5 Best Smart Power Strips (November 2026)

The cable pile behind a desk or television is where good intentions about energy savings go to die. A smart power strip fixes that with outlets you can switch from a phone, schedule by the clock and, in some designs, monitor for energy use. The keyword “smart power strips” implies a trade-off that many shoppers overlook: do you want each outlet controlled separately, or is a single on/off for the whole strip enough for your setup?

This guide is for people who want to cut standby draw from entertainment centers, reset a router remotely, turn off a space heater on a timer, or simply stop crawling under the desk to flip a switch you cannot reach. The five strips below span a six-outlet unit with USB ports, compact three-outlet strips, a Matter-labeled model with energy monitoring and a Wi-Fi strip aimed at voice assistants. Brands such as Kasa, Tapo, Westinghouse and KMC dominate the shelf for this kind of accessory. Descriptions rely on the facts in each title, so verify outlet spacing, amperage and app features on the product page in 2026 before you commit.

Quick Picks

Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300, Smart Outlet, No Hub Required | Surge Protector with 6 Individually Controlled Smart Outlets and 3 USB Ports, Works with Alexa & Google Home, White

One of the mattress protector options compared in this guide.

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kasa smart Plug Power Strip KP303, Surge Protector with 3 Individually Controlled Smart Outlets and 2 USB Ports, Works with Alexa & Google Home, No Hub Required , White

One of the mattress protector options compared in this guide.

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Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip, Matter, P316M, Energy Monitoring

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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Westinghouse 94012 WH-320 Wi-Fi Smart Power Strip, Compatible with Alexa, Google Home & IFTT, No Hub Required, White

One of the consumer electronics options compared in this guide.

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KMC 3-Outlet Smart Plug Power Strip, Surge Protector for Smart Home, Remote Control Lights and Devices, No Hub Required, ETL Certified, Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, 4ft Extension Cord, White

One of the mattress protector options compared in this guide.

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How to Choose

Individual control versus whole-strip control

A strip with individually controlled outlets lets you cut power to a lamp while leaving the router on, or schedule a fan on one socket and a charger on another. The point of the feature is control without fuss, so test it right after setup by turning each socket on and off from the app. A cheaper design might switch every outlet together, which is fine for a single entertainment stack but frustrating on a mixed desk. Read the title for phrases like individually controlled, which describes the useful behavior.

Outlet count, spacing and USB ports

Cord length is easy to overlook: a short cord can leave the strip dangling or force an extension cord, which defeats the purpose of a surge protector. Three outlets suit a nightstand or a small desk, while six cover a full workstation with a monitor, dock, lamp and speakers. Bulky plug adapters can block neighboring sockets, so look for generous spacing in photos. Built-in USB ports are convenient for phones and tablets, but they are not a replacement for a proper wall charger when you need fast charging.

Platform support and no-hub setups

Think about where the strip will live before anything else: behind a television, under a desk or on a nightstand each calls for a different cord length and plug orientation. Wi-Fi strips connect directly to your router, so a “no hub required” label in the title means no extra box. Check that the listed voice assistants match what you own, because one product may work with Alexa and Google Home while another is Alexa-only. Matter, mentioned on the Tapo, is a newer standard meant to help devices from different brands work together. IFTTT lets you connect the strip to other services and triggers.

Surge protection, energy monitoring and where budgets cut corners

Smart strips listed as surge protectors add a layer of defense, though the protection rating matters, and a third-party certification such as ETL gives a baseline of safety testing. Energy monitoring, as on the Tapo listing, shows how much power a device uses, which helps you find the biggest standby drains. Surge ratings are measured in joules and a higher number means more protection over time, though the exact figure may not appear in the title. Budget strips often have short cords, fewer outlets, thinner app support and basic or no surge ratings. Think about heat as well: strips tucked behind a couch or under a blanket can run warm, so give them airflow. Pay more for a recognized brand when you plan to plug in expensive equipment. A mid-range tier typically buys better app stability and clearer ratings, while a premium tier adds extras such as energy monitoring.

The 5 Best Options

Kasa HS300

The Kasa HS300 is a no-hub smart strip that works as a surge protector with six individually controlled smart outlets and three USB ports. It is the best-equipped strip in this list for a full desk setup, since each outlet can be named and scheduled separately and the USB ports handle small devices. The practical payoff shows up in routines: shut down the monitor, speakers and desk lamp together at a set hour, while a network drive or router stays on its own always-powered socket. Anyone sharing a workroom with a partner or roommate will find named outlets reduce guesswork.

• Strength: six individually controlled outlets give fine-grained control.
• Strength: three USB ports reduce the need for loose chargers.
• Trade-off: a larger strip needs more desk or wall space than a three-outlet model.

