What Are Smart Plugs, and Do I Need Them?

Gadgets provide a small entrée into the smart home

Edward C. Baig,

AARP

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Published March 10, 2026

a smart plug with glasses plugged into an outlet

AARP (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images, Getty Images, 2)

AARP members and readers are invited to submit pressing technology questions they’d like me to tackle in my Tech Guru column, including issues around devices, security, social media and how all the puzzle pieces fit together.  This week’s reader question is all about smart plugs, the small electronic gizmos that connect appliances to the internet.

I have several brands of smart plugs, two of which turn on at dusk and off at dawn. Out of the blue, one stopped working, and I am trying to hook it up with [Amazon] Alexa. Can you please help? —Tina W.

Before explaining what might have happened in your case, Tina, let me speak of smart plugs themselves and why folks may consider buying them.

We’ve heard a lot about the smart home in recent years, and the smart appliances at its foundation. What “smart” really refers to is cyber-connectivity, and there are merits in making your lights, refrigerator, thermostat, washing machine and a host of other household appliances internet-ready, though such smart appliances are not for everyone. For one thing, setting up an extensive smart home can be complex and costly.

Making ‘dumb’ appliances a bit smarter

Smart plugs let you dip your toes into the smart-home space. These compact gadgets can transform ordinary appliances and, while not necessarily making them Ph.D-worthy, at least connect them to the internet. Suitable appliances that generally work well with smart plugs include blenders, coffee makers, fans, lamps, hair dryers and slow cookers.

The plugs themselves are usually inexpensive and made by dozens of brands including Amazon, Emerson, Emporia, Eve Energy, GE Cync, Govee, Leviton, Linkind, Roku, TP-Link Tapo, U-tec and Wyze.

Chief benefit: Once your "dumb" appliances are connected to the internet, the devices and appliances you’ve plugged into them can be controlled remotely through an app and/or the digital assistant on your phone or tablet, or by using your voice via an Alexa, Apple HomeKit or Google Home-capable smart speaker. You might simply say, “Alexa, turn on the lamp,” and voilà, there is light.

Getting started is pretty simple

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You plug smart plugs into any wall outlet and, in turn, plug the appliances you want to turn smart into the socket on the smart plug. You press a button on the plug and follow the instructions in the smart plug-maker’s app or an app for your smart-home platform of choice (Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings) to connect the plug to your home Wi-Fi network.

From there, you set up schedules and routines that kick in at certain times: have the TV turn off at bedtime, for example, or the coffee maker brew in the morning. For security reasons, you might also arrange to turn on lights after dark to make it seem like you are at home when you are out.

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Some smart plugs can also monitor energy usage and potentially reduce energy consumption overall. That’s partly because they can cut off juice entirely to appliances that, when connected directly to the wall, still draw power from an outlet even when the device’s switch says it is off.

And since you can turn things off from far away, smart plugs can even be lifesavers if you inadvertently leave an iron or some other heat-producing appliance on after running off to an appointment.

Smart plugs have shortcomings

To be sure, smart plugs are not a perfect solution for every kind of gadget. They work best when you can manually turn power to an appliance on or off, but if you need to press additional buttons or controls to get something done — changing how strong a cup of coffee you want, for example — you’d need to be in front of the appliance anyway.

Moreover, not everything you’ve turned off turns back on automatically, even after you issue a command, as I discovered with a small TV in my kitchen attached to a smart plug.

Is it compatible?

Buyers should check which smart home platforms smart plugs work with, as not all are compatible with every system or, for that matter, every flavor of Wi-Fi flavor. (Many only work on the 2.4 GHz band.) I can’t say for sure, but Tina, it could explain the difficulty you’re having with one of your smart plugs and Alexa.

One thing to look for is smart plugs with so-called Matter compatibility, a certification that you’ll see on product packaging. It refers to an industry standard backed by Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung and other tech companies that promises to make the smart home operate seamlessly, even when you mix and match products from different brands.

Beyond Matter, look for such labels as “Works with Alexa,” “Works with Google Home” or “Works with SmartThings,” if those are your preferred smart home–networking platforms.

In lieu of Wi-Fi, you may also encounter smart plugs compatible with technical standards such as Zigbee, Z-Wave or Thread, which require a separate hub or home automation controller.

Some smart plugs include more than one outlet, but also consider any model’s physical size. A larger plug may cover a separate wall outlet, for instance — a bummer in areas where space is at a premium.

Bonus tip: Smart plugs that make nice with Mother Nature

Only use smart plugs specifically designed for outdoor use if you want to use them outside the home. The indoor varieties are not built for rain, snow or harsh temperatures, and are dangerous to use outdoors. Look for models clearly marked as outdoor smart plugs and that include water-resistant certifications, such as IP 64 or IP 65, with “IP” standing for “ingress protection.”

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Edward C. Baig covers technology and other consumer topics. He previously worked for USA Today, BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, and is author of Macs for Dummies and coauthor of iPhone for Dummies and iPad for Dummies. Follow him on LinkedIn; Threads; and X, formerly known as Twitter.