As the holidays are upon us and we start to plan a day to decorate the outside of our homes, one smart device every smart home should have today is an outdoor smart plug. It can control your smart lighting or any wired decoration you plan to put up this holiday season. But which is the best one for my smart home? GearBrain is here to help you find the best outdoor smart plug for you, no matter the size or type of home you are decorating this holiday season.
After testing many outdoor smart plugs on real homes with normal Internet connectivity, we pulled together a list of the best outdoor smart plugs to power your holiday decorations. This list will help you find the right outdoor smart plug that fits your price and power needs this year.
One of the toughest smart outdoor plugs is Lutron's new Caseta Outdoor Smart Plug. This outdoor smart plug can work either inside or out but is built to withstand the severest weather conditions year-round. It has a solid design and supports multiple load types. You can setup this smart plug quick and easily. You will need to connect it to a Lutron Smart Bridge though. It works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant enabled devices as well as compatible with Apple HomeKit. This means if you have an Apple Watch, you will be able to select scenes and turn our holiday lights on and off. It costs $79.99 and available at The Home Depot, Walmart,Best Buy, electrical supply outlets and Amazon.com.
Read our full review on Lutron Caseta Outdoor Smart Plug.
Enbrighten Plug-in Zigbee Outdoor Smart SwitchGearBrain
If you are looking for a reliable outdoor smart plug that works on a Z-Wave wireless connection, is not too big and can monitor your energy usage, then you should consider Enbrighten Z-Wave Plug-In Outdoor Smart Switch. It's a worthy dependable outdoor smart plug designed to be used with Z-Wave hubs and compatible devices. If you are not using a Z-Wave hub or gateway, you will need to buy a compatible Z-Wave or Z-Wave Plus hub for remote control of the smart plug. Remote control will allow you to connect the plug to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice platforms as well as other smart home systems, like home security systems, so you can create scenes or schedule your holiday lights to go on when you are not home.
Another nice feature of the Enbrighten Z-Wave Outdoor Smart Switch is its ability to function as a range extender if used inside your home.
The Enbrighten Z-Wave Plug-In Outdoor Smart Switch costs only $42.99 and is available on the company's website.
Cync Outdoor Smart Plug with individual outlet control.GearBrain
In case you don't recognize the "Cync" name, it is the new brand name for GE Lighting's C by GE line. The company was purchased by Savant, a premium home automation company.
GearBrain's has reviewed many of the C by GE devices and like how they perform in your smart home. The company has added a new outdoor smart plug to their lineup called Cync Outdoor Smart Plug. This new outdoor smart plug is the perfect device to help you automate your outdoor lighting, especially your holiday decorations. Using the Cync powered by Savant app (iOS and Android), you can set custom schedules or turn them on and off any time during the day. But what makes this smart plug unique is its ability to control two items at once. The plug comes with two outlets, and each can be controlled separately. And if you want to add voice controls, Cync Outdoor Smart Plug works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice platforms. We recommend this smart outdoor plug for individuals who need more than one outlet to power and control their holiday decorations.
The Cync Outdoor Plug costs $29.99 and is available on Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart.
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor PlugGearBrain
For the smart homes that have holiday decorations which require a strong Wi-Fi signal to operate the way you want them to this holiday season, we have a smart outdoor plug for you to consider. It's Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug. This TP-Link outdoor smart plug is a IP64 rated weather resistant smart plug that works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant enabled devices as well as Samsung SmartThings. It does not require a hub and can be controlled remotely using either your Android or iOS smartphone. Just connect to the Kasa app and start setting up your schedules and routines in minutes.
What makes this outdoor smart plug unique is its long-range capability to connect to your home Wi-Fi network – up to 300 feet. This is exceptional for any outdoor smart device which works on a Wi-Fi connection. And just like the Cync Outdoor Plug, each outlet on the Kasa outdoor plug can be controlled separately.
The Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug (EP40) costs $24.99 but is on sale for only $16.99 (32% off) on Amazon.
Belkin is well-known for making the chargers and cables to help keep your mobile devices working all day long. The company was also an early entry in the smart home market, Their Wemo line of smart devices which included indoor smart plugs were one of the first smart devices and system we tested. The company has since consolidate their Wemo line up and make high quality smart devices that includes smart switches, video doorbell and plugs that work inside and outside. All work on a Wi-Fi connection and work with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant platforms.
Wemo Wi-Fi Smart Outdoor Plug provides smart control over your lights, holiday decorations and other outdoor devices. It features two weather-resistant outlets which you can set schedules and control two devices together from anywhere using the app or your voice. You can easily set schedules and timers for your holiday lights and decorations. But what we like is Wemo's Away Mode which randomizes your lights and decorations for added security. Something that is good to have around the holidays.
The list price of Wemo Wi-Fi Smart Outdoor Plug lists for $39.99 and is available on Belkin website, Best Buy and Amazon.
meross Smart Outdoor Plug works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Bixby and Google Assistant voice platforms.Amazon
For Apple HomeKit users, there is a smart outdoor plug for you to use with your holiday decorations this year and it's made by meross. The meross Smart Outdoor Plug is a waterproof (IP44) outdoor outlet which is compatible with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings(Bixby). You can even use IFTTT applets if you want to control this outdoor plug and set scenes and schedules. This smart plug is also FCC and ETL certified and has two individual outlets which you can control separately if needed.
If you are an Android user, this smart outdoor plug is compatible if your Android device has OS 4.1 and up. However, keep in mind this plug is really designed for Apple HomeKit users. Something to think about prior to buying.
Meross Smart Outdoor Plug has a list price of $30.99 but is available on Amazon for only $26.64.
Defiant Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Outdoor Smart Plug has two outlets which can be controlled separately using Hubspace app.
The Defiant Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Outdoor Smart Plug is a rugged well-built outdoor plug with two outlets which you can control separately using the Hubspace app. The Hubspace app is The Home Depot's new intuitive mobile app which is powered by Afero and used by Defiant and other Home Depot brands for setup and connecting with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa platforms. You can set schedules, turn devices on/off automatically and remotely. No hub is required.
Defiant outdoor smart plug works on a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection. This is helpful for when you lose your Internet connection and want to control your holiday lights. Just get in Bluetooth range, and you are all set.
Another nice feature of the Defiant outdoor plug is its price. The cost of this smart outdoor plug is only $18.97, the lowest cost of all smart outdoor plugs on our list. Though the Defiant name might not be as well-known as some of the other smart plugs listed on our list, we can assure you its smart outdoor plug is a worthy choice for you to make to help power your holiday decorations this year.
All the smart outdoor plugs we listed in this buying guide are dependable smart devices that can provide the power and connectivity you need outside your smart home. And if you need further help finding other smart outdoor or indoor plugs, visit The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility find engine. Its free and easy to use.
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