Best Smart Plugs with Energy Monitoring 2026: The Top Models Compared

The best smart plug with energy monitoring for most homes is the TP-Link Tapo P115: 16 A in its EU version, real-time and historical consumption tracking, a simple app and a compact body. If you’re in Apple’s ecosystem, the Meross MSS310 (HomeKit version) or the Thread-based Eve Energy is a better fit, and the Shelly Plug S Gen3 is the pick for Home Assistant and fully local control.

This comparison is based on manufacturer specifications, independent reviews and verified buyer feedback. We only cover models sold in Europe in 2026, and we flag clearly where versions differ by country. Models and versions sold in Canada can differ from the European ones: check that the listing is for a 120 V North American model.

Why measure consumption appliance by appliance?

Your electricity meter gives you a total, not the breakdown. A smart plug with energy monitoring sits between the wall outlet and the appliance and shows its live power draw (in watts) and the energy it uses (in kWh) over time. It’s the easiest way to answer practical questions:

• How much does that old freezer really use? A few days of data are enough to estimate its yearly consumption and decide whether replacing it makes sense.
• What does your TV setup cost on standby? Equipment drawing 5 W around the clock runs 8,760 hours a year, or roughly 44 kWh. The plug gives you the real figure for your own equipment.
• Is the washer done? When power drops to a few watts, the app or your smart home hub can send you a notification.
• Are my changes working? History lets you compare one week with the next after you change a habit.

For a whole-home view, a clamp-style energy monitor in your electrical panel is a useful complement: see our home energy monitor comparison.

Buying criteria

Maximum load

This is the number one safety criterion. 16 A plugs (3,680 W) such as the EU Tapo P115 or Meross MSS310 handle large appliances: washing machines, dryers, air fryers or space heaters. Models limited to 11 or 12 A (about 2,500 W), such as the Eve Energy or Shelly Plug S Gen3, are fine for electronics, fridges or a router, but not for powerful heating appliances. These ratings apply to the European 230 V versions: in Canada, household outlets supply 120 V, a standard 15 A circuit delivers up to 1,800 W, and clothes dryers run on a dedicated 240 V circuit.

Protocol: Wi-Fi, Thread and Matter

Wi-Fi plugs connect straight to your router with no hub, but almost all of them are 2.4 GHz only. Thread (Eve Energy) builds a low-power mesh network and needs a Thread border router, such as a HomePod mini, a compatible Apple TV 4K or a second-generation Nest Hub. Matter is the shared layer that lets one plug work with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa or SmartThings. Be careful: not every plug supports Matter. At TP-Link, for example, the Matter versions carry an “M” suffix (P110M, P115M); the standard P115 does not.

App and history

Accurate measurement is useless without readable charts. Check that the app keeps daily, weekly and monthly history and lets you enter your electricity rate to estimate costs.

Local control and smart home platforms

If you use Home Assistant or another hub, choose a plug that can be controlled locally. Shelly offers a local API and integrates very well with Home Assistant. Matter and Thread plugs also run locally once paired.

Size

A bulky plug blocks the outlet next to it, whether on a power bar or a standard wall outlet. Mini formats are more practical day to day.

The models compared

TP-Link Tapo P115: the best choice for most homes

The Tapo P115 is a mini Wi-Fi plug rated 16 A / 3,680 W in its EU version. It shows live consumption and keeps history in the Tapo app, offers schedules, a timer and an away mode, and works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Strengths:

• 16 A: handles demanding appliances, including an air fryer or a washing machine
• Clear Tapo app with consumption charts and cost estimates
• Compact body that leaves the second outlet free
• Simple setup, no hub

Limitations:

• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
• No Matter on this model (look for the P115M for Apple Home via Matter)
• Tapo account required for setup

Who is it for? Beginners and anyone using Alexa or Google Home who wants a reliable, simple plug that can power the big appliances in the house.

