Smart Plugs: The Cheapest Way to Start Your Smart Home

Want to dip your toes into smart home tech without spending a fortune? Smart plugs are your answer. For under £15, you can make almost any device smart.

What Can You Do With a Smart Plug?

Control lamps remotely: Turn lights on/off from your phone
Schedule devices: Coffee maker starts before your alarm
Voice control: “Alexa, turn off the fan”
Monitor energy: See how much power devices use
Kill standby: Completely switch off devices when not in use

Best Smart Plugs UK 2026

TP-Link Tapo P110

Price: £13

Best for: Best overall value

Energy monitoring, compact design, reliable app. Our top pick.

Amazon Smart Plug

Price: £25 (often on sale for £15)

Best for: Alexa households

Dead simple setup, perfect Echo integration.

Hive Active Plug

Price: £39

Best for: Hive ecosystem

Premium price but integrates perfectly with Hive system.

Meross Smart Plug

Price: £25 for 4-pack

Best for: Bulk buying

Excellent value when buying multiple. HomeKit compatible.

Smart Plug Ideas

Living Room

Table lamps (instant smart lighting)
TV/entertainment centre (cut standby power)
Electric heater (schedule and safety cut-off)

Bedroom

Bedside lamp (voice control at bedtime)
Fan/heater (schedule for comfort)
Phone charger (auto-off to save energy)

Kitchen

Coffee machine (ready when you wake up)
Kettle (if it has a physical on switch)
Slow cooker (remote monitoring)

Office

Desk lamp
Monitor/PC setup (complete shutdown)
Printer (only on when needed)

What NOT to Use Smart Plugs For

High-power appliances: Check the plug’s amp rating (usually 13A max)
Safety-critical devices: Medical equipment, fridges, freezers
Devices that need to stay on: Routers, security systems

Setup Guide

Download the plug’s app (Tapo, Kasa, etc.)
Create an account
Plug in the smart plug
Follow app instructions to connect to WiFi
Link to Alexa/Google if desired
Create schedules and automations

Energy Monitoring

Smart plugs with energy monitoring (like Tapo P110) show:

Real-time power usage
Daily/weekly/monthly consumption
Cost estimates

Great for identifying energy-hungry devices. That old plasma TV might be costing more than you think!

Automation Ideas

“Goodnight” routine: One command turns off all plugs
Away mode: Lamps turn on/off randomly
Sunrise simulation: Lamp gradually brightens (with dimmable smart plug)
Work hours: Office equipment only runs 9-5

Our Recommendation

Start with 2-3 TP-Link Tapo P110 plugs. They’re cheap, reliable, have energy monitoring, and work with everything. Once you see how useful they are, you’ll want more.