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 live in Apple’s ecosystem, the Meross MSS310 (HomeKit version) or the Thread-based Eve Energy are better fits, while 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 flag clearly where versions differ by country, especially for UK plugs.

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 socket and the appliance and shows its live power draw (in watts) and the energy it uses (in kWh) over time. It is 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 standby cost in the TV corner? A setup drawing 5 W non-stop runs 8,760 hours a year, roughly 44 kWh. The plug gives you the real figure for your own equipment.
• Has the washing machine finished? 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 changing a habit.

For a whole-home view, a clamp energy monitor at the consumer unit 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, tumble dryers, air fryers or portable heaters. In the UK, plugs are rated 13 A (around 3,000 W) and TP-Link’s energy-monitoring UK model is the Tapo P110. 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.

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. Careful: not every plug supports Matter. At TP-Link, for instance, the Matter versions carry an “M” suffix (P110M, P115M); the standard P115 does not.

App and history

Good measurement is useless without readable charts. Check that the app keeps daily, weekly and monthly history and lets you enter your tariff 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 wide plug blocks the neighbouring socket on a power strip or double wall socket. 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, showing live consumption and keeping history in the Tapo app. It 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 next socket free
• Simple setup, no hub

Limits:

• 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 able to 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

Limits:

• Bulkier body that can block an adjacent socket
• 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. A UK version is also sold.

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

Limits:

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

Who is it for? Smart home enthusiasts who want locally usable data, 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 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

Limits:

• A Thread border router is essential
• 11 A / 2,500 W maximum
• Premium positioning and a fairly bulky body

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

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

The Tapo P100 has no energy monitoring and is limited to 10 A. It is still a useful companion: switching a lamp on at a set time, cutting a charger overnight or scheduling small decorative 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 corner, router, desk) 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 the TV corner overnight, switch off the desk in the evening, get an end-of-cycle alert from the washing machine and run appliances during off-peak hours if your tariff has them.
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 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 at the end of an already loaded extension lead.
• Buying the Matter version by mistake, or the other way round. References look alike: check for Matter, HomeKit or Thread on the exact model listing.
• Using an indoor plug outside. These models are not 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.