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Plugs & Lighting

Best Smart Plugs for Renters

No-hub, no-install smart plugs that make any lamp or fan controllable — ranked on ecosystem support and size for renters.

By Stephen V.Updated How we pick

A smart plug is the single easiest smart-home upgrade a renter can make. It sits in the wall outlet, whatever you plug into it — a lamp, a fan, a coffee maker, the string lights over your headboard — becomes controllable by app, voice or schedule, and when you move you just unplug it. No hub, no wiring, no holes, nothing to explain to a landlord. If you’re dipping a toe into smart home for the first time, start here.

The picks below are close on the basics — all three are compact, hub-free and cheap — so the deciding factor is which voice assistant you use. One works with Alexa, Google and Apple Home; one is a low-cost two-pack for Alexa or Google; one is the frictionless choice if your home is Alexa and nothing else. We rank on that fit, plus size, because a fat plug that blocks the second outlet is a daily annoyance. Prices are live and dated.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked on renter fit, no-fee recording and how cleanly each one comes off the wall. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t tested these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forLease-SafePrice
1
Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25

Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25

The best smart plug for a renter: it needs no hub, works with Alexa, Google and Apple Home, and is small enough not to block the second outlet. It just plugs in — the most no-drill upgrade there is.

Best overallLease-Safe: Excellent
$17.99 · View on Amazon

$24.9928% off

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Wyze Plug (2-pack)

Wyze Plug (2-pack)

Usually sold as a two-pack, so it's the cheapest per-outlet way to make a couple of lamps smart. Works with Alexa and Google; no hub. A fine first buy if you want two plugs for the price of one competitor's.

Best value (2-pack)Lease-Safe: Excellent
$39.96 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Amazon Basics Smart Plug

Amazon Basics Smart Plug

If your home runs on Alexa and only Alexa, this is the simplest plug to set up — Alexa recognizes it automatically. It's Alexa-only, though, so skip it if you use Google or Apple Home.

Best for Alexa-onlyLease-Safe: Excellent
$25.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overallLease-Safe: Excellent

Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25

The best smart plug for a renter: it needs no hub, works with Alexa, Google and Apple Home, and is small enough not to block the second outlet. It just plugs in — the most no-drill upgrade there is.

What we like

  • No hub required — connects straight to Wi-Fi
  • Works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home (HomeKit)
  • Compact — won't block the outlet beside it

Trade-offs

  • 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only
  • One outlet per plug
Installs byPlug-in (no install)
PowerPlug-in
SubscriptionNot required
Connectivity2.4GHz Wi-Fi (no hub)
Hub neededNo
EcosystemsAlexa, Google, Apple Home

Lease-Safe: Excellent. It plugs into an outlet and does nothing to the wall. Take it with you in a second at move-out. Nothing is more deposit-safe.

Spec note. Kasa publishes HomeKit support and hub-free 2.4GHz Wi-Fi operation. The mini form factor is specifically to avoid blocking the second socket.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#2Best value (2-pack)Lease-Safe: Excellent

Wyze Plug (2-pack)

Usually sold as a two-pack, so it's the cheapest per-outlet way to make a couple of lamps smart. Works with Alexa and Google; no hub. A fine first buy if you want two plugs for the price of one competitor's.

What we like

  • Two plugs in the box — lowest cost per outlet
  • No hub; Alexa and Google support
  • Small footprint

Trade-offs

  • No Apple Home (HomeKit) support
  • 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only
Installs byPlug-in (no install)
PowerPlug-in
SubscriptionNot required
Connectivity2.4GHz Wi-Fi (no hub)
Pack2 plugs
Hub neededNo

Lease-Safe: Excellent. Plug-in only; nothing is fixed to the wall and both plugs travel with you.

Spec note. Wyze lists Alexa and Google support with no hub. No HomeKit. Frequently the lowest cost per outlet because it ships as a pair.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#3Best for Alexa-onlyLease-Safe: Excellent

Amazon Basics Smart Plug

If your home runs on Alexa and only Alexa, this is the simplest plug to set up — Alexa recognizes it automatically. It's Alexa-only, though, so skip it if you use Google or Apple Home.

What we like

  • Effortless Alexa setup — auto-detected
  • Inexpensive and compact
  • No hub required

Trade-offs

  • Works with Alexa only — no Google or Apple Home
  • Fewer scheduling features than Kasa's app
Installs byPlug-in (no install)
PowerPlug-in
SubscriptionNot required
Connectivity2.4GHz Wi-Fi (no hub)
EcosystemAlexa only
Hub neededNo

Lease-Safe: Excellent. Plug-in only — nothing touches the wall and it leaves with you.

Spec note. Amazon lists Alexa-only compatibility. There is no Google Home or Apple Home support — a real limit if you're not all-in on Alexa.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

How to choose a smart plug

It comes down to two questions. First, which ecosystem are you in? If you use an iPhone and Apple Home, you need HomeKit support, and the Kasa EP25 is the only pick here that has it — it also covers Alexa and Google, so it’s the safe default. If you’re on Alexa or Google, the Wyze two-pack gives you two outlets for the price most brands charge for one. And if your whole setup is Alexa, the Amazon Basics plug is auto-detected the moment you plug it in. Second, how big is it?All three are minis designed not to block the outlet above or below them — still worth confirming against a crowded power strip. For the bulbs to go with these, see best smart lights for apartments.

Are smart plugs safe to leave on?

It’s the question renters ask most, and the honest answer is yes with a couple of rules. Buy a plug with a UL or ETL safety mark, don’t run a high-draw appliance like a space heater or AC unit through a plug that isn’t rated for that load, and keep the firmware updated so security patches land. A quality smart plug controlling a lamp or fan is no riskier than the lamp itself. We go deeper — including the privacy side — in are smart plugs safe. None of these three need a hub or a subscription, so there’s no ongoing cost or extra box to worry about.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best smart plug for renters?

For most people it's the Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25. It needs no hub, works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home, and is small enough not to block the outlet beside it. If you only use Alexa, the Amazon Basics plug is the simplest to set up, and the Wyze two-pack is the cheapest per outlet.

Do smart plugs need a hub?

Not these. The Kasa, Wyze and Amazon Basics plugs all connect straight to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with no hub or bridge required. That's ideal for a rental — fewer devices to set up and nothing extra to pack when you move.

Which smart plug works with Apple HomeKit?

Of these three, only the Kasa EP25 supports Apple Home (HomeKit) — it also works with Alexa and Google. The Wyze plug covers Alexa and Google but not Apple, and the Amazon Basics plug is Alexa-only. If you're an iPhone-and-Apple-Home household, the Kasa is the one to get.

Can I control a smart plug when I'm away from home?

Yes. Because these plugs connect over Wi-Fi, their apps let you switch them on and off, and set schedules, from anywhere — handy for making a lamp come on before you get home. There's no subscription for remote control.

Sources

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