Best Smart Plugs for 2026: Matter and Energy Monitoring

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Quick answer

For most homes in 2026, the best smart plug is the Kasa KP125M: Matter over Wi-Fi, energy monitoring, and Alexa / Google / Siri / SmartThings without a Thread hub. Choose the Kasa EP25 if you want the same platforms cheaper without Matter, Eve Energy for Apple / Thread with Matter 1.3 energy clusters, or a Wyze Plug if budget is the only priority.

Comparison table

*Check current EP40A / EP40M Matter variants if you need outdoor Matter. Prices are approximate street prices and may change; check the retailer for current pricing.

How we researched this

We compared manufacturer datasheets and 2026 editorial roundups from Engadget, The Verge, Reviewed, and PCWorld. Criteria: platform support, Matter / Thread requirements, energy monitoring depth, size (blocking the second outlet), and outdoor rating. This is research-based — not a hands-on lab test.

Best Matter smart plug with energy monitoring: Kasa KP125M

Specs (TP-Link): 100–120 V, 15 A / 1800 W max; 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi; Matter-certified; compact design; UL / FCC; energy monitoring with rate estimates in the Kasa app.

Engadget named the KP125M the best Matter plug they tried — multi-platform, Bluetooth onboarding, no Thread border router required for basic Wi-Fi Matter use. TP-Link firmware 1.4.1 (Aug 2026) adds Matter 1.3 energy reporting; SmartThings and Home Assistant are among the controllers verified so far.

Buying note: The 2-pack has been flaky on Amazon stock, so we point to the 4-pack, around $50 per our price check on Oct 16, 2026, or roughly $10–13 per plug.

Sources: TP-Link KP125M, Engadget best smart plugs 2026, TP-Link firmware notes

Best energy-monitoring plug without Matter: Kasa EP25

Engadget’s best-overall pick is the non-Matter EP25: all four major platforms, energy monitoring, reliable Wi-Fi, usually cheaper per plug. Skip Matter if you already live in one ecosystem.

Rough price: around $18 for a 2-pack (Oct 16, 2026).

Source: Engadget

Best for Apple / Thread homes: Eve Energy

Specs (Eve): Matter over Thread; US 15 A / 1800 W; needs a Matter controller and Thread border router; Full Thread Device; no Eve cloud / no subscription. Matter 1.3 electrical energy and power clusters (CSA listing).

Stock note: Eve Energy was currently unavailable (as of Oct 22): Amazon had no new offers, only used ones. We also link Walmart as an alternate.

Sources: Eve Energy, CSA listing, The Verge

Best budget: Wyze Plug

Indoor 2-pack for Alexa and Google. No Matter and no true watt / kWh metering (runtime tracking only). Fine when price is the priority — around $30 for two.

Sources: Wyze Plug, Reviewed

Best outdoor: Kasa EP40A vs Wyze Plug Outdoor

• Kasa EP40A (around $20 as of Oct 19): dual outlets, energy monitoring, Alexa / Google / Siri — Engadget’s outdoor pick for multi-assistant homes.
• Wyze Plug Outdoor (~$30 at Wyze): IP64, dual independent outlets, 15 A, Alexa + Google — better if you do not need Apple Home.

Sources: Engadget outdoor section, Wyze Plug Outdoor

Energy monitoring: when it matters

Energy monitoring is most useful on devices that draw real power, like fans, TVs and other electronics, and chargers. Don’t put space heaters on a smart plug: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises plugging space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Check whether kWh shows in your platform app or only the brand app. Fold this into any “best smart plugs for energy monitoring” search: KP125M / EP25 for Kasa-app depth, Eve for Matter-native reporting.

Also consider: Meross Matter plugs

Meross sells Matter Wi-Fi plugs that show up in Matter roundups; Engadget noted setup quirks (e.g. Wi-Fi splitting) on some Matter units. Worth watching for HomeKit/Matter households, but not one of our top picks yet.

Buying guide

Matter or not? Buy Matter (KP125M or Eve) if you mix assistants. Stay Wi-Fi-only (EP25, Wyze) for lowest price in one ecosystem.

Wi-Fi tip: Almost all of these need 2.4 GHz during setup.

What not to automate: Space heaters (the CPSC advises plugging them directly into a wall outlet), irons, or anything dangerous if it can turn on while you are away.

Related guides

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• Best Matter smart lights
• Best smart home hub for beginners
• Ecobee vs Nest thermostat
• Smart home starter kit for a new move

FAQ

See the FAQ fields in the page front matter for schema-ready Q&A (hubs, Matter, energy monitoring, and safe loads).