What is a Smart Plug and Do You Need One?

With a smart plug, you can easily convert your home into a smart home. Here’s everything you need to know about smart plugs and where to find the best options for your home.

A smart plug is a small device that you can plug into a wall outlet. Essentially, it covers the wall outlet, creating a new outlet that connects to WiFi. You can then access the outlet through an app on your smartphone. With this, you can control lights, appliances, TVs, speakers, and more through your smartphone, even if the appliance or device itself doesn’t connect to WiFi.

Smart plugs connect to WiFi to give you remote access to lights, appliances, and other electronic devices. Then, when you plug a device into the outlet, you can use the smart plug to turn the device on or off through an app.

Smart plugs also work with smart hubs like Amazon Alexa and Google Home. However, it’s important to note that smart plugs only work when connected to WiFi. This means that if your internet connection is unstable, the smart plugs won’t work consistently.

Some of the best smart plugs brands include Wemo, Ring, and Wyze. Each of these brands creates plugs that are reliable and will work with other smart home devices. Here are some of the best options from these three brands.

You can find a pack of three Wemo WiFi Smart Plugs for $49.99 from Belkin. The plug is small, sleek, and looks aesthetic. It is compatible with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home, and when paired, you can control the smart plug with Voice Control.

Another interesting feature of the Wemo smart plug is that you can randomize your lights. For example, the smart plug will randomly turn lights on or off to make the home appear lived-in, even when you’re on vacation. Of course, you can turn this feature off when you are home.

The Ring Outdoor Smart Plug is unique in that it is meant specifically for outdoor lights and appliances. You can purchase this smart plug for $29.99 from Ring. The outdoor plug has two sockets, meaning that you can plug in two appliances or lights into one Ring Outdoor Smart Plug.

It is also a perfect option to pair with other outdoor ring devices, such as your Ring Smart Lights, Ring Doorbells, and other devices. In addition, this smart plug works with Alexa.

The Wyze Smart Plug is the most affordable option. You can purchase a pack of two Wyze Smart Plugs for $19.97 on Amazon. This plug pairs with Alexa and allows you to customize and schedule your lights and appliances. So, if you want your coffee maker to turn on at 6:00 AM, you can preset the time through the app.

The Wyze Smart Plug also has a Vacation Mode that randomly turns on the lights in your home. Another feature is the Wyze Sense, which controls motion-activated lights and appliances.

A smart plug is a great option if you already have a semi-smart home and want to convert your older appliances without purchasing new smart appliances. We also recommend using smart plugs if you already have a smart hub setup with Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Kit.

Furthermore, smart plugs can help save electricity by automatically turning lights off, which is a great option for those looking to lower their electricity bills.

Upsie offers affordable extended warranties for smart plugs. With an Upsie warranty, your device is protected against mechanical failure, power failure, and WiFi failure. As a result, you can rest easy knowing that Upsie will repair or replace your device if it fails during the warranty period.

For a Wemo WiFi Smart plug, Upsie’s warranty would cost just $4.99 for two years and $10.99 for three years. In addition, Upsie also offers warranties for other smart home devices, such as smart thermostats, security cameras, doorbells, and more.