Best Smart Plugs With Energy Monitoring of 2026: Top Models Compared

The best smart plug with energy monitoring for most homes is the TP-Link Tapo P115: a 16 A rating on its EU version, live and historical usage 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 is a better fit, while the Shelly Plug S Gen3 is the pick for Home Assistant and fully local control.

This comparison is based on manufacturer specs, independent reviews and verified owner reviews. We only cover models sold in Europe in 2026, and we flag clearly where versions differ from one country to the next.

Why measure energy use one appliance at a time?

Your electric meter gives you a total, not a breakdown. A smart plug with energy monitoring sits between the wall outlet and the appliance, and shows how much power the appliance is drawing right now (in watts) and how much energy it uses over time (in kWh). 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 is worth it.
• What does standby power cost behind the TV? A setup that draws 5 W around the clock runs 8,760 hours a year, or roughly 44 kWh. The plug gives you the real number for your own gear.
• Is the washer done? When the draw drops to a few watts, the app or your smart home hub can send you a notification.
• Are my changes working? The history lets you compare one week with the next after you change a habit.

For a whole-home view, a clamp-on energy monitor at the electrical panel is a useful complement: see our home energy monitor comparison.

What to look for

Maximum load

This is the number one safety spec. 16 A plugs (3,680 W) such as the EU Tapo P115 or Meross MSS310 can handle big appliances: washers, 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, a refrigerator or a router, but not for powerful heating appliances. Keep in mind that these wattages assume Europe’s 230 V grid: models sold in Europe are built for 230 V, so check that the version on your Amazon store is rated for 120 V.

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 common layer that lets one plug work with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa or SmartThings. Watch out: not every plug supports Matter. At TP-Link, for example, the Matter versions carry an “M” suffix (P110M, P115M); the standard P115 doesn’t.

App and history

Accurate readings are useless without charts you can actually read. Make sure 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 run Home Assistant or another hub, choose a plug you can control locally. Shelly offers a local API and integrates very well with Home Assistant. Matter and Thread plugs also run locally once they’re paired.

Size

A bulky plug blocks the outlet next to it on a power strip or a duplex wall outlet. Mini plugs are more practical day to day.

The models we compared

TP-Link Tapo P115: best 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, keeps a history in the Tapo app, offers schedules, a timer and an away mode, and works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Pros:

• 16 A: handles demanding appliances, including an air fryer or a washer
• Clear Tapo app with usage charts and cost estimates
• Compact body that leaves the next outlet free
• Easy setup, no hub

Cons:

• 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 it’s for: Beginners and anyone on Alexa or Google Home who wants a reliable, simple plug that can run 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 live and historical usage tracking in the Meross app. The version listed in our catalog is advertised as compatible with Apple HomeKit, along with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings. Meross also sells a Matter variant, the MSS315.

Pros:

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

Cons:

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

Who it’s 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 favorite

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

Pros:

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

Cons:

• 12 A / 2,500 W: skip it for a heater or a powerful dryer
• The Shelly app is packed with features but less intuitive for beginners

Who it’s 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 energy use, 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.

Pros:

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

Cons:

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

Who it’s for: Homes with a HomePod mini or an 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 tops out at 10 A. It’s still a handy sidekick: turning a lamp on at a set time, cutting power to a charger overnight or scheduling a string of decorative lights. Measure first with a P115, then automate small devices with P100s.

Comparison table

How to use the data to lower 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 biggest users. Multiply weekly consumption by 52 for a rough yearly figure, then focus on the three most power-hungry devices.
3. Automate. Cut power to the TV setup overnight, turn off the desk setup in the evening, get an end-of-cycle alert from the washer and run appliances during off-peak hours if you’re on a time-of-use rate plan.
4. Check in every month. Compare the history to confirm your changes are paying off.

To go further with thermostats, smart 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 wattage on the appliance’s rating label, and use a plug rated for the full load for heating, drying or cooking.
• Cutting power to something that has to stay on. Never schedule shutoffs for a refrigerator, freezer, pump or medical equipment.
• Daisy-chaining adapters. Plug the smart plug straight into the wall, not into the end of an extension cord that’s already loaded up.
• Buying the Matter version by mistake, or the other way around. Model numbers look alike: check for Matter, HomeKit or Thread on the listing for the exact model.
• Using an indoor plug outside. These models aren’t weatherproof. For outdoor use, pick a plug designed for it.

The bottom line

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

Best for Apple users: 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, a sidekick 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 lineup in our smart plugs section.