Skip it if you only have two or three devices to manage.

Kasa KP303

The KP303 is the compact sibling: a surge protector with three individually controlled smart outlets and two USB ports, working with Alexa and Google Home and needing no hub. A bedroom or a small home office is an ideal home for a three-outlet strip, especially if you use a lamp, a fan and a charger. Because both Alexa and Google Home are named, it also fits a household where two people use different voice assistants. It is a gentle step into smart home control, without asking you to learn a hub or a separate app ecosystem first.

• Strength: both Alexa and Google Home are named.
• Strength: three separate outlets and two USB ports in a compact size.
• Trade-off: a limited outlet count can run out quickly on a busy desk.

Skip it if you have more than three devices to switch.

Tapo P316M

Tapo’s P316M is described as a smart Wi-Fi power strip with Matter and energy monitoring. The Matter label suggests easier cross-brand compatibility, and energy monitoring appeals to anyone curious about what a space heater, a gaming PC or an old television really draws. For a renter or a budget-minded household, seeing that number can show which plugged-in item is quietly adding to the bill, and a schedule can then cut that waste. Matter wording is a plus for people who expect to switch phone ecosystems or add other brands later.

• Strength: Matter wording supports multi-platform smart homes.
• Strength: energy monitoring is part of the listed feature set.
• Trade-off: the visible title gives no outlet count, so confirm the layout.

Skip it if you want a listing that spells out USB ports and outlet totals up front.

Westinghouse WH-320

The Westinghouse WH-320 is a Wi-Fi smart power strip compatible with Alexa, Google Home and IFTTT, with no hub needed. The IFTTT mention is distinctive, since it opens the door to custom triggers, such as turning on a lamp when a phone leaves a geofence. Hobbyists who already run a few IFTTT applets will find it easy to slot in, while a first-time buyer may never touch that feature. The white finish also blends into a pale wall or baseboard better than a black strip does.

• Strength: Alexa, Google Home and IFTTT are all listed.
• Strength: no hub required for Wi-Fi control.
• Trade-off: the visible title does not give outlet count or USB details.

Skip it if you want a spec-heavy listing with clear port counts.

KMC 3-Outlet Strip

The KMC is a three-outlet smart plug power strip described as a surge protector for smart home use, with remote control for lights and devices, no hub required and ETL certification. It is aimed at buyers who want simple smartphone control in a small footprint. A garage workbench, a craft table or a guest room are the sort of places where three outlets and a clean on/off schedule solve the whole problem. As with any budget-leaning model, read the full listing for cord length and joule rating before relying on it with valuable electronics.

• Strength: ETL certified wording supports a safety baseline.
• Strength: three outlets with remote control and no hub.
• Trade-off: the visible title does not name its USB ports or energy features.

Skip it if you need more than three outlets or USB charging.

Which One Fits Your Situation

You run a full home office desk

The Kasa HS300 fits, with six outlets to manage a monitor, lamp, dock and other peripherals. Schedule the monitors off at night and keep the router on its own outlet. A single USB port on a desk is never enough, so the three included ports also help with phone and tablet charging.

You want to watch energy use

Choose the Tapo P316M, the only listing in the group that names energy monitoring. It is the logical pick for tracking a heater or an old appliance. Pair it with a single power-hungry device first, then look at the usage history before deciding what else to schedule.

You like voice commands and automation rules

The Westinghouse WH-320, with Alexa, Google Home and IFTTT in the title, suits tinkerers. Begin with one lamp and one rule so you can see how the automation behaves before layering on more.

You need a low-fuss bedroom strip

Take the Kasa KP303 or the KMC three-outlet unit. Both are compact and avoid hubs. Choose the Kasa if voice assistant support is the priority and the KMC if you want an ETL-certified unit for basic remote switching.

Common Mistakes

• Plugging a space heater or similar high-wattage appliance into a strip that is not rated for it.
• Putting the router on a scheduled outlet and losing the network at night.
• Assuming a smart strip makes a device smart; it only switches power.
• Ignoring the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi requirement during setup and then assuming the strip is faulty.
• Daisy-chaining strips instead of buying a larger one, which can overload the wall circuit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do smart power strips use electricity when off?

The strip itself draws a small amount to stay connected to Wi-Fi. That is usually less than the standby draw of the devices you switch off, which is where the savings come from on entertainment centers with consoles, receivers and sound bars.

Can I control just one outlet?

Only on strips with individually controlled outlets, such as the Kasa models named in the titles.

Are USB ports on a smart strip fast chargers?

The titles do not state charging speeds, so treat them as convenience ports and check the product page for output.

Is surge protection built in?

Several titles use the words surge protector, but look at the joule rating and certifications on the listing. A strip that lists no rating deserves caution with expensive electronics.