expert take
Show our expert take See at Amazon See at Amazon Best for HomeKit users WeMo Smart Outdoor Plug (Update: Out of stock) See at Amazon WeMo's Smart Outdoor Plug is a HomeKit compatible option that offers two outlets and voice control for Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant. At about $40, it isn't the cheapest model you can buy, but WeMo's app works well and we've seen several good plugs and outlets from the brand over the years. Rated for temperatures from 32 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, this plug might not be the best bet for cold climates. There are two sockets, but unlike the TP-Link model, they cannot be scheduled or controlled individually. That could be a deal breaker, depending on your use case. Photo Gallery 1/1 Show our expert take
Best outdoor smart plug FAQs
Show our expert take See at How does a smart plug work? Smart plugs are adapters that control the power supply to the appliance plugged into them. They don't make any changes to your existing outlet. Smart plugs simply disconnect the appliance from power or reconnect it to power when they receive a signal (via app or voice command) to do so. Show our expert take
Show our expert take See at Can I use a regular smart plug outdoors? This isn't a good idea. Outdoor models are optimized for extreme temperatures and have IP-rated housings that protect them from elements like rain and dust. It's much safer to use a plug made specifically for the outdoors. Show our expert take