Meross MSS310: the 16 A alternative for Apple users

The Meross MSS310 is a Wi-Fi plug rated 16 A / 3,680 W in its EU version, with real-time and historical consumption tracking in the Meross app. The version listed in our catalogue is advertised as Apple HomeKit compatible, alongside Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings. Meross also sells a Matter variant, the MSS315.

Strengths:

• 16 A / 3,680 W for powerful appliances
• Control from Apple Home and Siri on the HomeKit version
• Built-in schedules and timer

Limitations:

• Bulkier body that can block an adjacent outlet
• Meross app less polished than Tapo’s
• HomeKit support depends on the version: check the product listing

Who is it for? iPhone users who want a 16 A plug in Apple Home without investing in a Thread network.

Shelly Plug S Gen3: the Home Assistant favourite

The Shelly Plug S Gen3 is a mini Wi-Fi and Bluetooth plug with power metering and built-in Matter. Its strength is openness: local API, scripts, scenes and local actions with no cloud dependency. Its maximum load is 12 A, or 2,500 W.

Strengths:

• Local operation and a highly regarded Home Assistant integration
• Built-in Matter for Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings
• Compact body with a multicolour LED ring
• Scripts and automations run on the plug itself

Limitations:

• 12 A / 2,500 W: avoid it for a space heater or a powerful dryer
• Feature-rich Shelly app, but less intuitive for beginners

Who is it for? Smart home enthusiasts who want data they can use locally, fine-grained automations and no cloud dependency.

Eve Energy (Matter): the Thread plug for Apple Home

The Eve Energy runs on Thread with Matter. It measures consumption, works locally without a cloud account and can be controlled from Apple Home, as well as from Google Home, Alexa or SmartThings through Matter. The EU version is rated 11 A / 2,500 W.

Strengths:

• Thread: a responsive mesh network that keeps load off your Wi-Fi
• Local operation, no cloud account
• Very polished integration with Apple’s ecosystem
• Standby consumption under 1 W, according to the manufacturer

Limitations:

• A Thread border router is essential
• 11 A / 2,500 W maximum
• Premium-priced, with a fairly bulky body

Who is it for? Homes with a HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K that want a local, long-lasting setup that works across ecosystems.

TP-Link Tapo P100 (4-pack): automation without monitoring

The Tapo P100 has no energy monitoring and is limited to 10 A. It’s still a useful companion: turning a lamp on at a set time, cutting power to a charger overnight or scheduling string lights. Measure first with a P115, then automate small devices with P100s.

Comparison table

How to use the data to cut your bill

1. Measure for a week without changing anything. Plug it into a suspect appliance (freezer, TV setup, router, home office) and let it record.
2. Rank the culprits. Multiply weekly consumption by 52 for a rough yearly figure, then focus on the three hungriest devices.
3. Automate. Cut power to the TV setup overnight, switch off the home office in the evening, get an end-of-cycle alert from the washer and run appliances during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use rates.
4. Check monthly. Compare the history to confirm your changes are paying off.

To go further with thermostats, radiator valves and whole-home automations, read our smart home energy-saving guide.

Mistakes to avoid

• Plugging a space heater into a 2,500 W plug. Always check the appliance’s rating plate and use a plug rated for the full load for heating, drying or cooking.
• Switching off something that must stay powered. Never schedule cut-offs on a fridge, freezer, pump or medical equipment.
• Stacking adapters. Plug the smart plug straight into the wall, not into an extension cord or power bar that’s already loaded.
• Buying the Matter version by mistake, or the other way around. Model numbers look alike: check for Matter, HomeKit or Thread on the exact model listing.
• Using an indoor plug outside. These models aren’t weatherproof. For outdoor use, choose a plug designed for it.

Our verdict

Best overall: the TP-Link Tapo P115, for its 16 A rating (EU), live monitoring with history and ease of use.

Apple alternative: the Meross MSS310 in its HomeKit version, which keeps the 16 A rating and works with Apple Home.

Automation without monitoring: the Tapo P100 4-pack, as a companion for small devices.

Home Assistant users should look at the Shelly Plug S Gen3, and homes with a Thread network at the Eve Energy. See the full selection in our smart plugs section.