5 best outdoor smart plugs for your backyard

As the weather warms we naturally look to spend more time outdoors — even in our own backyards creating the ultimate outdoor living space. Wi-Fi connected smart plugs are great ways to turn so-called dumb devices smart, meaning you can add automated features to them just by plugging them into these plugs.

Not all smart plugs can be used outside — there are weather concerns that need to be addressed like rain, and also backyards tend to get splashed from sprinklers and even garden hoses. But an outdoor smart plugs help to automate many of the features that turn a yard into a second living room, from automating lights to operating grills and backyard ovens.

These five are designed for outdoor use, with weather-ratings and in some cases, covers, to help keep the elements from affecting its wiring. All have the ability to work with smart assistants, which means you can certainly set up a schedule or control them through a smartphone, but you can also just speak your request out loud, which during the heat of the day, may be all the effort you're going to want to make.

Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug — $30

Made by TP-Link, this outdoor smart plug does not need a hub, and can be controlled by remote control, through your smartphone — and also through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, two of the better-known smart assistants.

The Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug is a double-outlet, which means you can plug it into one and create two ends to use. It's designed for outdoor use because it's weather-resistant and has an IP64 rating, which means it's dust tight and can handle spray from water. It also has a long range for connecting to Wi-Fi — up to 300 feet.

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BN-LINK Smart WiFi outlet — $20

This outdoor smart plug creates three outlets out of one end, and can also work with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also use the outlets with an automatic timer to schedule other devices to come on or turn off like lights, and you create up to 30 different programs for the outlet to follow.

You do need a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network to connect the BN-LINK Smart WiFi outlet online, and do keep in mind that all three outlets will work simultaneously.

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Meross Smart Outdoor Plug — $33

This outdoor plug turns one outlet into two, and not only works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but also with Apple's HomeKit. There's a remote control, a timer and you can control each socket on its own — meaning you can set up two different routines, one for each side.

The Meross Smart Outdoor Plug works outdoors, and is IP44 rated which means it can handle water spray, like what would come from a sprinkler, but not water jets, like a direct hit from a hose. You can connect it to a 2.4GHz mesh Wi-Fi network.

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Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor and Indoor Plug — $21

This smart plug is just one outlet, but it turns a regular end into a smart one. The plug works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and it can be indoors and outdoors as well. You can schedule when you want it to go on, and connect it to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.

The Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor and Indoor Plug has a cover for the exterior end, but it also carries an IP65 rating, which makes it a bit more rugged, meaning it is dust tight, and can also handle a direct jet of water.

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Jasco myTouchSmart Wi-Fi plug — $40

This one outlet smart plug from Jasco works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant without a hub — and can also be controlled through the myTouchSmart app. Built-in features include being able to pick up on sunrise and sunset times in your local area, and scheduling them automatically.

The Jasco myTouchSmart Wi-Fi plug connects to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network — and it has a range of about 1,000 feet, which is substantial. And if you need a longer distance, you can use a Wi-Fi extender, so you can be assured your outdoor living can be uninterrupted all summer long.

myTouchSmart WiFi Smart Light Switch Outdoor Plug-In, Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Weather-Resistant, Year Round Use, On/Off Lighting Control, No Hub Required, Black, 39845